Discover Pocatello: Nature, Water and History

For a trip to Pocatello, nature, water activities, and history offer distinct areas of focus. The City Creek Management Area is known for its extensive trail network, while the Portneuf River offers stretches for floating. There is also a seasonal Aquatic Complex, as well as museums and historical topics. You can decide whether to focus your time primarily on hiking, water activities, or natural and regional history.

Hiking Trails and River Activities

The City Creek Management Area has an extensive trail network for a wide range of user groups. To help with navigation, Pocatello provides a basic hiking map as well as another hiking map with trail descriptions. This offers a choice between a basic map overview and a map with additional trail descriptions.

The Portneuf River flows through Pocatello, with scenic stretches for floating above and below the city. This is a different activity focus from the City Creek trail network: in one case, you plan a hike using maps; in the other, floating along stretches of river takes center stage.

Seasonal Water Attractions

Ross Park Aquatic Complex features water slides and a lazy river. For 2026, the operating plan called for a seasonal opening from Memorial Day weekend through the end of August, outside of the school term. If visiting in a later season, check the applicable dates, as future operating seasons may differ.

Nature and Regional History

The Idaho Museum of Natural History highlights collections covering life, Earth, and anthropology through science-based programs. Its focus is on nature and anthropology.

The Bannock County Historical Complex houses exhibits, objects, and records relating to the history of Bannock County and Pocatello. Historical exhibit topics include trapping and trade, the Oregon Trail, railroad history, the military, and livestock and agriculture. The history of the county and city is presented from several perspectives: alongside trade and transportation routes, the topics also include the military, livestock, and agriculture.

Historic Buildings and Downtown

The walking tour of Historic Downtown Pocatello includes buildings listed on the National Historic Registry. The area also has pocket parks with public art, water fountains, and benches. The tour draws attention to listed buildings, while the pocket parks offer another side of downtown, with art and places to sit.

Frontier Town features twelve historic replicas of buildings from Pocatello's early years. It differs from the downtown tour in format: Frontier Town features replicas, while the tour includes buildings on the National Historic Registry. The grounds of the Fort Hall Replica include a park area with shelters and a stage for Dutch-oven dinners.

Cleanliness and Event Spaces

The Museum of Clean in Pocatello is dedicated to all aspects of cleanliness. The museum includes a 10,000-square-foot event center for community, business, and family events. This brings together a clearly defined museum focus and an event venue serving three distinct uses.

Explore more destinations: Lava Hot Springs, McCammon

See the broader travel overview: Bannock County.