Back to: The Whole Out-of-Doors is Your Backyard

ARCO RECREATION

Arco has something for just about every recreational enthusiast. From hunting to snowmobiling, ATVing and hang gliding. Listed below are some of the most popular activities enjoyed in the Arco area.

Atomic Days
-Parade
-Rodeo
-Shows/Exhibits

Each year around the middle of July many events take place that just can't be missed. Many of which include; parades, picnics, rodeos, quilt shows, nuclear exhibits, sidewalk sales, dancing, and much more. This weekend long eventful occasion can be enjoyed by children as well as adults and is fun for the whole family.

ATV
-Arco Pass Loop
-City Trails

ATV use in Idaho is booming. Over the past five years the registration numbers have rose from 27,700 to 55,100. In Arco you can travel the Arco Pass Loop designated as an easy riding trail for most ATVs. This loop is a ride to enjoy the scenery, geological formations, canyons, creeks, and views of incredible wildflowers during the early spring months. This loop also has a large variety of wildlife viewing such as deer, antelope, coyotes, badgers, and birds. ATV committees are working with the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to improve the trails by adding signage, creating improved detailed maps, reclaiming public lands, designating a noise park, and keeping the trails clean and accessible. Also the city of Arco wants to promote and improve the ATV system within the city limits. They are in support of ATV recreation and would like to legalize ATV riding for certain streets designed for ATVers to easily make it to their trail destination in the Big Lost River Valley and Little Lost River Valley.

Bowling
-Lost River Bowl

Bowling is a great way for the entire family to enjoy a night out. Lost River Bowl offers bowling, pool, and video games. They also host bowling tournaments for the local bowling league teams.

Camping & RV
-Craters of the Moon
-Howe RV Park
-Landing Zone RV
-Mountain View RV Park

Arco has several local campgrounds, some even within walking distance of downtown; Mountain View RV Park and Landing Zone RV Park Mountain. Others are located just out of Arco at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and in Howe.
Most offer a dump station, full hookups, laundry, pull-thru sites, showers, playgrounds, large grassy areas with shade, and will take reservations.
Also there are several campgrounds on the USDA Forest Service lands that require a fee but are in beautiful locations and offer restrooms and water facilities. There are also countless places along the area's trails, rivers, and streams but these sites generally do not offer any facilities.
For more information visit these websites:
Mountain View RV Park
E-mail: info@mountainviewrvarco.com
www.mountainviewrvarco.com
Landing Zone RV
E-mail: lzrvpark@ida.net
www.geocities.com/landingzone_2000
Craters of the Moon National Monument
www.nps.gov/crmo

Craters of the Moon
-Camping
-Cross-country skiing/snow shoeing
- Hiking
-Wild flower viewing
-Wild life viewing

The Craters of the Moon National Monument offers many outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy any time of the year. During the spring you will find a magnificent assortment of wildflowers and you are able to view the impressive floral displays all through the summer months as well. Also in the summer you can go for a hike and tour the lava flows that have remained unchanged since their creation or spend a night among the lava and stars in the 52-site campground. Fall offers the perfect time to view the variety of wildlife and also spend some time viewing the exhibits in the monument's visitor's center. The winter also brings a lot of opportunities to enjoy the snow, take advantage of viewing the snow-covered cones and lava or ski across the groomed trails. The Craters of the Moon offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and many more winter activities.

Golfing
-Cotton Wood Links Golf Course
-River Park Golf Course

"FORE!" The Lost River area is home to two golf courses that are located just north of Arco. Cotton Wood Links Golf Course which is a 9-hole course is located between Mackay and Arco on Highway 93; also River Park Golf Course which is a 9-hole course is located in the town of Mackay along with a pubic driving range.

Hiking
-Fish Creek Summit trail
-Upper Iron Bog Lake trail

Arco also offers hiking not only at the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Through the USDA Forest Service there are several trails to be considered. A few include Upper Iron Bog Lake and Fish Creek Summit which are located just out side of Arco up Antelope Creek.
Upper Iron Bog lake trail is partly through rough terrain. This lake is lovely to look at but doesn't have fish. Elk, deer, and grouse are noted to be a site to see here. The best time to take the trail is early July through mid October. It is about 1.5 miles and is an easy to moderate trail.
Fish Creek Summit is not only in one canyon. As you follow the trail you will come across Deer Creek Canyon as well as Horse Thief Canyon and across a rocky ridge with patches of alpine fir and lodge pole timber. Visitors will enjoy the rich bouquet of wildflowers as well as spot a few domestic sheep. This trail is about 4 miles and is an easy to moderate trail to take during the best time of the seasons beginning in July through mid October.
For more information on the hiking opportunities in the Arco areas contact the USDA Forest Service in Mackay,
Phone: (208) 588-3400 or visit the
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/lostriver/index

Hunting
-Antelope Creek
-Arco Pass
-Champaign Creek
-Fullmer Ranch Hunting Preserve
-Little Lost
-Pass Creek
-Sawmill Canyon

In Arco you can hunt big game in the desert as well as the forest through Pass Creek, the Little Lost River Valley, Champaign Creek, Antelope Creek, the Arco Pass, and Sawmill Canyon. Many elk, deer, antelope, bear, mountain lion, and fowl can be found throughout Arco's hunting areas. Elk are making Idaho the big game hunting state. Mule Deer have always been a staple for Idaho hunters as well as non residents. Their herds are staring to recover from the losses suffered in the winter of the early 1990's and hunters are willing to invest the leg work it takes to look for them. Bears and mountain lions are also a major attraction in the Arco area. These animals can be hunted with hounds and like to inhabit areas where the development is not too intense such as Arco. The Lost River Valley also offers bird hunting and private Pheasant hunting just south of Arco at the Fullmer Ranch Hunting Preserve.

Fullmer Ranch Hunting Preserve
Phone: (208) 588-3383
E-mail: fullmer_pheasants@juno.com

King Mountain
-Gliding championships
-Hang Gliding
-Paragliding

King Mountain offers Hang Gliding as well as Paragliding. Each of which have their own challenges. The launch site is located in nearby Moore, ID. There are three launches, two upper and one lower. The lower launch is 7,400 ft and is used more when there are strong winds because it is a wide open flat slope launch. The upper launches are at 8,100 ft and have a more restricted setup, one north and one south. The northern launch has a steep slope launch and the southern launch is more of a wide open flat slope launch that overlooks the lower launch. King Mountain hosts Hang Gliding and Paragliding championships in June each year. In 1997 King Mountain was chosen for both the World Point Finals Championships and the National Paragliding Championships.

Snowmobiling
-Antelope
-Copper Basin
-Pass Creek

This sport is fun and exciting and enables people of all ages to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the winter. Arco offers this exciting sport in the high country of Antelope Creek where you can tour Fish Creek, Iron Bog, Lead Belt, Dry Fork, and the Antelope Guard station or travel northwest of Arco to Pass Creek and Copper Basin. Do you remember the Boy Scout Motto: "Be Prepared"? Sometimes in the cold winter conditions Snowmobiling will bring you challenges that you will want to be ready for.

Video Rentals
-Arco Video & Espresso
-Big Butte Video & Laundry

Arco offers two Video rental places where you can find a large variety of videos and games as well as coffee and laundry facilities. Arco Video & Espresso and Big Butte Video & Laundry are located on Front Street and are open regularly.

Links

Links to sites which provide additional information for recreatonal oppertunities in the Arco area.

Trails.com

Back to: The Whole Out-of-Doors is Your Backyard