Harriman State Park (Idaho) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harriman State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Harriman State Park
Location in Idaho
Harriman State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fremont County, Idaho, United States |
| Nearest city | Island Park, Idaho |
| Area | 11,000 acres (45 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,120 ft (1,870 m) |
| Designation | Idaho state park |
| Established | 1977; opened 1982 |
| Administrator | Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Harriman State Park |
Harriman State Park is a beautiful public park in Idaho, United States. It's located in Fremont County, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Island Park. This park is a huge natural area, covering about 11,000 acres (4,450 hectares).
Harriman State Park is part of the amazing Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This means it's connected to the famous Yellowstone National Park area. The park is a home for many different animals. You can see lots of elk, moose, sandhill cranes, and trumpeter swans here. Sometimes, you might even spot a black bear or a grizzly bear! A cool fact about the trumpeter swans: two out of every three swans that spend winter in the lower 48 states come to Harriman State Park.
Park History
For many years, from 1902 to 1977, the land that is now Harriman State Park was privately owned. It belonged to rich families like the Harrimans and the Guggenheims. They were investors in the Union Pacific Railroad. They used this large area as a cattle ranch and a private place to relax.
In 1977, two members of the Harriman family, Roland and W. Averell Harriman, gave the land to the state of Idaho for free! They really wanted Idaho to have a professional team to manage its parks. Their idea helped create the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in 1965. Harriman State Park officially opened to the public in 1982.
Fun Activities
Harriman State Park offers many exciting things to do. The Henry's Fork river flows through the park's meadows for eight miles (13 km). This part of the river is very famous for fly-fishing.
The park has many trails for you to explore. You can go hiking to see the beautiful scenery. It's also a great place for biking and horseback riding. In the winter, when snow covers the ground, the park's roads and trails are prepared for cross-country skiing. It's a perfect spot for winter adventures!
