30 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho on Interstate 15 is the Blackfoot Rest Area that has trails around the lava field known as Hell's Half Acre. There are trails at the rest areas on both sides of the highway, we were at the south bound rest area. There are two trails, a short 1/4 mile route that is wheelchair accessible and a longer, 1/2 mile trail. Nice to take a break from a long car ride with a quick walk around, though not sure I would want to walk very fast when it is hot outside.
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Sign and Trail Map
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High Desert Sage, junipers and rocks
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Lots of signs But they are interesting
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Blackfoot Rest Area looking back across all that sagebrush at the rest stop parking lot
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Scorched Penstemun There are lavender stripes to guide insects to the nectar. Also called...
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Path and bench Still a lot of snow on the mountains this Spring.
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Twisty Juniper
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Scorched Penstemun and columnar joints of balsalt.
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Lava Lava Lava more than 1/2 acre in Hells Half Acre.
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Wild Onion
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Viewing Platform at the high point of the loop trail
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From the viewing platform
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Larkspur
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Pilot Buttes Middle Butte and Eastern Butte are about 25 miles away and marked the way for...
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New plants sprouting in the rocks. Lots of lichen and moss that help break down the rock...
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Lark Sparrow I am shocked my camera took such a good photo of this common sparrow of the...
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Cracks in the lava
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Lazuli Bunting singing loudly
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Both sides of the highway have a rest area with similiar paths through...
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