Author: Anna Medlin
As part of my thesis with Idaho’s Department of Parks and Recreation, I had the incredible opportunity to visit all nine state parks involved in my research study. Coming from the East Coast, I quickly realized just how vast Idaho truly is—some of these parks were over 10 hours away from my home base in Moscow, Idaho. To make the most of this journey, I decided to dedicate three weeks in June to road-tripping around the state with my best friend from back home, Kathryn. While I managed to visit the parks in the North Region close to Moscow (Priest Lake, Hells Gate, and Dworshak) on shorter trips, the remaining six parks were part of this grand adventure.
For each park, our goal was to inventory their stationary interpretive media, including visitor center exhibits, park films, wayside panels, trailheads, and more, by photographing them. The purpose of this inventory was twofold: to provide park management with a current overview of the stories being told in the park and to assess how these align with or deviate from the interpretive themes I developed during interviews conducted in the previous spring semester.
Our road trip kicked off on June 3rd, departing from Moscow and heading to Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho. We spent three days in this park, guided by the incredible park staff, including interpretive ranger Amanda Grant. A highlight of our stay was kayaking along the park’s interpretive water trail on a perfect, sunny summer day. McCall itself was a charming town, offering plenty to explore when we weren’t hiking or documenting signage.
Next, we drove down to Boise to visit Lucky Peak State Park, where we met with the park manager, Surat Nicol. Surat gave us an insightful tour of the park’s three distinct units, showcasing the stunning beauty of this area, which serves as a vital recreation outlet for Boise’s residents. Although we only spent half a day at this park, we had the chance to walk along the Boise Greenbelt, where we encountered an interactive solar system display along the path.
After Lucky Peak, we continued our journey to Thousand Springs State Park near Hagerman, Idaho. It’s truly astonishing how dramatically Idaho’s landscape can change within a single day of driving. We stayed in the historic Yellow House on the park’s Ritter Island Unit, where I distinctly remember being moved to tears by the sheer beauty of the waterfalls surrounding us—an unexpected oasis in arid Idaho. We spent a couple of days exploring all seven units of the park, cooling off by hiking down to Box Canyon and swimming in its crystal-clear waters. Niagara Springs quickly became one of my favorite spots, though the signage was sparse and spread out, encouraging us to explore every corner of the park.
We took a break from inventorying interpretive media to spend the weekend experiencing the awe-inspiring rock formations at Castle Rocks State Park and City of Rocks National Reserve in the southern part of the state. The stunning mountains and scenery were far beyond what I had expected, and we enjoyed our time staying in the Lodge at Castle Rocks, catching up on much-needed sleep, bouldering at City of Rocks, and chatting with fellow park guests.
Our work resumed as we left Idaho and drove through Utah to reach Bear Lake State Park. We made a quick stop in Logan, Utah, to do laundry and meet a colleague I’d connected with at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference back in May. The drive through Logan Canyon to the state park at sunset was surreal, and we were treated to a stunning sunrise the next morning as we camped beside the lake. That day, I met with the park manager, Andy Stokes, who guided me around the various interpretive waysides and shared insights on incorporating indigenous voices into the park’s narrative.
That afternoon, we drove up to Ashton, Idaho, to meet with the Ashton-Tetonia Trail ranger, Abby Rossman. The trail, just under 30 miles long, has only one sign, so Abby drove us to its location. We were rewarded with a crystal-clear day offering breathtaking views of the Teton Range.
The final state park on our itinerary was Harriman State Park in Island Park, Idaho. We spent three days hiking roughly six miles to reach the park’s numerous interpretive signs, assisted by ranger Kyle Babbitt, who helped us access the more remote interpretive media. We also joined an interpretive program that showcased the historic ranch homes in the park and were thrilled to spot a moose along the roadside—a special moment, as Kathryn’s favorite animal is the moose, and this was her first time seeing one in the wild.
To celebrate completing all the park inventories, we explored the nearby iconic Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, marveling at the towering peaks of the Tetons and the hundreds of bison in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. Overall, this research adventure was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visiting the parks I’d been studying so closely throughout the spring semester and seeing the tangible resources I helped turn into interpretive themes was incredibly rewarding. Now back in Moscow, I’m sorting through the inventory media photos, fondly reminiscing on the breathtaking beauty of Scenic Idaho.
Comentarios