Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Tr United States Forest Intermountain Targhee Department of Service Region National Forest Agriculture os In cooperation with idaho State Parks and Recreation _ E V A R D S R O M ‘HE SOUTH END of Mesa Falls Scenic Byway begins _at the junction of U.S. Highway 20 and State oo Highway 47 in the agricultural community of Ashton, Idaho. Traveling east you pass through roll- ing fields of seed potatoes, barley, and alfalfa. Views of Grand Teton Mountain Range offer a dramatic oe eo . : : As you tee the cinteny, eich for the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and its two tributaries Warm | ae and Bobinsoe Creek in Three Rivers Canyon. - The climb: outo f the canyon area is up the side of a one of the largest volcanic craters in the United Le ‘States. This caldera is 23 miles across. - Traveling ough Targhee National Forest, you follow the same route early travelers took to Yellowstone _ National Park. Some rode in “white top buggies’. | _ Others chose passenger trains operated by Union Pacific Railroad from 1909 until the late 1940's. The : railroad grade is visible east of the ey along : Warm River. S ope ond ‘Lower Mesa Falls provide coeciacular scenery along the Byway. In the winter, they are . popular destinations for snowmobilers and cross- _ country skiers. Visitor facilities at pepe Mesa Falls . are handicapped accessible. Along ihe remaining 12 ae af the Byway, you _ pass through elk migration routes, timber harvest aes firewood gathering aar eas, and livestock rapes Aoriman State Park is iocied one mile south of the _ Byway at its northern junction with U.S. Highway _ 20. Learn more about the history, geology, and _ wildlife of the area as you walk along the trails of _the historic Railroad Ranch. To the north is the com- munity of Island Park which boasts the longest main street in the world. MESA FALLS SCENIC BYWAY 1. Town of Ashton . - 165 mi 2. Cave Falls ee 27.50 3. Warm River Campground 6 4. Bear Guich .... ==. lll. LCL 5. Lower Mesa Falls . — rr—“( 6. Warm River Springs BU 7. Pole Bridge Campground. a 8. Riverside Campground. .1 60m | 9. Osborne oe — OS Ashton Ranger District . island Park Ranger District Ashton Chamber of Commerc | HAVE YOU NOTICED caplenes working at. Falls peenic Area wear two differenot e 3 :a in formationf acility.a T iil HENLE ud THT YEARS GONE BY IN THE 1930's, Lower Mesa Falls was chosen for a Civilian Conservation Corps project. CCC crews con- structed a beautiful stone overlook which is still in excellent condition today. Before construction of U.S. Highway 20 in the late 1950's, Mesa Falls Highway was the primary route to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The road was grueling to say the least. Big Falls Inn constructed at the turn of the century at Upper Mesa Falls was an ideal halfway respite on the journey. In 1986 Upper Mesa Falls came into public owner- ship. It had exchanged hands many times with each owner planning to construct facilities for power generation. Lower Mesa Falls has always been Na- tional Forest system lands. 4 HNN AOUINOA RICULTURAL 1022442903 EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS Idaho State Police es 208/522-5141 Amopulance;Sherit-rremont County) 20 2. ee ee 911 Report Fires to: Targhee NF Dispatcher ........ 208/624-3031 or 208/624-3011 Emergency Phones: Ashton, Harriman State Park, & Warm River CG ' The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is a diverse organization committed to equal opportunity in employment and program delivery. USDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or familial status. Persons believing they have been discriminated against should contact the Secretary, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 202-720-7327 (voice), or 202-720-1127 (TDD). 23.178.415.05/94