Pioneer Trails West

In business since 1927, Bryan Scott's grandfather Milton Scott had a small store with ice, groceries, coffee and slot machines. People would come from Holbrook with their teams of horses and stop at Milton's place. After that, his son, Khalil built a shop large enough for two-ton trucks. Now, Bryan…

The only national grassland in the intermountain West, the Curlew National Grassland was established in 1960 to improve soil and vegetation and promote sound agricultural practices. The land was cultivated and farmed in the early 1900s, and you can still see evidence of many old homesteads in the area. The…

This local gathering spot features homestyle cooking, including homemade soups, bread, and pies.

Camping is a very popular activity in the Bear River Heritage Area. Here you can purchase locally made canvas tipis, tents and camp supplies. Red Hawk made the world’s largest tipi for use at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. They also specialize in making reproduction tents that are…

This is an Art Deco brick veneer building built in 1939 as part of a WPA project. It has an elaborate terra cotta entry.

This local museum is housed in a building that was built in 1914 as a drug store. The original safe and pressed-tin ceiling are still intact. The museum had its origins in a collection of mementos gathered by Miss Hattie Morgan and the Native Daughters of the Idaho Pioneers group…

The town of Malad got its name from the fact that when Donald McKenzie brought a party of trappers through the area between 1818 and 1821, they drank the river water and got sick. The Frenchmen named the river the Malad, meaning illness. The town was settled in 1862, after…

Song birds, upland birds, marsh birds, water fowl. Visit this site spring and summer.

In business since 1955, the Malad Drive-In features scones and fresh strawberry shakes in addition to the usual drive-in fare of burgers, fries and the like. And they still come to your car to take your order!

Local actors and actresses put on theater productions. Cowboy poetry.

Granite spires and monoliths reaching 60 stories tall. Geologists estimate the oldest granite to exceed 2.5 billion years. Established in 1988 as a national reserve, City of Rocks encompasses 14,407 acres of land (about one quarter is privately owned) and is renowned for its scenic, geologic, and historic significance. The…

This block housed the first department store in Idaho, the Evans Co-op, which was part of the Mormon cooperative movement of the 1860s, in which local production and purchasing was encouraged through cooperatives. The block, including both the co-op building and the old J.N. Ireland Bank, is on the National…

Clarence Hughes runs this charming 1892 store, which was moved to the town park in Samaria to keep it from being torn down. It’s a popular hangout for school kids and farmers in the afternoon. He sells local crafts, cookbooks, candy and sodas, and has video rentals. Historic photos and newspaper…

Birds of prey and water fowl. Visit this site spring and summer.

Samaria, about 9 miles southwest of Malad, was once the largest town in the Malad Valley. Settled in 1868 by homesteaders, the town did well until the railroad was routed through Malad. After that, the primary businesses developed around the railroad terminal, and Samaria remained a farming community. A number…

You can find a variety of old and new style headstones in this cemetery, including a headstone for a man’s amputated leg. In 1878, Ben Waldron lost his leg in a threshing accident. The leg was buried on the east side of the cemetery and was given a headstone with…

With the goal of appreciation and education about Welsh settlement in Malad Valley, the Welsh Society was formed in 2004. Malad is a natural location for a Welsh festival as it has the largest per capita concentration of persons of Welsh ancestry outside Wales itself. The Welsh Society has the following goals:…

Spero's B.B.Q. is a family owned and run barbeque stand that features western barbeque made from fresh local meats and authentic mesquite flavorings from Mexico. Spero's 17 years of restaurant experience goes into the recipes and expert preparation. Chicken, pulled pork and beef ribs are cooked on site. You can be served at the outdoor picnic…