Monday August 4th we left Idaho Falls and traveled west to the little town of Arco ID home of the first Atomic Power Plant in the US and also Craters of the Moon Natl. Park.
After getting set up at the KOA we went down to the Craters of the Moon. This is 750 acres of lava flow from a Volcano that last erupted 2000 years ago. It sure is a weird looking area. We drove a seven mile loop road through the lava flow. One place where there was a vent there was still snow down in the hole.
Tuesday we toured the EBR Atomic Power Plant which first generated usable electricity in 1951 and furnished electricity for the town of Arco. This facility known as the Idaho National Laboratory does a lot of experimental work for military and homeland security. They also operate one of the largest areas to dispose of nuclear waste. The waste from Three Mile Island was transported here.
Wednesday August 6th we left Arco and moved south to Twin Falls ID. We went in town to the visitor’s center located on the canyon rim of the Snake River. The bridge over the Canyon is 750 feet above the water and there were “Base Jumpers” parachuting off the bridge down onto the river bank below. We watched eight different jumpers while we were there. From the visitors center you can also see the ramp Evil Knievel used in his 1974 attempt to jump the canyon.
Thursday we went to the Twin Falls which are claimed to be 50 feet higher than Niagara Falls. They are nice, but not as impressive as Niagara.
Friday we took our bikes and rode the canyon rim trail. Later we went to the mall and checked out the Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Saturday August 9th we left Twin Falls and headed back to Wyoming with stops at Brigham City, UT and Rock Springs WY.
Monday we left Rock Springs and traveled east to Rawlins, WY and the Western Hills RV Park.
Tuesday we toured the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. This prison was used from 1903 until 1982. The tour included the cell blocks, kitchen and dining area, gas chamber and gallows.
After the prison tour we took the car and went to Fort Fred Steele State Historic site.
This Fort was on the North Platte River and was built to protect the railroad from the Indians. The fort was in operation from 1868 thru 1886. This area is now used as cattle and sheep ranching.
On the way back to Rawlins we drove by a large Sinclair oil refinery in a town of the same name.
Wednesday August 13th we left Rawlins and traveled north to Casper, WY stopping on the way at Independence Rock which is located on the old Oregon, California and Mormon Trail. Here thousands of immigrants passed here and carved their names in the granite rock. This landmark marked one third of the way on their 2,000 mile trek to their destinations. You can still see wagon ruts near the base of the rock.
After arriving at Casper and getting set up we went to the Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This is a great center showing the history of the trials and tribulations of the emigrants traveling west to new lives. They had a movie and many nice displays showing the obstacles encountered on the way west.
We then went to Fort Caspar on the North Platte River where there is the reconstructed fort along with replicas of the old toll bridge and ferry emigrants used to cross the river.
Thursday August 14th we left Casper and moved east forty miles to Douglas, WY.
At Douglas we visited Ft. Fetterman which was one of the forts built to protect the Bozeman Trail which went up through the Powder River Basin. After the trail was closed in 1867 the forts were decommissioned.
We then went over to Ayers Natural Bridge State Park, which is a natural arch in the stone over LaPrele Creek. This is a beautiful park in a red rock canyon. This park is located just off I-25.
Friday August 15th we took a ride to the Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic site near Guernsey WY. These are the deepest wagon ruts of the trail system, cut into solid rock at a location to avoid fording the North Platte River. We also went to Register Cliff another site where many emigrants cut their names into the rock surface.
From Register Cliff we went to Fort Laramie Nat’l Historic Site. This fort served as a staging area for both peaceful and hostile dealings with the plains Indians including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Saturday we went into Douglas and the Railroad Interpretive Center located at the old, but nicely restored Railroad Depot. They have several restored rail cars plus a large steam locomotive on display. Douglas was once the end of the line on what is now the Casper spur.
Monday August 18th we visited the Pioneer Museum in Douglas. This is a very nice museum with an amazing amount of displays. In the afternoon we did laundry.
After getting set up at the KOA we went down to the Craters of the Moon. This is 750 acres of lava flow from a Volcano that last erupted 2000 years ago. It sure is a weird looking area. We drove a seven mile loop road through the lava flow. One place where there was a vent there was still snow down in the hole.
Tuesday we toured the EBR Atomic Power Plant which first generated usable electricity in 1951 and furnished electricity for the town of Arco. This facility known as the Idaho National Laboratory does a lot of experimental work for military and homeland security. They also operate one of the largest areas to dispose of nuclear waste. The waste from Three Mile Island was transported here.
Wednesday August 6th we left Arco and moved south to Twin Falls ID. We went in town to the visitor’s center located on the canyon rim of the Snake River. The bridge over the Canyon is 750 feet above the water and there were “Base Jumpers” parachuting off the bridge down onto the river bank below. We watched eight different jumpers while we were there. From the visitors center you can also see the ramp Evil Knievel used in his 1974 attempt to jump the canyon.
Thursday we went to the Twin Falls which are claimed to be 50 feet higher than Niagara Falls. They are nice, but not as impressive as Niagara.
Friday we took our bikes and rode the canyon rim trail. Later we went to the mall and checked out the Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Saturday August 9th we left Twin Falls and headed back to Wyoming with stops at Brigham City, UT and Rock Springs WY.
Monday we left Rock Springs and traveled east to Rawlins, WY and the Western Hills RV Park.
Tuesday we toured the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. This prison was used from 1903 until 1982. The tour included the cell blocks, kitchen and dining area, gas chamber and gallows.
After the prison tour we took the car and went to Fort Fred Steele State Historic site.
This Fort was on the North Platte River and was built to protect the railroad from the Indians. The fort was in operation from 1868 thru 1886. This area is now used as cattle and sheep ranching.
On the way back to Rawlins we drove by a large Sinclair oil refinery in a town of the same name.
Wednesday August 13th we left Rawlins and traveled north to Casper, WY stopping on the way at Independence Rock which is located on the old Oregon, California and Mormon Trail. Here thousands of immigrants passed here and carved their names in the granite rock. This landmark marked one third of the way on their 2,000 mile trek to their destinations. You can still see wagon ruts near the base of the rock.
After arriving at Casper and getting set up we went to the Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This is a great center showing the history of the trials and tribulations of the emigrants traveling west to new lives. They had a movie and many nice displays showing the obstacles encountered on the way west.
We then went to Fort Caspar on the North Platte River where there is the reconstructed fort along with replicas of the old toll bridge and ferry emigrants used to cross the river.
Thursday August 14th we left Casper and moved east forty miles to Douglas, WY.
At Douglas we visited Ft. Fetterman which was one of the forts built to protect the Bozeman Trail which went up through the Powder River Basin. After the trail was closed in 1867 the forts were decommissioned.
We then went over to Ayers Natural Bridge State Park, which is a natural arch in the stone over LaPrele Creek. This is a beautiful park in a red rock canyon. This park is located just off I-25.
Friday August 15th we took a ride to the Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic site near Guernsey WY. These are the deepest wagon ruts of the trail system, cut into solid rock at a location to avoid fording the North Platte River. We also went to Register Cliff another site where many emigrants cut their names into the rock surface.
From Register Cliff we went to Fort Laramie Nat’l Historic Site. This fort served as a staging area for both peaceful and hostile dealings with the plains Indians including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Saturday we went into Douglas and the Railroad Interpretive Center located at the old, but nicely restored Railroad Depot. They have several restored rail cars plus a large steam locomotive on display. Douglas was once the end of the line on what is now the Casper spur.
Monday August 18th we visited the Pioneer Museum in Douglas. This is a very nice museum with an amazing amount of displays. In the afternoon we did laundry.
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