Caldera, Rivers and Springs

Island Park is an ancient volcanic caldera with scenic mountain ranges, streams and springs. The area's waters drain into the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, Henrys Lake and the Island Park Reservoir. This brings different types of water together in the landscape: spring and stream water, a river, a lake and a reservoir. If you're deciding where to travel, this is a specific highlight to consider if you'd like to include springs and waterways in your choice of destination alongside mountain scenery.

At Big Springs, 120 million gallons of crystal-clear water emerge from the ground each day, forming the headwaters of the Henrys Fork. Big Springs is therefore connected to the source of this river, while Henrys Lake and the Island Park Reservoir are among the destinations of the area's drainage. For travelers who want to understand the landscape through its waterways, this relationship distinguishes a spring and river from a lake and reservoir.

Big Springs and Johnny Sack Cabin

Johnny Sack Cabin is located near Big Springs, five miles east of Mack’s Inn on Highway 20 in Island Park, Idaho. A short paved footpath leads to the cabin from the Big Springs campground. The building is of architectural and artistic significance because of its distinctive craftsmanship. This focuses attention on the design of a single building and adds a cultural theme to the natural setting at Big Springs. The directions via Mack’s Inn and the footpath from the campground are different ways to find your bearings: one places the cabin in the wider area, while the other describes how to reach the building. If you’d like to appreciate architecture during a nature-focused stay, this is a specific cultural point of interest at Big Springs.

Snowmobile Trails in the Island Park Area

The Island Park area has more than 950 miles of groomed trails to explore by snowmobile. The snowmobile trails are groomed daily.

Henrys Lake and Lakeside Camping

Henrys Lake is one of the bodies of water into which the Island Park area drains. The Henrys Lake State Park campgrounds are located on the shore of the 6,000-acre lake. The drainage relationship places the lake in the landscape; the lakeside location describes where the campgrounds are. If you’re considering camping as an overnight option, this location is a specific point to consider when planning. Big Springs forms the headwaters of the Henrys Fork; by contrast, the Henrys Lake State Park campgrounds are located on the lake shore.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

These are a named cultural point of interest, an activity across a larger area and a specific camping location—different starting points for planning. Shape your search around what matters most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: St. Anthony, Teton.

For the broader travel overview: Fremont.