Anglers who love fishing the Upper Blackfoot River in southeast Idaho have something else to be happy about besides catching beautiful cutthroats and rainbows. Thanks to a donation from Itafos Conda — a mining operation and fertilizer manufacturing facility located in Soda Springs — there is now a new parking area to make parking and access to the river easier and safer for anglers.
Since 2017, Itafos Conda has been granting anglers access to the Upper Blackfoot River from their 112-acre property enrolled in Idaho Fish and Game’s Access Yes! program. The property, located 11 miles north of Soda Springs on Highway 34, allows anglers to access a 1.5-mile stretch of the river. However, parking has always been confined to the sides of the busy highway.
In early October, Idaho Fish and Game finished construction of a new parking lot on land donated for access by Itafos which will be able to accommodate 8-10 vehicles.
Here is what to remember when using this parking lot and access area:
- No vehicle access (other than in the parking lot), foot or equestrian access only
- No overnight camping on property or in parking lot
- No open fires
- Access to the river extends upstream to fish trap and downstream to reservoir high-water mark from the bridge
- Access is only in river corridor, avoid adjacent croplands
- Access to property and parking lots corresponds with the fishing season on the Upper Blackfoot River, which is July 1 through Nov. 30
- No hunting, including waterfowl
- No trapping
- Landowner notification not required
For more information about this Access Yes! property, visit Blackfoot River/Reservoir Access Yes! Property or contact the Idaho Fish and Game regional office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.