2025: Spring/Summer
- Spring trails are now open; the $6 winter access fee has ended for the season.
- The $7 per-vehicle MVEF (Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee) remains in effect.
- Seasonal trail closures (April 15–June 15) for waterfowl nesting:
- Affected segments run from the North Gate to the John Muir Trail along the Henrys Fork River, near the bird sanctuary.
- Construction notice (May – October):
- Extensive water and septic upgrades will impact rental cabins, day‑use areas, parking lots, and roadways.
- Buildings with water/septic service will be offline for rentals; the four yurts are bookable via the new reservations system. getoutside.idaho.gov/harriman
- The Boys House remains open as a family gathering space.
- Dog policy:
- Dogs allowed only in parking lots; no summer‑season trail access.
- Must be on a six‑foot leash and attended at all times; stray or unattended animals may be impounded at owner’s expense (IDAPA 26.01.20.175.09).
- Bear‑aware reminders:
- Make noise, travel in groups, stick to daylight hours.
- Carry bear spray and a bell.
- Follow our Facebook page for the latest trail conditions, upcoming events, and a link to local weather.
Harriman State Park’s history is a lengthy one–reaching far back into the 1800s, when it was incorporated as the Island Park Land and Cattle Company. This land was purchased by James Anderson, Silas Eccles, and William Bancroft, of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. The Guggenheim family (Daniel, Murray, and Solomon) also purchased shares in the ranch early on. Because of the owners’ heavy involvement in the railroad industry, Island Park Land and Cattle was given the nickname “Railroad Ranch.” In 1908, Murray Guggenheim decided to sell his shares to Edward H. Harriman of New York. Harriman was the Chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad and purchased the shares, sight unseen, after receiving a letter from Eccles, who boasted of the land’s beauty and refuge.
Harriman himself passed away before making it out to Railroad Ranch, but his honor and legacy lived on through his family. Harriman’s wife, Mary, visited the property with their three children: Carol, Averell, and Roland and shortly afterward, purchased another Guggenheim share. For decades, they used the ranch as something of a getaway. While predominantly for cattle, the land was expansive and beautiful, filled with wildlife, trails, and excellent fishing. Roland Harriman and his wife Gladys were frequent patrons and spent most of their time hiking and fishing.
Conservationist John Muir, was a family friend of the Harrimans and held heavy influence on the Harrimans’ decision to donate the land to the state of Idaho. They wanted the land and wildlife to be protected, so the gift came with stipulations. The land was to be managed as “man being in harmony with nature,” thus forming a 16,000-acre wildlife refuge around the land that was managed in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. What’s more, is that to further the land deed also required that the people who managed the land would be professionally chosen rather than politically. This regulation aided in the formation of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
The land was a fully operational cattle ranch up until the day it was turned over to the state. “On April 1, 1977, Railroad Ranch became Harriman State Park of Idaho (used to distinguish from the Harriman State Park in New York, which was also donated by the Harrimans). In 1982, the park officially opened to the public” (100 Years of Idaho and Its Parks).
Watch More Historic Harriman Videos
Current Conditions
Address: 3489 Green Canyon Rd
Island Park, ID 83429
Phone: (208) 558-7368
Hours of Operation: Day-use locations within state parks are open from 7 am to 10 pm, per Idaho state code 26.01.20 (5). Day-use hours may change based on park manager discretion.
