Activities

There is a wide variety of activities to keep campers busy and enjoying the outdoors together at Camp Palisades!

Hiking & The Polar Bear Club

There is a wide variety of activities to keep campers busy at Camp Palisades. A camp favorite is hiking through Targhee National Forest to Lower and Upper Palisades Lakes. The Lower Lake trail is a well-maintained trail that runs 3.5 miles into the mountains along a creek. Campers often join the “Polar Bear Club” by dunking themselves from head to toe into the chilly water. Campers aren’t the only ones that enjoy the water though. Every once in a while you can see a moose in the distance. The hike to Upper Palisades Lake continues another 2.7 miles beyond Lower Lake. Campers also enjoy swimming here, though the waters are a bit more chilly.

Overnight Backpacking for Senior Camp

One of the newest additions to the camp itinerary is an overnight backpacking trip to Upper Palisades Lake. This adventure gives campers and volunteers alike a chance to experience a beautiful hike and a refreshing dip in the lake followed by delicious food and a night in the great outdoors.

Rafting on the Snake River

Both camps spend time on the scenic Snake River. Senior campers enjoy whitewater rafting just across the border in Wyoming, and junior campers take in a scenic raft trip surrounded by the Teton Range.

Swimming at Big Elk Lake

There is also plenty of swimming to be done at Big Elk Lake, which is just a two or three mile drive from our campgrounds. The water is much warmer here than in the Upper and Lower Palisades Lakes, so campers can splash in the sun and take turns paddle boarding with counselor supervision.

Campground Games & Activities

Also, the Camp Palisades grounds offer plenty of activities themselves. Campers are kept busy with all kinds of activities. Campers can participate in a variety of sports including volleyball (and frolleyball), ping pong, foosball, and basketball. Organized games and other activities vary from year to year, but often include steal the bacon, the stick game, sardines, and many others.