Tetóns West

West Yellowstone was my last stop in Montana, before heading south on US-20 into Idaho. I planned to skirt the west side of the Tetón Range to find some boondocking camps. After Island Park, a turn onto ID-47 tracked closer to the mountains.

Waterfall tumbling down

Upper Mesa Falls

There were several forest roads that led to suitable boondocking spots, but the scenery did nothing for me. About 14 miles along was Upper and Lower Mesa Falls on the Henrys Fork of Snake River. I stopped for a look and they were very impressive indeed.

Raging waterfall in canyon

Lower Mesa Falls

(Warm River ID)
Eventually, I found a boondock camp about a quarter mile off the highway in the forest. A clearing with several fire rings means it was often used for dispersed camping. But, this time I was the only one there.

River winding through hills

Warm River

(Driggs ID)
After visiting a couple of galleries in Driggs, I found a free campsite out on the flats. It set next to an S bend in the Tetón River with a view of the Grand Tetóns in the distance.

Jagged mountain peaks

Grand Tetóns from the West

It rained every day, so I got caught up on internet work and planned the next leg of the journey. Wanted to go up the mountain, on the west side of the Grand Tetóns, but the weather prevented any decent views.

(Victor ID)
At one of the gallery visits, someone told me about an open studio event down the road in Victor. So, I went to check it out. Got to meet well known painter Scott Christensen and see his latest artwork.

River on the prairie with cloudy sky

Tetón River

Scott turned out to be a very nice guy who knew some of the same artists that I do. Loved his paintings, especially the small plein air field sketches.

(Palisades ID)
Pulled over for a break from driving in the rain. The Palisades Reservoir appeared to be pretty low, and it was difficult to photograph.

Lake with mountains on the other side

Palisades Reservoir

Had thought to camp by the lake, and there were a few boondock sites. But, it was still too early in the day.

(Alpine WY)
A car show in Alpine attracted my attention. By the time I had finished gawking at the cars, it was lunch time.

Old cars on display

Car Show in Alpine

So, I went to the Yankee Doodle Café and had a chili-burger; an open-face topped with chili, onions, and melted cheese with a side of sweet potato fries. All I can say is, it was decadent and delicious!

River with grassy islands

Salt River

(Smoot WY)
Stopped at a large pullout atop Salt River Pass for an overnight. At 7,615 ft it had some nice views. There was a short break in the rain, so I got a few photos.

Hilly valley with mountains

Salt River Pass Overlook

(Garden City UT)
The rain had ceased for a while as I went past Bear Lake. The lake was a pretty aqua color, but otherwise not as scenic as I remembered from many years ago.

Beach, lake, mountains

Bear Lake

The trip down the west side of the Tetón Mountains didn’t turn-out like I had hoped. Too much rain prevented exploring the area. But, it still was a nice drive.

Camps: Boondocks – Targhee NF, Bridger NF
Scene: Lakes, rivers, waterfalls, mountains

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6 Responses to Tetóns West

  1. Gypsy August 29, 2014 at 6:13 pm #

    I really love the pictures. I would love to see the Tetons again, but not on that road through the Park. Just too many vehicles and people.

    • Pleinguy September 2, 2014 at 1:10 am #

      Avoiding the crowds is why I chose to go around the west side. Never had to deal with the masses in the park, because I wasn’t there.

  2. Brad August 31, 2014 at 2:24 am #

    What fantastic pictures! I wish we had waterfalls that beautiful in Iowa. I sure enjoy the pics… It’s fun to take a moment to kick back and ride along on your journeys… Thanks for sharing! — Van Trekker

    • Pleinguy September 2, 2014 at 1:12 am #

      Glad you enjoy the pix and the posts Brad. Stay tuned, there is more to come.

  3. Anonymous September 3, 2014 at 5:46 pm #

    Hi! We really enjoy your blog. Great pics and thanks for including all the boondocking info. We are new Lazy Daze owners and hope to explore many of the places you have visited.

    Diana and Mark Furtak
    PS: I paint (hobby), too. Love S. Christensen’s work!

    • Pleinguy September 4, 2014 at 6:42 pm #

      Thanks for following my journey and for leaving a comment. You’ve chosen a great RV; now, get out there and paint! BTW, normally Anonymous is automatically deleted, so please choose a name.

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