Is it a nice place to live?

Any downsides like meth heads, crime, crappy neighborhoods ... ?

What's the job situation there?

Jeff...I dont know for sure, but the place is surrounded by lava fields and gobs of rock chucks

Worked with a couple K9 guys from there and they seemed vwery well adjusted, with no on-going gripes about the place.

IF is in the high desert, about 5k feet. It gets a lot of wind. I don't know about the job market, but it has one of the highest percentage of PhD's in the country due to the National Atomic Energy lab west of there towards Arco.

For some good info, go to city-data.com and search for IF. This site has LOTS of info about the people, town, weather, economy, etc.

No one has proven anything and the city officials will deny it, but IF and the surrounding area seem to have an unusually high incidence of cancer & MS. My 1st wife and her best friend grew up there. My wife died of cancer 6 years ago and her friend has MS. Possibly because it's downwind of the aforementioned atomic research site? Who knows.

If you want to work you can find a job. The pay may not be so hot.
Predominantly LDS by a rather large margin. Crime rate is moderate to fairly low. There is meth and meth heads, just like everywhere else.

Winters can be brutally cold if you are not accustomed to -digits, then add the wind chill factor.

As an example, in December 2011 (late season cow tag)the day my dad and I got done packing out my elk from a mountain ridge to the truck, we caught the weather on a radio station out of Idaho Falls.

The news caster stated that the wind chill was 25 to 40 below zero.

We were both glad to be back to the truck with that elk, that day.

IF is located as such that it is not too long of a drive from some decent hunting/ fishing opportunities.

Overall there are a lot worse places to live.

Are you another CO resident trying to get out? I was in a long PM discussion with another CO member who's looking for a decent place to move to.

I grew up in Rigby, about 12 miles up the road. Admittedly, a lot of my information is a bit out of date, but...

It's a great area. There are plenty of good recreation opportunities nearby. It's about an hour and half from Yellowstone and Teton, for one thing. Some of the best fly fishing in the world is available on the Snake River, above Ririe.

The wind does blow there. It's not as severe as some parts of Wyoming or the eastern side of the Sierras, down from Reno, but it's more than what we get here in Layton, UT.

Yes, the winters can be cold for a while. I do remember milking cows by hand in an unheated barn at 20 below. But temperatures that cold aren't all that common, unless you're out in the mountains. And spring, summer, and fall are wonderful.

The whole intermountain west generally has lower cost of living and lower wages than most of the rest of the country. People are attracted to the area for the high quality of life.

It's a well established fact that the nuclear testing site was releasing a radioactive isotope of iodine (I think that was it) during the time I was growing up. Cows ate it along with the grass, us kids drank the milk, and there were some health issues because of it. But that was a long time ago.

All in all, it's a great place to live and to raise a family.

I drive through Idaho Falls a couple times a year going between Utah and Montana. So while I'd have to say that I much prefer the two endpoints of those trips, the midpoint isn't bad, either.

If you need a job, and you don't have one already waiting, you'll not get a decent one unless you're LDS.

I was stationed out at the Naval Reactors Facility at INEL during the early 80`s. I was teaching Radcon and chemistry chemistry there and we surveyed frequently for radiation and airborne and surface contamination. It was not uncommon to have out of spec airborne contamination levels in the winter due to a buildup of radon during a temperature inversion. The same radon that can build up in homes was emitted from the desert materials, rocks and such, and built up to high levels when the atmospheric conditions were right. The same atmospheric conditions would make it smoky in town, Blackfoot, because of all the wood burning stoves in use.

Yes.

More than anything it's the lack of nearby fishing opportunities. It's Colorado but the front range is nothing like I imagined or am used to. Everything within a two or three hour drive from Denver is a zoo of people. I grew up in N Ca and lived in Alaska where there was fishing opportunities galore and even when I lived in San Diego I was only ten minutes away from the docks and great ocean fishing.

I'm soured on the crowds and the fishing here and I just don't go anymore. I used to fish 50 to 100 days a year, it was a big part of my life, and I miss it.

I'd rather risk cancer in southern Idaho than live with the fruit loops in Washington or Oregon.

I ain't never been there. But I hear good things about American Falls Reservoir. Just a hop and skip out of IF, and supposed to be some good walleye in it.

Sounds like you need to move to MN.

If your used to Colorado weather, Idaho Falls temperatures shouldn't phase you. It is windy all along the Snake River Plain. SE Idaho is predominantly Mormon. That may or may not be an issue for you. You can't move anywhere without methamphetamine being a problem. You may add looking at Twin Falls if your interested in places to relocate to in S Idaho. There is good fishing nearby. Happy hunting!

One thing to know about Idaho Falls...there are no falls. It used to be called Eagle Rock but the developers in the early 1900's wanted a more catchy name to attract settlers. Everyone likes water falls so they built a 4' high dam across the Snake River in what's now the middle of town, called it a water fall, and changed the town's name to Idaho Falls. The dam is still there.

If you want real water falls, you need to move 150 miles down river to Twin Falls where you'll find both 180' Twin Falls and 212' Shoshone Falls on the Snake River just 2 miles apart.

Man, what a shame.
I grew up in a likely cancer cluster area of Northwest Indiana.
We didn't know that then, but after my first wife and her two best friends all succumbed to cancer all within a few years (ages 32, 30 and 22) , I took my two kids and was the hell out of there. Moved to Alaska and then ultimately here to remote northern Idaho.

There are problems and hazards everywhere--it's important to not overreact--but if you are a relatively young guy Fish Head and planning on a family, personally I'd avoid a potential cancer cluster area like Idaho Falls.

I have driven through IF several times on my way back to AK. I stopped twice for a beer at that place right before I got back on the road. Nice place!


There you have it!

I live in a town 45 miles from IF, good quality of life here. Not too far to get to something bigger if you need to. Close to great skiing, snowmachineing, hunting, fishing, etc. Good luck on your decision.
Jon

fish head,

have you looked at Grand Junction? Or are you looking to escape Colorado completely?

Sycamore

I have bad news. Compared to AK, the fishing ANYWHERE ELSE is going to suck moose cock. If you really love to fish that much, guess where I'd suggest?

I've been there. I've done that. I don't regret any of the time I spent there but I'm looking for a change. My one and only problem with Alaska is living with six plus months of full on winter. It's gets old after a while.



Grand Junction has nothing that appeals to me.

Well, to me, there are Smallmouth Bass, and other fish. If I wanted to stay out west and fish, I'd be looking at some place that had rivers with a lot of bronzebacks. The Grand Ronde in OR/WA and the John Day in OR come to mind, though I'm sure there are others. Westerners all appear to be steelhead-queers, and think "the gamest fish that swims" is to be sneered at and left alone.

If you're looking at Idaho Falls, look up the road about 25 miles to Rexburg.

Rexburg is not as large as IF, and it is a college town. It's a little closer than IF to the excellent fly fishing on the Snake River, near Ririe.

You're not far from Heise Hot Springs, Kelly's Canyon, and all that. Upper and Lower Palisades Lakes (north of Palisades Reservoir) used to be good fishing, though you have to pack in. Plus it's not a big drive to Swan Valley, Alpine, and Afton if you want to hop over the border into Wyoming.

It has been a long time, but there used to be a big elk herd in Star Valley, WY.

Thanks.

I truly appreciate all the advice/comments that have been posted.

I want to find to find someplace in the mountain west that combines opportunities with reasonable real estate prices, living standards, and jobs.

It's not easy.

What kind of work would you like to find?

Denton is correct, IMO. Maybe Ashton as well.

Rexburg has more expensive housing than I.F. or Rigby. (Because of the college.) I live in Rigby, 15 minutes from I.F. Small town, nice people, and I can run into the "big" town easily. Cheap taxes, decent to good schools, cheap groceries.
Check out the Snake River MLS for housing. It's CHEAP. (No, I'm not a realtor.)

I fish the South Fork of the Snake a lot. (10 minutes to Lorenzo Access, 15 to Twin Bridges. Or I can go up to Byington or conant, or Palisades.)It is really good. No, not Alaska good, but if you have a float tube or a drift boat, it is a blast and you don't have guys standing shoulder to shoulder. If you want that, drive up to Shoup for steelhead.
You can also fish the main Snake, or the North (Henrys) Fork. Or go up to Island Park and Yellowstone.

Whitetail around here is private property and tough, but I've taken many mule deer, elk, and a bear within 1.5 hours. Good hunts are draw, but there are over the counter tags, too. And there is really good upland hunting and waterfowl.

Regarding the cancer, the isotope thing was a time ago. I know guys who work out there. They monitor the area all the time. There is more radiation from standing in front of a fire place.

The remrk about not getting a job if your not LDS is wrong. I know many guys who aren't Mormon and have jobs. My neighbor is Baptist and moved here from Washington. He works out at the INL. Several other neighbors are Catholic. Lots of people aren't LDS, it's not a big deal. However, it does mean it does mean my subdivision is full of clean cut, educated, conservative LDS families. I can think of worse things.

But the wind and winter do get old!

I've lived in CA, HI, KY, MT, ID, IN, back to ID, AK, then back to ID seven years ago. Objectively speaking, if you can do the winter, this is a good place.

If I can help answer anything, PM me.

212 feet, WOW. I must have been further away than I thought, because I had no idea it was that much drop. It surely is an impressive sight. And the roar is incredible even from the distance at which these photos were taken.

From your angle, you can't see the bottom. You're only looking at the top 1/3.



Here's what the man-made Idaho Falls looks like:

Just helped a friend move to Rigby. Very nice there. Its a small town, but, like other posters have mentioned, everything you need is close by. Medical, post office, DMV etc are all in town. Hell, we were fishing 10 minutes from his new place on the Snake! And Henry's Lake just north of Rigby has AWESOME fishing. You'll have no problem fishing in Idaho.

Smartest post of the year!

Fish Head:

I guess it depends on what kind of fishing you are into. If you like fly fishing for trout on pristine streams and high mountain lakes, then you can obviously narrow it down. Colorado has all that already.

Warm water fishing? I thought the front range was good for that, but I think the ultimate is obviously Lake Powell.

Okay! Now that is impressive. I have been through Twin' a couple of times, and never had time to do the walk through at Shoshone Falls. I just grabbed a few photos from the parking area.

Is the vantage point where your photo was taken available on the walking/bike path through the park?

I have to say, it would be a pity to shut it down in order to divert the water through turbines, but there sure is a lot of hydro going to waste there.

Lived in Southern and Eastern Idaho for the last 20 years. Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Pocatello.

First, the LDS comments are valid. If you are in an industry where word of mouth is important, your potential income is seriously limited if you are not LDS. If you work at a major employer such as the Site, it doesn't matter as much.

Fishing is good, and not crowded by most standards. Very good small mouth fishing around American Falls, Walleye in Salmon Falls, and in the Bear River, lake trout in Bear Lake, Steelhead in Shoup, Pumpernickel in several of the lakes (like Dierkes), and cold water trash fish (trout) in most every river and stream around.

Idaho Falls is my least favorite city of the three. Full of engineer types, and boring. Also, the winters are cold, sure, but the real issue is that it is gray. Pocatello is my favorite, even though the average income is much lower. University town, much more varied cultural life, and at least 50 days more days of sunshine. It doesn't cloud up near as much in the winter, and snow doesn't stay. PM if you have any other questions.

Just be sure you visit to the falls in during spring runoff. Summer will be completely different.

There were a couple years I had the privilege of living in SE Idaho during the early 80's. The economy was pretty grim and I moved to the left coast for job reasons where family and business ties have made me remain. Fishing, hunting and the pace of life were better there than anywhere else I've lived plus the people were great. Anyone living there has me just a little jealous.

Couple of other places to add to your list:

Logan, UT: About the same climate as Rigby, but with several large potential employers.

Carson City, NV: Not a big town, but excellent access to good recreation. Wind blows in the summer... momma, does it blow.

There is a fairly large Latin immigrant population in the area, names of that origin seem to be connected with most of the crime reported on the local news.

The biggest problem I would have with I.F. is the gray overcast in the winter, if you can handle that the rest of it should be okay.

Good hunting and fishing within an hour or two of the area.

Because of the INL being located nearby I.F. did not take a housing or unemployment hit as severe as the rest of the country.

If I recall correctly the INL employs around 5000 people most in very good paying jobs.

drover

There are several good vantage points for the falls. The main one looks almost straight down on them. Then there's a paved path that goes several hundred yards to the one from where that pic was taken. I also have some good ones from the canyon rim on the far side but you need to know where to go on a dirt road.

The water is fully utilized. A certain amount has to be let go to maintain the fish runs. A lot of that goes through the turbines, and the rest is for irrigation.

I'm biased, but I'd consider Utah. Plenty of blue ribbon fisheries, and a bunch more pristine out of the way mountain lakes and streams. Trout of every variety, Grayling, large mouth bass, small mouth bass, northern pike, crappie, catfish, walleye, perch, Kokanee Salmon, you name it. Also a strong economy and plenty of jobs. There's some quirky stuff with alcohol laws and religion, but nothing major. Utah's an extremely gun friendly State as well.

Look at the Provo River, Green River, Weber River, Lake Powell, Strawberry, Flaming Gorge, and all points in between.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/blueribbon.php

http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahfish/

I pulled the last load of seed potatoes out of a potato shed next to the Hot Springs just East of Sugar City about twelve hours before the Teton Damn broke on the Snake River years ago. Yes, that is some pretty country over there in the foothills of Teton Range, but if I was to move to Idaho it would be up in the panhandle up around Newman Lake or a little further North. I haven't lived in Idaho, but have lived in Spokane, and my Grand Parents had a place up on Loon Lake North of Spokane, and I have some fond memories of that area as life was so much slower over there in Eastern Washington.

You have to be careful about choosing property withing 75 miles of Twin Falls. We have over a half million dairy cows here. There are lots of good places not near a dairy, but if you chose wrong, the stench can be terrible. A good Google Maps search can tell you a lot.

And the trees will grow sideways in many places from all the wind

GreatWaputi makes a good point. I grew in up Rigby, and love going there. But I'd choose where I am in Utah as a place to live in a New York minute.

We do have some of the most gun friendly laws around. With a concealed carry permit, you can wear your gun into any of the state operated schools. You do not need a permit to keep a loaded gun in your car. If somebody breaks into your home, cabin, hotel room, or camp tent, there is little to prevent the intruder from being shot.

I'm just not a fisherman, so I can't give the inside scoop on local fishing, except to say that in the evening when the breeze dies down, Ferron Reservoir practically boils with fish catching bugs.

Places to look near major communities: Logan, Payson, Lehi, or, if you're rich, Alpine. For a warm climate, check around St. George.

Places to look away from major communities: Manti, Mount Pleasant, Tooele (underrated IMO). Manti and Mount Pleasant are at the foot of the Manti-Lasal mountains. Locals pull their trailers up on Skyline Drive and park for a couple of weeks at a time.

I was referring only to the free falling water not being used to generate electricity. But the photo was probably taken during spring runoff after all of the upstream reservoirs were filled. And it would obviously be cost prohibitive to build turbine capacity to take advantage of water which is available for only a few weeks each year or possibly less.

This answers a few questions I had when I spent a couple nights there last fall before heading to the mountains! I stayed just off the interstate on 93.

Perfect! I suppose it's not in Idaho either!

If you wanna call a concrete wall in the river "falls" then yes there are falls.

I see what you mean.

Why no love for GJ? too much freeway? too much unemployed oil shale workers? too many hispano ag workers?

used to be a old school 'smith that specialized in 6.5 barrels, Ray somebody?

Sycamore

Both parents were born there. Dad said the winters were bleak - said it was like living between two gray blankets with the low clouds and the snow on the ground. He left there back in the early fifties to join the Air Force. We would go up there every summer. I still have lots of family up there, in Pocatello, and that part of Idaho. I go up there every year at least once. Just went through there last week.

Poky is more of a university style town. Idaho Falls has more of a farming, small town, LDS community feel to it. Lots of people moving up to southeast Idaho sadly bringing their riff raff stuff with them. Drugs have arrived up there.

I love it up there, but then I am biased as many of my happiest memories of my life happened up there. But I might move up there one day. Lots of hunting and fishing in the area.

"I want to find to find someplace in the mountain west that combines opportunities with reasonable real estate prices, living standards, and jobs."

Fish Head you find a place like that and I will go with you.

One of my younger brothers live between IF and Jellystone. He spends lots of time fishing, hunting and hiking around there. I think it's beautiful country up there and I'm looking forward to hunting over there.

I've got a big thing for Salmon, Steelhead and ocean feesh. It would be very hard for my to leave Oregon because of that. It's easy to land over a hundred smallies on the Umpqua in a day during the summer.

Twenty pound Steelies on the Umpqua and Coquille are not uncommon. Chinook/King Salmon on the Rogue can only be topped in BC/Alaska.

Yes the whole hippy thing does get old, but it can't be too much worse than Colorado.

And because of the Oregon LibTrash, our economy is crap, unless you're a high tech computer geek.....

You would hate Idaho Falls & also the rest of the state, much better to relocate to Utah, mild winters, the streams are never crowded, mule deer & elk standing right along the road, all the drivers are friendly & patient & beautiful LDS girls on every street corner, so, see we have nothing to offer, you'd be a lot happier in Utah!
But, Shoshone Falls is awesome!

Dick