Ririe & Rigby

You never know what exciting activities and historical wonders are tucked away off the beaten path. Take the small towns of Ririe and Rigby. Rigby is a charming agricultural community with surprising history waiting to be shared. Nearby in Ririe, geothermal hot springs, family fun for all ages, and unbeatable landscapes are waiting to be discovered.

With just under 1,000 residents, Ririe is an agricultural hub with long-standing farms that helped form the backbone of Idaho’s rich farming heritage. It’s also an adventure hub with ample outdoor and family fun that attracts visitors to its campgrounds, recreation areas, rivers, and more. The nearby Heise Recreation Area is a must-visit spot. Catch a show, soak in the soothing hot springs, munch a slice of pizza, hit the slopes, and so much more. Not to mention, it’s the home of one of Idaho’s favorite resorts: Kelly Canyon Resort where skiing, snowboarding, and biking top the to-do list. The nearby small city of Rigby was founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1884 and incorporated in 1903. Residents and visitors delight in strolling the picture-perfect Main Street, playing a round of golf at nearby courses, or traveling back in time at the Farnsworth TV and Pioneer Museum. (Rigby is the birthplace of the television!)

Idaho Adventure Awaits

Here in Eastern Idaho, we know how to have fun in the mountains. Come experiences the best skiing Idaho has to offer topped off with a mom-and-pop feel you can’t replicate anywhere else. Kelly Canyon Resort started in 1957 by a group of farmers and ranchers inspired by a visit to nearby Sun Valley. Kelly Canyon Resort offers 26 runs spread across 640 skiable acres nine miles north of Ririe. The resort’s summit elevation is 6,600 feet, rising from a base of 5,600 feet: Four double chairs and two rope tows offer a lift capacity of 3,400 skiers per hour. All major runs are lit for night skiing, and a new 600-foot tubing park offers more fun for all ages.

Kelly Canyon’s annual average snowfall of 200 inches means its season usually ends in March, but its convenient location (off ID 26) and bountiful amenities—including on-site rentals and lessons, groomed cross-country trails, a cafeteria, and private meeting rooms for rent—make it a major draw for families and skiing groups. And now the resort has its own snow-making capabilities to ensure the lifts get turning and the mountain is covered in powder as early as Thanksgiving.

The fun doesn’t end when the snow melts. Patrons can now enjoy dirt in addition to powder. Kelly Canyon opened its bike park in 2020 with lift-serviced downhill biking, as well as crosscountry trails. Make plans to enjoy this mom-and-pop resort for summer and winter!

Ririe is home to activities galore anchored by the Heise Recreation Area. If you haven’t brought the family down for a camping weekend featuring the best pizza, golf, slides, hot springs, ziplines, and scenic views: you’re in for a treat! Bring the RV or pitch a tent at the Heise Recreation Area for a weekend full of down-home family fun for kids and kids at heart. Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar above rock cliffs on the Heise Zip. You will also learn about the history of Heise and enjoy the beautiful mountains, while gazing down at the valley and river below.

After a busy day at the pool, riding on the zipline, or playing a round on the nine-hole golf course, what could be better than enjoying a great pizza at Heise Pizza Parlor? Come sit on the deck and watch the golfers, or step inside and listen to some music. In the winter, the Heise Pizza Parlor is where you will want to be after soaking in the hot pool. Sit by the cozy wood fire and have your favorite pizza or choose from a variety of other delicious items on the menu. 7N Ranch, adjacent to Heise, provides afterlunch recreation with its bike park, driving range, and mini-golf course. Kayak and float tube rentals are available for those who want to frolic in the waters of the South Fork, while those who enjoy exploring the trails and surrounding terrain can rent an ATV or a mountain bike.

Ririe Reservoir

Formed by the Ririe Dam, Ririe Reservoir is home to water sports, camping, fishing, and family fun for all in this 1,500-acre reservoir with 32 miles of shoreline. Drop a line from late May through November and hook rainbow, brown, or even cutthroat trout. Take out a boat and do some Idaho-style wakeboarding and waterskiing. Bring the boat, pack a picnic, and enjoy amenities like restrooms, boat ramp and dock, campground, swimming, and nearby visitor center.

Throwback Fun

Ririe and Rigby are known for their slower way of life and historical favorites that are just the way mom and dad remember it. Enjoy some throwback family fun or make a new memory at Mountain River Ranch. Located 18 miles northeast of Idaho Falls in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Eastern Idaho, the ranch offers a 64-space RV park with plenty of shade and grass along with convenient restrooms and showers for summer camping. If you are looking for more of an Old West experience, stay in one of the cabins, rustic rooms, or even a teepee or wagon. Dinner shows are held every Friday and Saturday evenings. Shows include a Wild West shoot-out, horse-drawn wagon rides, dinner, and a lively musical variety show. In the winter, Mountain River Ranch offers traditional sleigh ride dinner shows.

Take a step back in time at the Jefferson County Historical Museum (also known as the Farnsworth TV and Pioneer Museum). The museum fills 14,000 square feet with exhibitions of the pre-electric and early electric era, the history of Jefferson County, early photography, and a profile of Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television. Explore the colorful past of Eastern Idaho with a captivating display of the first television tube. Learn more about Native American tribes known to the region. For a special treat, enjoy a look at the life of local writer Vardis Fisher, the author of Mountain Man, which was made into Robert Redford’s acclaimed film “Jeremiah Johnson.”