Shhh… don’t say it out loud, but every now and then it’s nice to get out of Utah. The Snake River Mountain Range in southeastern Idaho is largely below 9,000′, so if the Uintas are still melting out and the desert is just too stinking hot, a road trip could be in order. Make the four hour drive to Swan Valley and you’ll have limitless options for hiking trails amid epic Gem State scenery. The Palisades Creek trail is a good bet for those of you making your first trip to the area- wildflowers, plenty of animals and two pristine mountain lakes await.
The trailhead is adjacent to a developed campground, and during summer months it is busy. Set out across the first of several bridges that span the Palisades Creek. The first four miles of the hike will take you through a scenic canyon with high, rocky walls that are quite like many here in Utah. Scan the walls for mountain goats and birds of prey. The route is well traveled and easy; very little elevation gain means you can set a brisk pace and reach Lower Palisades Lake in under two hours.
The lower lake is a popular spot for day hikers and sport fishermen. Just before arriving at the lake you will switchback up an old rockslide- it’s the reason that the lake is there today. Both Lower and Upper Palisades Lakes were formed when slides pinched off the stream. Continue on the main trail and contour around the lake. Upstream is a large open meadow that measures more than a mile in length; it’s the perfect place for early morning/evening animal watching. At the end of the meadow sits an emergency cabin built by the Forest Service. You cannot camp there (well, unless it’s an emergency) but it’s worth checking out. Return to the trail and get ready for the hardest mile of hiking.
Hillsides stacked with wildflowers and dense pine forests will keep you motivated as you make your way to Upper Palisades Lake. It’s well worth the effort: the upper lake is large (over 16,000 acres) and the scenery is jaw- droppingly beautiful. The peaks of the Snake River Range close in 3/4 of the lake and there are several spots where you can get right up to the shoreline. Soak it all in and return the way you came. Total distance to Upper Palisades Lake is 8 miles; an out and back trip will require a full day of hiking.
Why not spend a night or two on the lake? There is a backcountry campsite just off the main trail near shore, but most of the sites are near the junction for Waterfall and Vacation Canyons on the southeast side. Set up base camp and explore the Caribou-Targhee National Forest by day hiking. A great option is Waterfall Canyon- the trail journeys through deep forests, past moraine fields and glacial ponds, and ends in a large meadow with two outstanding waterfalls. Numerous trails depart from the upper lake area, and you could spend several days scouting the region.
Getting There: From Salt Lake City, take I-15 North to Idaho Falls, ID. Turn on to US-26 East and follow it to Swan Valley. Turn left onto Palisades Creek Road 7.2 miles outside of town. The trailhead and campground are 2.2 miles up the well maintained gravel road.
Maps: The Palisades Ranger district website has printable topo maps for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, find them at this link: www.fs.fed.us/r4/caribou-targhee/caribou-targhee/palisades/maps.shtml
Dogs: Dogs allowed on trail and in streams/lakes; use caution as the trail is very popular with day hikers and horseback riders.
Special Precautions: this is grizzly bear country- carry bear spray and know how to use it; hang bear bags when camping and always practice Leave No Trace ethics
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