Summary
Some good reasons to visit include camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. The park sits on the banks of the Snake River and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
One of the main points of interest is the Farewell Bend Trail, which winds through the park and provides excellent opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. Other interesting features include the park's campground, boat launch, and picnic areas.
Interesting facts about the area include its history as a stop on the Oregon Trail, as well as its use as a filming location for the movie "Pale Rider". The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, river otters, and mule deer.
The best time of year to visit Farewell Bend State Recreation Area is during the summer months, when the weather is sunny and warm. However, visitors can also enjoy the park during the spring and fall, when the foliage is changing and the crowds are smaller.
Overall, Farewell Bend State Recreation Area offers visitors a unique outdoor experience in the beautiful state of Idaho.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Spring Recreation Site
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Spring
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Oasis
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Catfish Junction RV Park
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