| One of the extraordinary geological sites on earth, | | | | horseback riding, mountain biking, and picnicking. |
| the City of Rocks National Reserve, remains one | | | | Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are popular during |
| of Idaho's major attractions. The reserve, | | | | the winter months. |
| managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and | | | | Rock climbing is the favorite activity. City of |
| Recreation under a cooperative agreement with | | | | Rocks in one of the finest granite-face climbing |
| the National Park Service, encompasses 14,407 | | | | sites anywhere in the world. Some 700 climbing |
| acres of south central Idaho just north of the | | | | routes have been developed. One hundred to |
| Idaho/Nevada border. About one-quarter of the | | | | 300-foot rock spires provide most of the climbing |
| acreage is privately owned. Established as a | | | | opportunities, but spires up to 600 feet high are |
| National Reserve in 1988, the site is known for its | | | | available for the more skilled adventurers. |
| scenic, geological and historic significance. | | | | Privately published climbing guides are available for |
| The "rocks" that give this extensive area its | | | | sale at the Reserve headquarters and at the City |
| name are granite rock formations dating back as | | | | of Rocks Visitor Center located nearby in the |
| far as 2.5 billion years, making them some of the | | | | small town of Almo. |
| oldest formations found in the United States. This | | | | One of Idaho's many scenic routes, the 49-mile |
| is not just a bunch of rocks. There are scores of | | | | long City of Rocks Back Country Byway passes |
| granite columns reaching up to 60 stories tall, | | | | the site. This Scenic Byway begins at the little |
| looming dramatically above a sagebrush-covered | | | | town of Albion on Idaho State Route 77. Heading |
| basin that features the backdrop of the colorful | | | | south, the Byway passes the Pomerelle Ski Area |
| Albion Mountains. | | | | and the Lake Cleveland Recreation Area. The |
| The granite outcroppings have been shaped | | | | route passes through the small communities of |
| through the years by wind and weathering. Some | | | | Elba and Almo before reaching the City of Rocks |
| visitors see faces, buildings and animal shapes in | | | | National Reserve. |
| the rocks. What they see is limited to their | | | | From the Reserve, the Byway follows Birch |
| imaginations. | | | | Creek to the city of Oakley, where it meets up |
| City of Rocks was an important landmark for | | | | with Idaho State Route 27. The entire town of |
| those pioneers traveling west on the famed | | | | Oakley is on the National Register of Historic |
| California Trail. Pioneer diaries from 1843 described | | | | Places. The town features Idaho's largest |
| the rocks in detail as "a city of tall spires", "steeple | | | | concentration of old wood-framed and stone |
| rocks", and a display of "all manner of fantastic | | | | buildings. This Byway drive takes about 1.5 hours |
| shapes". Be sure to take a walk to see | | | | and makes a great combination experience with |
| inscriptions on the spires written in axle grease by | | | | additional time spent at the City of Rocks |
| travelers passing through on the California Trail. | | | | Reserve. |
| The rock formations are adjacent to lush | | | | Primitive camping is available at Howell Canyon and |
| mountain meadows and pinion-juniper and | | | | City of Rocks. R.V. parks are available in Oakley |
| mountain mahogany tree stands. Arrowleaf | | | | and north of City of Rocks at the Interstate |
| Balsamroot and other wildflowers are present | | | | Route 84 Interchange on the Snake River. |
| beginning in the spring and lasting through late fall. | | | | On a visit to Idaho, make sure to include a visit to |
| Recreational opportunities include hiking, | | | | City of Rocks National Reserve. Don't forget the |
| backpacking, wildlife viewing, photography, | | | | camera! |