Dropping in on more of Idaho

On the drive from the Grand Teton area to Craters of the Moon, we dropped in on Hell’s half acre. Although not a national park (or even a State park) Hell’s half acre is a lava field of more than 68,000 acres with one “hell” of a trail system on top of the lava itself.  It is a National Natural Landmark, and a wilderness study area. It appears that overnight backpacking is allowed, which I’m not so sure I would ever want to do… sleeping on lava seems hard! We were in the processes of a long day’s drive, so we stayed only long enough for Kerri and me to snap a few photos and let the dogs run around a bit. It was a nice precursor to what lay ahead at Craters of the Moon.

PS – you can easily overnight at the trailhead parking lot. With space for a large rig or two, a fire ring, tables, and even a porta-potty, it would have been a great location to stop, go for an afternoon hike, then stay the night (or two).

Following the two day at Craters of the Moon, we had planned the rest of the week to be free-camping at the Hayspur Fish Hatchery. The hatchery has a large grassy field in which campers are allowed to stay up to 10-days for free (donations accepted) and this sounded just amazing.

Hayspur Hatchery was the first Idaho hatchery and was built in 1907. Egg collection from broodstock dates back to 1910. Hatchery work and stocking occurred in the early 1920s. – Dept Fish & Game

I must admit that the place looked fantastic in the pictures on Campendium.com, but the reality was very different. Kerri felt it too, and though neither of us could say we disliked the place, we both wanted something more than just a free place to camp for the week. We wanted something “special” after weeks of camping in very special locations… something more than just dried-grass field with dozens of others around running their generators from 7am to 10pm. So, after two nights – one of which we got to hang out with the Nomadic Neighbors some more – we packed up and left by 7am.