|
The South Fork of the Snake River
is one of the top fly fishing destinations in the United States.
It's world-class waters, flowing through a pristine setting, boast
trophy-size native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, brown trout and
rainbow trout.
 With approximately 65 miles of excellent fly
fishing,
anglers can cast to deep pools,
slick runs and well-oxygenated riffles along the many islands and
braids.
The South Fork also presents an
outstanding experience for flat water rafting, canoeing and
kayaking, and the wildlife that inhabit this waterway provides visual
pleasure for the casual floater as well as the expert
ornithologist. Bald eagles and osprey are prevalent and moose are
seen regularly in the river bottom.
The
2004-2005 season marked a
 dramatic change in fishing the South Fork
when Idaho Fish and Game opened this entire waterway to year-round
fishing.
Resort-style accommodations,
restaurants, fly shops and outfitters are sprinkled throughout the
quaint towns of Swan Valley and Irwin that nestle along the banks of
the river. Best of all, the opportunities for buying or
building your dream retirement home or vacation retreat are
plentiful. This unspoiled valley offers one of the most
affordable recreation areas in the West.
 Visit the pages of
the area's newest recreational property development,
Swan Springs.
Live amidst a protected wetland, at the edge of trout-filled
streams, and only moments from the
banks of the South Fork--all
within an hour of the west's best ski resorts.
Swan Springs►
Sections of the South Fork
The Snake River begins high in Yellowstone
National Park and flows through Grand Teton National Park into
Palisades Reservoir, which borders Wyoming and Idaho.
Below Palisades Dam begins the
stretch of the river referred to as the "South Fork." Slicing
between the Caribou and Snake River mountain ranges, the South Fork
Snake River flows across eastern Idaho for some 65 magnificent
miles. The South Fork begins its run at Palisades Dam near the
Wyoming border, meanders through a scenic mountain valley
reminiscent of the Paradise Valley reach of the Yellowstone,
disappears into a rugged canyon, and finally
spills onto a broad floodplain before joining the Henrys Fork (also
known as the North Fork of the Snake River).
Renowned
for its spectacular scenery,
abundant wildlife, and superb
dry fly fishing, the South Fork’s most valuable ecological asset is
its sprawling riparian cottonwood forest.
This lush oasis, one of the
largest of its kind in the West, harbors 126 bird species (including
Idaho’s largest population of bald eagles) and an astonishing 260
wildlife species including moose, mule and whitetail deer, cougar,
bobcat, black bear, river otter and mink.
|
