Page 570 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

568  THE ROCKIES

westward-bound wagons. Some
pioneers avoided the crossing.
Instead, they would continue
along the river’s barren south
bank before rejoining the main
trail west of Boise.
Today, the park offers a
campground and numerous
picnic areas. At the park’s Oregon
Trail History and Education
Center, visitors can learn about
the life of the early pioneers and
settlers, and about the Native
Americans in this area. Displays
Skaters outside Sun Valley Lodge, Sun Valley include replicas of the Conestoga
wagons used by pioneers and
6 Sun Valley most visitors never stray the original wagon ruts.
beyond Sun Valley and
~ n 491 Sun Valley Rd, Ketchum,
(208) 726-3423. ∑ visitsunvalley. Ketchum, the surrounding 8 Bruneau Dunes
com landscape is filled with other
recreational options. Bicyclists State Park
Developed in the late 1930s by can follow the 20-mile (32-km) Hwy 78 (off State Hwy 51).
the Union Pacific Railroad Wood River Trail, along the old Tel Mountain Home, (208) 366-7919.
baron Averell Harriman, Sun Union Pacific Railroad right-of- Open 24 hours daily. Campground:
Valley is one of the oldest and way. The Wood River is also a & 7 ∑ parksandrecreation.
highest-profile winter resorts prime trout-fishing stream, idaho.gov
in the US. The construction of while to the north, the majestic
the Tyrolean-style Sun Valley Sawtooth National Recreation Immediately south of the Snake
Lodge (see p592) and the Area (see p567) offers pristine River, at the foot of the high-
adjacent ski area was hiking and camping country. desert Owyhee Mountains, a
completed in 1936, after which surprising sight arises from the
Harriman was inspired to invite E Sun Valley Museum of History surrounding sagebush plains.
Hollywood movie stars and 180 1st St E at Washington Ave (in Some of the largest sand dunes
other members of the glitterati the Forest Service Park). Tel (208) 726- in North America, the Bruneau
to enjoy his facilities. Sun 8118. Open 1–5pm Tue–Sat. 7 Dunes rise to heights of
Valley’s fame was thus ensured ∑ comlib.org/museum nearly 500 ft (152 m). They are
by the presence of celebrities protected from the destructive
such as Errol Flynn, Gary impacts of cars, motorcycles,
Cooper, Clark Gable, and 7 Three Island and dune buggies within one
Ernest Hemingway. Since then, Crossing State Park of Idaho’s largest state parks.
the Olympic-quality skiing on A visitor center explains how
the well-groomed slopes of Off I-84, Glenns Ferry Exit. n Glenns these quartz and feldspar sand
the 9,151-ft (2,789-m) Bald Ferry, (208) 366-2394. Campground: dunes were formed, and why
Mountain has continued to ∑ parksandrecreation.idaho.gov they are not blown away. The
draw an exclusive clientele reason for this phenomenon is
during the season between One of the most evocative simple: prevailing winds blow
November and April. The sights along the historic Oregon from opposite directions for
resort also commissioned Trail (see p446) is the famous roughly equal amounts of time,
the world’s first ski lift. Three Islands Crossing, which which keep the dunes fairly
Before the 1930s, however, provided one of the few safe stable. There are also specimens
the area was a mining and places for emigrants to cross of local wildlife on display,
sheep-ranching center, the dangerous Snake River. The including a short-eared owl. A
based in the adjacent town ford was in use until 1869, small astronomical observatory
of Ketchum. This town still when Gus Glenn began is often open to the public.
retains many of its rugged operating a ferry 2 miles (3 km) The park encompasses a variety
frontier characteristics, upstream. Not all attempts of habitats such as marsh, prairie,
despite the influx of multi- at crossing, however, were and desert. Wildlife includes snakes
million-dollar successful. Depending and lizards, and birds such as owls
vacation homes. on the time of year and eagles. A few small lakes lie
The region’s and the level at the foot of the dunes where
history is on of the water, it visitors can go fishing in canoes or
view in the Sun sometimes rubber rafts. Other activities offered
Valley Museum The Hemingway Memorial, proved fatal to are camping, sandboarding,
of History. Although Sun Valley the pioneers in the and horseback riding.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp592–3 and pp594–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm