City of Rocks National Reserve and beyond

     Coming into Idaho, we were quite surprised by the rocky landscape and the number of working farms. The countryside is beautiful fertile green. However, Almo Idaho is a very small town supporting the small amount of tourism from City of Rocks. Of the items listed on the sign, Tracy General Store is still in business but for sale, Outpost Steak House is not open, Dufree Hot Springs is actually a swimming pool, Almo Inn is out of business. However, the area is lovely. We stayed at Castlerock State Park, Smokey mountain campground.

     Arriving we were met with a beautiful rainbow.

 Had to take a picture of a historical reconstruction of a period wagon. Bet these were expensive in the day.

     Saw both a jack rabbit and a cottontail.

     City of Rocks joins Castlerock State Park and the Sawtooth National Forest. City of Rocks was set aside so that the signatures on the rocks can be preserved. There are lots of them written in axle grease. The pioneers stopped here while travelling west. This is a great spot for travelers - these are granite rock outcroppings that provide shelter and fun for any traveler as well as great hiding places for game animals. The pioneers would also graze their livestock in this area. The area is known to climbers but not all rocks are okay to climb because they are protected. To appease this, the state owns adjoining land that has many more rock outcroppings without restriction on climbing.

Here are some pictures of Castlerock.

     Twin Sisters is a popular climb at City of Rocks.

     Here is one of the several rocks that have signatures on them. These are off limits to climb.

     Many of the rocks are very easily hand climbed and are a wonderful place for kids to scramble about on.

There is a rock that is like a sliding board.

And many that have passages. Some even a little dog can't resist.

There are rocks that have depressions in them like a bathtub and some that have areas like a chair.

     Some for lizards.

     There is camping here but no services - that is, no hookups. There are pit toilets and there is water although it must be carried in. We ventured into the Sawtooth National Forest adjoining the National Reserve, Here is a picture of the valley taken from the road up to the forest.

 The valley was getting a bit of rain.

   Yes friends, that is snow. It is May and that is snow in the Sawtooth forest in Idaho. We turned back here.

     We left City of Rocks going to Craters of the Moon Idaho. Idaho is quite surprising - not what we were expecting. It is more than potatoes for sure, it is a lovely diverse landscape - I recommend it highly to come take a look!