Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Recreational Information

So much to do and see
Facts about the Forest
Eastern Idaho Visitor Center
Opportunities
Wilderness Regulations
Insect Repellent Information

So Much To Do & See

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest boasts rugged mountains, fertile valleys, rivers, varied wildlife, campgrounds, wilderness, adventure, solitude and scenery enough to saturate your aesthetic cravings.

A National Forest is more than trees and camping, hiking, fishing and hunting. You can enjoy the magnificence of the mountains; the serenity of the wilderness; the miracles of spring flowers, baby animals and majestic big game; the sound of birds while horseback riding; a camping trip; and the fun of a summer picnic in your National Forest - the Land of Many Uses, or rent a rustic cabin.

So, leave your stress behind and spend time with nature. In a few hours from any place on the Forest you can pull into a campground. Pitch your tent and spend a great get-away weekend fishing for the big ones or dabbling a hook in the stream, swimming, canoeing and cooking over a campfire. See local fire restrictions.

You want to go farther from civilization? Space for backpacking is almost limitless. Please consult Forest Service maps and handouts for information on where to go and how to get there.

Woodcutting, a popular family outing, starts early in the summer and continues through the fall. Contact your local Ranger District for information and a woodcutting permit.

These suggestions only scratch the surface. When you play on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, let your imagination lead you to exciting and safe adventures in the out-of-doors.

Eastern Idaho Visitor Center:

The Eastern Idaho Visitor Center provides the public an opportunity to take care of all their recreation needs in one convenient location. Customers can acquire everything they need to enjoy the great outdoors. This is just a small sampling of what is available:

• Federal Recreation Passes - Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest firewood and christmas tree permits
• Registration for snowmobiles, ATV/motorcycle, and boat
• Idaho State Park Pass (VIP)
• State of Idaho Park & Ski parking permits

Don't forget to pick up your favorite maps to accompany your outdoor journeys. The visitor center sells a wide array of recreational and hunting maps including National Forest maps, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) surface management maps, and the 7.5 minute quad sheets from United States Geological Survey maps (USGS). For more information, click gmartinstraus@msn.com

You can register your off-highway-vehicle (OHV) at the Eastern Idaho Visitor Center.

Facts about the Forest:

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest and Curlew National Grasslands offer a variety of recreational opportunities. The following is information about the area:

National Scenic or Historic Trails:

• Oregon Trail
• Continental Divide Trail
• Lander Trail
• Palisades Creek Trail
• Hudspeth Trail Cutoff

National Recreation Trails:

• Big Springs Water Trail
• Highline Trail
• Wright’s Creek Trail

Scenic Byways:

• Mesa Falls
• Bear Lake-Caribou
• Pioneer Historic
• Fort Henry Historic Byway and Lost Gold Trails Loop

Opportunities

For more information on recreation opportunities on all public lands, not just Forest Service lands, please visit www.recreation.gov or the Public Lands Information Center to find recreation opportunities in the state or across the nation!

Wilderness Regulations

Wilderness is defined as a portion of land set aside by an Act of Congress that will remain unspoiled for future generations. A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where humans and their works dominate that landscape, is recognized as an area where "the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." There are two wilderness areas on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest