A Little History
Tucked into Idaho’s Teton Valley on the quieter west side of the Teton Range, Tetonia began as a small agricultural town in the late 1800s and took its name from the mountains on its horizon. When the Union Pacific railroad arrived, businesses from the nearby settlement of Haden moved here, and Tetonia grew into the valley’s northern hub. Today it’s still a tiny farming town of around 300 people, with big views of the Tetons.
Right next door to Tetonia, Idaho is the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. It covers more than 2.6 million acres across Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, and it borders both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. President Theodore Roosevelt established the Caribou National Forest in 1907 and the Targhee in 1908. The Caribou was named for a gold-rush prospector, Jesse “Cariboo Jack” Fairchild. The Targhee, meanwhile, was named for a Bannock chief known for seeking peace.
Our Visit
This was a pit stop at my other cousin’s place in Tetonia, Idaho. No personal images will be going up here. Still, the town was very pretty, and it was great catching up with my cousin and his family!
Lola’s Day Off in Tetonia, Idaho
After days of long drives and “no dogs allowed” signs, Lola finally got some relax time. She stretched out in the grass, sniffed around the yard and soaked up all the attention.
She also got to meet relatives (humans & a piggy). LOL. That’s my second cousin’s prized pig in the first gallery!
For the rest of the afternoon, Lola alternated between naps and patrols of the yard. Mostly, she made sure the pig stayed in line and her new fur-friends were happy.
A Fast Ride Through Caribou-Targhee National Forest
We also got out into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, which sits right near town. We rode through on a side-by-side, and it was FAST. Because of that, (and another incident) I didn’t get a single picture. Still, tearing through the forest was a blast. You can learn more on the Forest Service’s Caribou-Targhee page.
A Quiet Corner of Teton Valley
Tetonia sits on the quiet side of the Tetons, and it shows. There are wide-open fields, big mountain views and hardly any traffic. After the crowds at Yellowstone, it was exactly the break we both needed. If you’re curious about the area, Visit Idaho is a good place to start.
By the end of the visit, Lola had claimed a shady spot as her own. She made it clear she was in no hurry to get back in the truck. Honestly, neither was I. However, the road home was calling, so we said our goodbyes, loaded up and pointed the truck south.
Next stop: Moab, Utah →
Enjoying the adventures?
Buy my human a coffee for the long drives, or buy me a biscuit. 25% of your purchase goes to local rescues & shelters. — Lola 🐾
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