Star Valley & Alpine Wyoming Activities
Star Valley Wyoming is located in north Lincoln County, and includes the community of Alpine. Various accounts attribute the origin of the name Star Valley differently. Although a long time joke inferrs that the name comes from Starvation (Starve) Valley, due to the bitter winters of the late 1880s, it is more likely either from the original Mormon pioneers who christened it the "Star of All Valleys" noting its natural beauty, or taken from Moses Thatcher who said, "When God made the world he reserved the finest part and hid it among these mountains. This is Star Valley for it is truly the star of all Valleys."
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Jackson Hole Recreation: Horses, ATVs & Rafting
Horse, ATV, and raft rentals. We can keep your family busy for three or four days of your vacation. Experience the adventure of a lifetime!
(307) 886-3356
Alpine is nestled against the mountains at the entrance of the Snake River and Grey's River Canyons. The elevation in town is 5,640 feet above sea level. The surrounding mountains rise as high as 10,500 feet, hence Alpine's "lofty" name.
Three major Wyoming rivers: the Snake, Grey's, and Salt, meet in Alpine to form the Palisades Reservoir, and three national forests: The Bridger-Teton, Targhee, and Caribou National Forest, come together around the town limits.
With an abundance of clean air, pure water, wildlife, and woods, Alpine's proximity to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks makes it a gateway to the great outdoors of the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
With summer comes a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities. A wide variety of fishing experiences await eager anglers on the streams, rivers, and small mountain lakes, as well as on the beautiful Palisades Reservoir. Native cutthroat trout, German Browns, Brooks, Mackinaw, rainbow trout, and occasionally Kokanee salmon are caught in the Palisades watershed system. The reservoir also affords ample space for boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.
White water rafting on the Snake River above Alpine is a major attraction. Kayakers and rafters also share in the excitement on the Snake and Grey's Rivers. Hiking, horseback riding, camping, golfing and back road sightseeing are enjoyed by both visitors and locals. In June, Alpine's Annual Mountain Days on Father's Day weekend is Alpine's biggest festival. It kicks the summer season into high gear.
AUTUMN ACTIVITIES
Autumn is the season of big game hunting for mule deer, elk, moose and bear. Photo opportunities are limitless as the mountain maples turn a brilliant red and the aspens turn orange or yellow, while the evergreens and early snows provide a beautiful contrast. In spring, summer, and fall, the bird refuge overlook 1½ miles south of Alpine is a perfect place to view trumpeter swans, ospreys, and an occasional bald eagle.
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing – take your pick of winter recreation. The Alpine area has hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails, with easy access to the Grey's River Road and McCoy Creek Road into Idaho.
Another local winter attraction is the elk refuge, located one mile south of Alpine. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department manage and feed 500-600 tons of hay to approximately 1,000 head of elk each season.
Winter carnivals also provide challenges and entertainment with unusual competitions like Snow-Golf and blindfold races.
SPRING ACTIVITIES
Spring heralds the return of many species of birds, including ospreys, western tanagers, and four species of rambunctious hummingbirds. They all provide daily entertainment for both the casual and avid birdwatcher.
STAR VALLEY – THE NATION'S BEAUTIFUL TREASURE
Star Valley is one of the nation's most beautiful treasures. It features the legendary Intermittent Spring, considered one of the only three known fluctuating springs in the world – and this one is the largest. Local legends suggest that American Indians traveled great distances to cure their ills by bathing in "the spring that breathes."
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