Along I-86, just west of American Falls, you’ll find Massacre Rocks State Park. It’s an imposing name with a dramatic landscape to match. Massacre Rocks comes at you out of nowhere, jutting out along the Snake River after long miles of featureless desert. And for more than two decades, it’s been one of my favorite little corners of Idaho.
I was first drawn to Massacre Rocks by—what else—the fishing! The Snake River here provides excellent habitat for smallmouth bass, and the scenic, rocky surroundings only enhance the experience. Anglers can also hook into an occasional rainbow trout or a giant carp, but bass are the main attraction, and they seldom disappoint.
Massacre Rocks has lots more to offer, too. The park has two challenging disc golf courses; quality camping accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and four cozy cabins; a recently upgraded boat ramp facility; and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
I recently took my 5-year-old daughter, Skye, to Massacre Rocks for a weekend camping trip. It was her first visit, and my first since before she was born. We opted for the Cottontail Cabin, which provided us with AC to escape the 95-degree heat, and a solid roof that came in handy when an evening thunderstorm rolled in. Before we even unloaded the truck, we had our first animal sighting—a sage lizard. After setting up camp, we headed out for an evening on the river.
At 75 degrees, the water was cool enough for a refreshing swim, but plenty warm enough for the smallmouth to be swarming. Throwing deep diving crankbaits and drop shot minnows, we quickly boated more than a dozen bass while adding a beaver and several waterfowl species to our animal sightings. As the sun chased the western horizon, we headed back to our cabin for sausages and smores on the campfire.
Saturday brought plenty more fun. After a morning session on the boat that produced 20-plus smallmouth up to 17 inches, we enjoyed a long swim in the heat of the day, drove into American Falls for lunch at The Dam Pizza Place, and enjoyed nature strolls and a round of disc golf as cloud cover provided a cooler afternoon in the park. Cottontail rabbits, fence lizards, and a beautiful pair or American kestrels joined our wildlife tally, and Skye hilariously announced she did not like the smell of sagebrush. We watched a beautiful sunset from atop a rock formation, then hunkered down in the cabin for the night as storms blew through.
Come Sunday, blue skies had returned, and we took advantage of the cool morning to enjoy one last session on the river. It was our best outing of the trip for big fish, with multiple specimens over two pounds and the best fish of the weekend, a 3-pounder. Skye did a great job landing several fish on her own, and she became our resident expert at releasing them, too. We capped things off with one last cool-down swim before packing up and swinging by Register Rock, a historical site where you can see pioneer names etched in a huge stone. Some of the names date back to the 1700s!
Skye and I loved our Massacre Rocks adventure. It’s a special place filled with epic views and teeming with wildlife. Whether we were swimming and bass fishing on the river, or enjoying the nature trails and disc golf course in the park, there was never a dull moment—and we’re both looking forward to our next visit. Tight lines!