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The view from Jensen Pass |
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Color on the road to McCoy Creek |
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Beyond Jensen Pass, the road drops quickly
to McCoy Creek. McCoy Creek, though paralleling Bear Creek
in its run to Palisades Lake, has a different temperament.
It's more open, with more willow flats and meadows. There
are some nice campsites along the creek and fish in the stream.
When McCoy Creek reaches Palisades, there is another campground,
one that can be reached more quickly and in inclement weather
from Highway 89 in Star Valley.
From McCoy Creek, the road follows the Palisades
shoreline. Just before Highway 89, we stopped at the bridge
over the Salt River at the mouth of Star Valley. The river
is intriguing, and we watched for fish in the shadows of the
dark waters. This time of year there should be big brown trout
from the lake making their fall spawning run, but we didn't
see any. We watched the ducks from the marshes along the river
fly overhead.
On Highway 89, we turned left to Alpine Junction,
a nice town that serves as an extended bedroom community to
Jackson Hole. At the Junction of Highway 26 and 89, we could
have turned right into Jackson Hole. Instead we headed back
toward Palisade Dam, Swan Valley, and our homes on the Snake
River Plains. We'll make that trip again next fall, maybe
exploring side roads up dark canyons.
IF YOU GO:
Google
Map
Palisades
Reservoir
Caribou-Targhee
National Forest
You can drive all the way around Palisades
Reservoir if you are prepared for back roads. It also
makes a nice side trip on your way to Teton National Park
and Yellowstone. Make sure your gas tank is full and your
tires are in good shape. Allow four or five hours to make
the side trip. Proceed with caution in wet weather and with
recreational vehicles. The road through Jensen Pass is probably
not appropriate for large RVs.
Both the Calamity Campground and McCoy Creek
Campground have water and restrooms. The campsites along
the creeks are primitive.
If you would like to see the Falls Creek waterfall
or the nearby campground, turn at the signed road at the
Conant Valley Bridge on Highway 26. The waterfall is just
a couple miles up the well-graveled road. Or with the proper
vehicle, you can try the loop mentioned in the article and
come down the Falls Creek road to the waterfall.
