The Hall Family Travels Blog

We knew going into Yellowstone National Park that we were in for a treat. Because the park is so well known and so huge, we wanted to give it the time it deserved and really make the most of our stay without feeling rushed. Our plan was to spend 5–7 days at each entrance, starting on the east side and eventually making our way around to finish on the north end.

Our third campsite stay outside of West Yellowstone ended up being our favorite—but it had very little to do with Yellowstone National Park itself and everything to do with the boondocking site we found ourselves camping at.

We got a tip from another full-time RV family about a great boondocking spot just outside of Yellowstone on Bootjack Drive in Island Park, Idaho, so we decided to give it a try.

And oh my goodness, was it amazing!

Our campsite was nestled right next to a gentle river, surrounded by green mountains and a forest of pine and aspen trees. It was one of those places that immediately makes you want to stay awhile. Right outside our front door, we had a view of the river with sunsets over the distant mountains.

Dirt Bikes and a Surprise Moose

Almost immediately after arriving, we noticed people riding OHVs around the area. As if the campsite wasn’t amazing enough, we were thrilled at the opportunity to finally unload the dirt bikes and get some seat time!

It had been months since any of us had ridden, and this was the first time on our travels that we had gotten to pull the bikes out. The surrounding area didn’t have a ton of trails, but we made do with the few wide trails winding through the shaded forest. It was just the right amount of riding for some short day trips and a chance for all of us to get comfortable on the bikes again.

Fortunately, even though the boys hadn’t ridden in months, neither of them had any accidents. After that first ride, they were feeling comfortable on their bikes again.

Dustin, however, did have one accident.

He claims he did not fall—he simply “slipped” on the slick ground after coming out of a corner a little too hot. It had been raining in the days before we arrived, leaving the trails full of large puddles and slick mud. His “slip” happened so suddenly that it left him with whiplash that he continued to feel for days afterward.

The best part of one of our rides was when we saw a mama moose and her calf cross the trail about 40 feet in front of us! It was a huge surprise, as none of us were expecting to cross paths with a moose while riding. We ended up seeing this pair of moose two more times while we were there when we would take morning walks through the forest.

Our Favorite Part: The River

The motorcycle riding was just one of the perks of this campsite—and not even our favorite one!

We all agreed the best feature was the river. Most of it was about 2–3 feet deep, and it snaked through the tall grass and bushes around our camp with a pretty steady current. We played and floated in the river multiple times throughout our week-long stay. With temperatures around 80 degrees, the cool water was the perfect escape from the heat.

The one downside to the river was one that only Dustin felt.

He was so excited about having a river right outside our door that on the very first day we arrived, he immediately grabbed his fishing gear and headed down to the water. And right away, he caught multiple fish—three of them on the bigger side, although none were big enough to keep.

It felt promising.

But every day after that, when he tried to fish, he got completely skunked.

He was determined to catch something, going back day after day and trying different lures and tactics, but nothing worked after that first day. Being camped just 10 feet from the river, it was a pretty big disappointment for him that the fishing turned out to be so poor.

A Day in Yellowstone

While on this side of the park, we went into West Yellowstone for a day. We had already seen Old Faithful during our stay on the east side, and because the area around it was so popular, we honestly didn’t want to head back into that mess again.

Instead, we walked around the boardwalks at the Lower Geyser Basin before continuing on to hike to Fairy Falls. The trail to Fairy Falls passed the overlook for Grand Prismatic Spring before continuing through the forest for 2.5 miles.

There were a few people gathered at the end of the trail near the falls, taking a break, having a snack and enjoying the scenery. We had left pretty early to get into Yellowstone before the crowds, so we hadn’t eaten breakfast yet by the time we reached the falls. We sat on some rocks and ate while watching little chipmunks dart around looking for handouts.

Along with the chipmunks, we also spotted yellow-bellied marmots on the hillside and a garter snake that, of course, Dustin couldn’t resist picking up and handling before we headed back down the trail.

We also checked out Gibbon Falls and the Norris Back Basin. As the day went on, more and more people showed up, and after dealing with the increasing traffic and hiking more than 6 miles that day, we were ready to head back to camp.

After seeing so many hydrothermal features over the previous few days, we felt like we had experienced most of what we wanted to see in Yellowstone and were perfectly happy spending the rest of our time on the west side outside the park, enjoying the incredible area where we were camped.

Cows at Our Doorstep

When we arrived back at camp from Yellowstone, we noticed that a bunch of cattle had been brought up to the corral near the entrance road.

Interesting. Wonder what they’re doing there…

Later that night, while we were watching a movie in bed, we suddenly heard a loud “moo” from outside.

We got up to investigate, only to discover that our trailer was suddenly surrounded by cows!

Cows, bulls, calves—probably 30–50 of them—had wandered up on either side of the trailer, casually eating the grass and making their way down to the river for a drink.

It was completely unexpected and such a fun surprise!

They remained on the property for the rest of the time we were there and would occasionally wander back around our trailer. They weren’t interested in us at all, but they were quite noisy, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching them.

It’s not every night you get to sit inside your RV and watch a herd of cattle casually stroll past your windows!

Floating with Moose

One of the last things we did while camped in Island Park was a long river float at Big Springs, another recommendation from the family who had told us about the campsite.

All we had to float in were our large tubes, so the kids sat on our laps for the entire trip—which ended up being about 3.5 hours of float time!

The water was freezing, and it was so shallow in some areas that we actually had to get out and walk our tubes. Other than that, though, the float was peaceful and beautiful.

Dustin and I enjoyed it a lot, appreciating the serene, quiet atmosphere. The kids, on the other hand, thought it was a little long and boring.

But then we came across the highlight of the entire float.

As we rounded a bend, we came upon a mama moose and her calf standing right in the river we were floating down. They were drinking and eating weeds from the water, completely unconcerned about the four humans quietly drifting past them.

It was surreal.

Being that close to these wild animals and watching them in their natural habitat, completely unconcerned that we were there, was an incredible experience.

Before the end of the float, we also spotted a couple of river otters.

Although we loved the experience, 3.5 hours was a bit long for us with only two tubes and two kids sharing our laps. We definitely finished the day searching online for inflatable paddle boards for future adventures!

Seven Unforgettable Nights

We spent a total of seven nights at Bootjack Drive, and honestly, we could have spent a month there happily. It was full of fun surprises: the motorcycle riding, the wildlife, the unexpected stampede of cattle… it even hailed on us one day when it was over 70-degrees outside!

It was such a serene and unforgettable place I think we were all a little sad to leave. If we hadn’t had other plans and places to be, we probably would have stayed the full two weeks we were legally allowed.

Of all the places we’ve stayed so far on this trip, Bootjack Drive is one that really gave us everything we love about this lifestyle. It’s definitely a place we want to come back to one day.

And next time, we’re bringing paddle boards.