Palisades Reservoir

When you want water that isn’t moving as fast as the Snake River’s main channel, Palisades Reservoir is the local go-to. This 16-mile-long reservoir sits right along Highway 26 between Swan Valley and Alpine, Wyoming, ringed by forested mountains and offering some of the calmest, most scenic paddling in the area. It’s a favorite for boating, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and simply swimming on a hot afternoon — the water stays cool even in July and August. Several boat launches and day-use areas make it easy to find a quiet cove, and the fishing here (kokanee salmon, mackinaw, cutthroat) is a nice change of pace from the river fly-fishing scene. Sunset views over the water toward the mountains are hard to beat, especially with a picnic in tow. Summer weekends bring more boat traffic, so weekday mornings or evenings are your best bet for solitude. Bring your own gear or rent locally in Swan Valley or Alpine. It’s an easy half-day outing that pairs well with a slower morning at the house — grab your gear, spend a few hours on the water, and be back in time for dinner on the deck. Ask us for launch recommendations when you check availability.