Arco, Idaho - Nuclear Reactor EBR-1

We visited the Experimental Breeder Reactor No.1, also known as, the EBR-1 Atomic Museum. This facility is where usable electricity was first generated from nuclear energy in 1951.

Touring the EBR-1 museum

The first production of usable nuclear electricity occurred on December 20, l951, when four light bulbs were lit with 

electricity generated from the EBR-1 reactor.

This sign near Arco, best describes The Lost River 

and it's connection to Thousand Springs.

Craters of the Moon

Best described by President Calvin Coolidge, "Craters of the Moon National Monument is a weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself".  Although these 715,000 acres of lava looks like moonscape, it contains 660 types of plants and over 280 animal species.

One of 280!

Devil's Orchard

Hiking through Craters of the Moon National Monument 

is truly an unworldly experience.

Picabo, Idaho - Sawtooth National Forest

The Sawtooth Mountains, as seen along the 115 mile Sawtooth Scenic Byway, was just a warm up of the beautiful mountain views to come.

The Salmon River was also known as "the river of no return".  Prior to 1950 all who navigated down the river were unable to return due to the fast waters and numerous rapids.

Chinook salmon and steelhead are raised at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery, located on the Salmon River.

Beautiful Redfish Lake

  

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                   

No better way to celebrate Jim's birthday. 
Grilled steaks and apple pie!

The small town of Picabo is so picturesque! We so enjoyed the beautiful farm lands and the sounds of baaing sheep surrounding our campsite.

Hagerman, Twin Falls, and Buhl Idaho

Our campground in Hagerman, Idaho is uniquely located on the Snake River across from Thousands Springs State Park. The water source of these waterfalls is an underground aquifer fed from rain, melting snow and numerous rivers that disappear underground. This crystal clear water runs out of these cliffs 24/7 and is a constant 55 degrees, ideal for raising trout.

Minnie Miller was the original owner of Ritter Island, as seen above from our campsite. She bought the land in 1916 and successfully bred the purest Guernsey cows in the nation.  Her home and the milking barn pictured below are part of the 1000 Springs State Park.

  

The nearby, Hagerman National Fish Hatchery was one of 

many hatcheries in this area. 70% of the trout sold in the 

United States come from these hatcheries.

4' Sturgeon fish

The Perrine Bridge at Twin Falls, Idaho, spans the majestic Snake River Canyon.

Beautiful Shoshone Falls, located on the Snake River in Twin Falls, at 212 feet is higher than Niagara Falls. 

Balanced Rock in nearby Buhl, Idaho rises 45 feet, 
balanced on a 3 foot pedestal.

Salmon Falls Creek

The Clover Leaf Creamery in Buhl, Idaho

Maria, our tour guide.

What ice cream lover would pass up a chance to tour an ice cream creamery? This relatively small creamery pastures their own herd of 60 Holstein, focusing on quality.

Interested tourists

This sign says it all "a perilous crossing" along the Oregon Trail is now Three Island State Park.

First day out on the Snake River with Mike and Kate.

BASE jumpers

Perrine Bridge

                       

      



Day two kayaking from Banbury Hot Springs to 1000 Springs State Park on the Snake River.

Pretty Coneflowers

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