State Parks: Harriman

Located in eastern Idaho 130 miles north of Pocatello is Harriman State Park. Not to be confused with the state park of the same name in New York, Idaho’s Harriman State Park is an 11,000-acre wildlife refuge.

The park is within Henry’s Fork Caldera, a crater formed by a major volcanic eruption that caused the mouth of the volcano to collapse. But not to fear; you’re not at risk of getting burned alive or blown to bits by a volcano if you choose to visit this park.

The land making up the park was donated to the state of Idaho in 1977 by Roland E. and W. Averell Harriman. It is also part of a much larger region located within areas of northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana and other parts of eastern Idaho, called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is known for being one of the last largely undisturbed ecosystems in all of the earth’s northern temperate zone. As far as flora and fauna are concerned, this region looks much like it did when the first European settlers crisscrossed the area hundreds of years ago. Harriman State Park specifically is home to a large number of moose and elk, and fortunate people may even catch a glimpse of the occasional black or grizzly bear.

Many tourists are drawn to the park every year in the hopes of seeing an amazing array of birds. One of the most common is the trumpeter swan. How common? Well, two-thirds of all trumpeter swans who winter in the lower 48 states reside here! Trumpeter swans are the largest species of waterfowl, weighing as much as 30 pounds and possessing a maximum wingspan of 10 feet. Another common bird seen in the park is the sandhill crane. These birds are distinguished by their long bill and even longer legs, gray plumage and red patches on top of their heads.

The park is known for other activities as well. In the summer, visitors often go horseback riding, bird-watching, hiking, and even take historic Railroad Ranch tours. On the other hand, wintertime in Harriman State Park can be fun too, especially if you like skiing, snowshoeing or fat bike riding. There’s so much to do in Harriman State Park that there’s a little something for everyone here.

HARRIMAN STATE PARK SCAVENGER HUNT

As you explore Harriman State Park, see if you can find all of the items on this list. Ask a ranger or park employee if you need help identifying one or more of the items on this list. Be sure to check them off as you go!

[ ] a park sign

[ ] a waterfowl

[ ] a pinecone

[ ] an animal with visible ears

[ ] a tall tree

[ ] a winding river

[ ] an animal that lives in a tree

[ ] an insect that can fly

[ ] a peculiar-shaped leaf

[ ] an animal that is neither a bird nor mammal (e.g. bat, beetle, spider, frog, lizard, etc.)