🏆 Twin Peaks Ranch State Park — Idaho’s 30th and newest state park: a 677-acre former guest ranch 20 miles south of Salmon, with 24 full-service cabins, a lodge, and trail access to the edge of the Frank Church wilderness.
Twin Peaks Ranch State Park is a complete, working guest ranch turned public park. You sleep in a real cabin with a real bed, eat in a lodge with a full kitchen, and step out the door into Lemhi County high country where the nearest stoplight is a long way down U.S. 93. The park celebrated its grand opening on June 27, 2026 as Idaho’s 30th state park.
The property has ranch history in its bones. Built as a working cattle ranch in the mid-1900s and converted to a dude ranch in the 1990s, it came to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in a roughly $4.75 million acquisition finalized in late 2025 — cabins, lodge, rodeo arena and all. Rather than tearing any of it out, IDPR kept the guest-ranch character: this is the only Idaho state park where “camping” can mean a furnished cabin and a cooked meal.
What Makes This Park Unique
Idaho’s Newest State Park
Opened June 27, 2026 as the 30th park in the system, and the only one run like a guest ranch.
24 Full-Service Cabins + Lodge
Twenty-four furnished cabins plus a lodge with full-service kitchen and shared dining space — group retreats, family reunions, and full-facility rentals all work here.
Rodeo Arena & Equestrian Center
A genuine ranch setup: rodeo arena, equestrian center, and horse-friendly access to the surrounding Lemhi County trail network.
Frank Church Wilderness Gateway
The park sits at the edge of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, with connections to more than 2,000 miles of motorized and non-motorized backcountry trails.
Things to Do
Trail riding & hiking: The park is a staging point for one of the biggest trail networks in the lower 48 — over 2,000 miles of routes fan out through Lemhi County toward the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. Ride from the equestrian center or day-hike the ranch country itself.
Fishing & warm spring: Two stocked fishing ponds sit on the property, and a natural warm spring adds a only-in-Idaho touch to the grounds. The Salmon River — some of the state’s most storied trout and steelhead water — runs the valley just east along U.S. 93.
Disc golf & ranch life: A disc golf course loops the property, and the rodeo arena hosts events in season. Evenings are about the lodge porch and a sky with zero light pollution.
Cabins & Lodge
This park flips the usual script: instead of campsites, you book cabins — 24 of them, full-service — or gather your group in the lodge with its commercial kitchen and dining room. Full-facility reservations for retreats and events are handled directly by park staff at 208-894-2290 or [email protected]; individual bookings run through getoutside.idaho.gov. Expect summer weekends to book out fast while the park is new.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Status | Idaho’s 30th state park — grand opening June 27, 2026 |
| Size | 677 acres of high-country ranch land |
| Lodging | 24 full-service cabins + lodge with restaurant/kitchen |
| Facilities | Equestrian center, rodeo arena, disc golf, 2 fishing ponds, natural warm spring |
| Location | 199 Twin Peaks Ranch Road — about 20 miles south of Salmon on U.S. 93 (Lemhi County) |
| Phone | (208) 894-2290 |
| Reservations | getoutside.idaho.gov/twin-peaks-ranch |
| Official Info | IDPR – Twin Peaks Ranch State Park |
Getting There
The park lies on U.S. 93 between Salmon and Challis, about 20 miles (roughly 25 minutes) south of Salmon along the Salmon River corridor. From Idaho Falls, plan on about 3 hours via ID-28 or U.S. 93; from Missoula, Montana, it’s about 2½ hours south over Lost Trail Pass.
Nearby Parks Worth Combining
Pair Twin Peaks Ranch with Land of the Yankee Fork State Park near Challis — gold-rush ghost towns and the Yankee Fork dredge, about 45 minutes farther down U.S. 93. The Idaho state parks guide covers all 30 parks, including the $10 resident Passport that handles day-use across the system.
Facts verified against IDPR (parksandrecreation.idaho.gov, getoutside.idaho.gov) and Idaho news reports, July 2026. Cabin rates and season dates are set by IDPR — check the official park page before your trip.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Twin Peaks Ranch State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in most Idaho state parks and on trails, but only if confined or controlled on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 6 ft maximum leash required, or pet must be confined (e.g. in a camper)
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited from all swim areas and beaches statewide (service animals excepted)
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are allowed at most parks but some parks prohibit them in some cabins and yurts
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Park managers may designate off-leash exercise areas (e.g. Eagle Island off-leash trails); pets may not be left unattended
Are dogs allowed at Twin Peaks Ranch State Park?
Pets are welcome in most Idaho state parks and on trails, but only if confined or controlled on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parksandrecreation.idaho.gov. More: Idaho state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
