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Cattle drive in Alpine Wyoming is usually a family affair, the Nelson girls do their part to get their families herd to summer range. |
Wyoming's Star Valley is known as the "Little Switzerland of America," because of its beautiful farms surrounded by steep, rugged mountains. The area's many dairy herds and dairy products enhance its claim to the European moniker. The moniker certainly fits. With a beautiful high-alpine setting and the rural backdrop of a mountain valley, northwestern Wyoming’s Star Valley really does feel like a picture postcard from some long-past excursion to Switzerland except that we wear regular clothes here.
Star Valley is located 30 miles south of Jackson Hole and is tucked between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range of eastern Idaho. Scattered through Star Valley are a number of small towns with unusual names like Smoot, Grover, Etna. Alpine, Thayne, Osmond, Freedom and the areas newest town Star Valley Ranch. Three national forests surround Star Valley, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Caribou National Forest, and the Targhee National. Star Valley Wyoming. The Snake and Greys River inter the valley on the north side and dump into 20-mile long Palisades Lake and the Salt River winds through its center. Star Valley provides great access for the outdoorsman and is home to world class hunting and fishing. Star Valley Is a rich place to visit or live.
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Tractors, Star Valley, Wyoming |
Star Valley still lives its western heritage, ranching is still a way of life for many. In the Spring you can still find cowboys driving cows to summer pasture in the surrounding mountains and in Fall you can find them at roundup time for the cattle drive back to the ranch.
The valley hosts quite a variety of fishing opportunities.
The Salt River that flows through the valley
offers great fishing for brown, rainbow and
cutthroat
trout, the Grey's River and little Greys River are home to many fine cutthroat trout
and Alpine Canyon's Snake River provides great
whitewater
adventure
fishing for cutthroats.
Star Valley is only a 20 mile drive
to the world class fly-fishery the South Fork
of the Snake. If you prefer lake fishing to
rivers
20 mile
long Palisades
Reservoir provides fishing opportunities for
all
of the
above as
well as
Kokanee Salmon. All of these rivers are fed by small stream many of which fish well as well but some things are best left unpublished assmall streams can't take the pressure of fame................................. for more fishing Info
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A fly-fisherman trying to persuade cutthrout trout to come up for a visit on the Greys River below the Salt River Mountain Range |
The magnificent mountains of Star Valley Wyoming
are known worldwide for their excellent
big game
animals. elk, deer, bear, antelope,
moose, mountain lion, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep can all
be hunted here in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Many Boon and Crocket
records have been established here. This region has a large selection
of outfitters and guides to fulfill the dreams of any sportsman............................. for mor hunting Info.
The region provides access to hundreds
of miles of groomed snowmobile trails that in turn
open up access to countless
high country open bowls and mountain vistas in both
Wyoming and Idaho. The Greys River drains the Wyoming
Range and is the area between Alpine and Kemmerer.
This area
has
approximately
335
miles of trails......................... for Snowmobiling Information
For the whitewater enthuisist Alpine Canyon section of
the Snake River just north of alpine regardless of the water level provides
plenty of whitewater
action. At prime flows (6-12,000 cfs) world
class 2 & 3
waves
are
found throughout this stretch of the Snake River. ...................For whitewater rafting check out the whitewater rafting page, for kayaking check out the kayaking page.
There are many more recreation opportunites, too many to mention but look around the site and you will find info about skiing, mountain biking, bicycle touring etc.
Annual Festivals: Cutter/Chariot Racing December through February, Afton Snowmobile Hill Climb Challenge in late February, Professional Rodeos July 4th weekend and at the Lincoln County Fair in late July and the first week of August.
Yellowstone Park Rivers 
