Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park lies in the heart of a 16,000-acre wildlife reserve in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This sanctuary protects a diversity of birds and mammals similar to those living in nearby Yellowstone National Park. more info
Harriman State Park Listings: (add your listing)
Trout Hunter Fly Fishing Lodge - #1 in Island Park
Inspired by Rene Harrop, we have the best guides and fly shop specializing in the Henry's Fork, especially the Railroad Ranch section. HQ'd in Last Chance on the river.
(208) 558-9900
The Railroad Ranch
In 1902, several officials of the Oregon Shortline Railroad and other investors purchased what is now Harriman State Park. Called the Railroad Ranch, the property was the private retreat of the Harrimans of Union Pacific Railroad fame and the Guggenheims, then prominent in copper.
The rich wildlife habitat has been preserved since the turn of the century when the owners established a private hunting reserve and working cattle ranch. For 75 years, the ranch maintained healthy game, waterfowl and fish populations, allowing todays park visitors to observe a rare concentration of wildlife in its scenic, natural surrounding.
Twenty-seven of the original Railroad Ranch buildings, from the cookhouse to the horse barn, are still intact, furnished and carefully maintained.
Overnight Stays
Although camping is not available, the group facility is open year-round. It is perfect for overnight church outings, family reunions and ski weekends with friends. If you're looking for a little more privacy for your small group, how about renting the original Ranch Manager's House? This four-bedroom log home has a modern kitchen, a rustic knotty-pine living room with a stone fireplace and a screened sun porch. It is fully furnished and rents for $150 per night. There is a non-refundable $25 reservation fee. Call 208-558-7368 to reserve the group facility or Ranch Manager's House.
Activities
During the summer there are regular tours of the Railroad Ranch buildings. Fishing, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking are other ways to experience the beauty of the area. Dont forget to bring your camera. There are breath-taking wildflower displays in the sage meadows and pastureland which dominate the landscape. Visitors often see elk, deer and moose, particularly in the morning and evening. The views of the Tetons are spectacular.
When winter comes, grab your cross-country skis. You can ski to the warming houseopen on weekendsand look out over the Henrys Fork to watch bald eagles and trumpeter swans.
Henry's Fork
Meandering nine miles through park meadows and forests, the Henrys Fork of the Snake River flows gently year-round, because of warm springs in the area. One third of the Rocky Mountain trumpeter swan population winters here. Trumpeter swans are the largest of North American waterfowl and the worlds heaviest flying bird. The fly fishing on this stream is world famous.
Contact Information
Location: 3489 E. Highway 20 (20 miles north of Ashton)
Mailing Address: HC 66, Box 500, Island Park, ID 83429
Phone: 208-558-7368,
Fax: 208-558-7045
E-Mail: HAR@idpr.state.id.us
FAQ's
Where can I camp?
- Henry's Lake State Park, 1/2 hour away, or at Forest Service campgrounds nearby
Where are the trains?
- There have never been trains at the Railroad Ranch. It was called that because the owners were investors in the railroad.
West Yellowstone, MT Weather
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Custer State Park
Visit Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota on your way to or from the Yellowstone region.
