Canyon County Parks, Recreation, and Waterways Celebration Park: Idaho's Only Archaeological Park -- Located on the Scenic Snake River
Activities:
Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Picnicking, Camping, Horseback Riding
Trails, Bird watching, Ongoing Interpretive Park Programs, Student Fieldtrips
Reservations are available for large group gatherings and tours.
Facilities:
Visitor Center, Restrooms, Water, Boat Ramp, Car and Boat Parking,
Picnic tables
Fees:
Annual Pass $15, Senior Annual Fee $5, Day Use Fee $2, Camping Fee $5
(3 Day Limit)
Park
Overview
Celebration Park is located on the Snake River
at the western boundary of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area and serves as a beginning point for Halverson Bar and Lake trail.
Travelers worldwide have come to enjoy the high desert flora, scenic land
features, and unique Indian Art dating to 12,000 years ago. Celebration
Park was established as Idaho's only archaeological park in 1989. Since
then the park has been the recipient of several awards including an Orchid
Award In Recognition of Superlative Achievement in Preserving Idaho's
Heritage 1997, from Idaho Historic Preservation Council, and Idaho Governor
Dirk Kempthorne's Take Pride in Idaho Award 2002
Programs
and Features
Celebration Park is fully staffed by Interpretive Specialists knowledgeable
in area specific Native American culture, geology, history, and has a
Atlatl range expressly designed for competitive use. Walking tours, lectures,
and Atlatl instruction are part of a daily routine at the park between
10am and 2pm. Some programs may be scheduled in advance.
School
Field Trips
Celebration Park currently books 100% of annual school days available
for interactive field trips, accommodating 65% of demand by elementary
schools. Programs designed to fulfill the total demand and meet the needs
of Jr. High and High school are currently being created. At this time
each field trip includes the following programs:
Lifeways:
An informative talk on how the Indians made their living at Celebration
Park for the past 12,000 years. Instruction and real artifacts are used
to convey lithic technology and the unique lifestyle of nomadic hunters/gatherers
of the area.
Petroglyph Tour:
There are thousands of petroglyphs on the Bonneville melon gravel that
make up the landscape of Celebration Park. Each element is considered
Indian Art with many dating as far back as 12,000 years. This tour is
a fascinating exploration into the scene of the wintering area used by
Paleolithic, Archaic, historic Native Americans, and other visitors.
Historic Guffy
Bridge: The bridge tour offers up interesting Idaho historic
facts as you walk along the Snake River. Initially built in 1897 the bridge
was intended to carry ore from Silver City to Nampa where it would be
smelted. The bridge is a true Idaho artifact and has been renovated to
allow walking access to the south side of the river and primitive trails
beyond.
Atlatl Throwing:
The Atlatl is mans oldest machine and has been in use for over 45,000
years. Some scientist claim it was the Atlatl and composite dart that
led to the extinction of Pleistocene Mega fauna roughly 7,500 years ago.
On the range with a specialist everyone gets a chance to launch darts
and learn about this amazing weapon.
New Programs
in the making:
Geology/Ecology, Travel In Idaho, Economics and Technology, Entrepreneurs