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Things To Do
In and Around
New Plymouth, Idaho
Walk the Horseshoe
New Plymouth is laid out around a
narrow 1.125 mile long park, constructed in the
shape of a horseshoe. Walking from any point to each
end and back to the point of beginning produces a
relaxing and invigorating 2¼ mile
walk. Although the park is segmented by many
streets, traffic is so low that crossing is never a
challenge.
The park is
bordered by a street on each, both of which are
called "Boulevard." The inner boulevard is
very lightly traveled, making it a good choice for
those preferring to walk on asphalt over grass. (The
two streets are divided into East Boulevard and West
Boulevard by the intersection of Plymouth Avenue -
the main north-south street through town.)
Play Horseshoes
Of course a town that is built
around a huge horseshoe will have horseshoe pits.
There are 6 open pits in Kiwanis Park
Play Disc Golf (Frisbee Golf)
 Nine
disc golf "holes" are found down the center of the
West Boulevard horseshoe park. Since these "holes"
are actually elevated baskets, this is one form of
golf that can be played even with snow on the
ground.
For more information about disc
golf, go to
http://www.answers.com/disc+golf?
Play "Real" Golf
There are three golf courses within
a short distance of New Plymouth.
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Scotch Pines Golf Course near Payette, Idaho.
This writer's personal favorite, this beautiful,
hilly 18 hole course is usually walk-on-able. It
features 6,487 yards of golf from the longest
tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 68.4
and it has a slope rating of 108 on Blue grass.
Designed by William Scott Masingill, the Scotch
Pines golf course opened in 1988.
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Purple Sage Golf Course near Caldwell, Idaho.
The 18-hole "Purple Sage" course at the Purple
Sage Golf Course facility in Caldwell, Idaho
features 6,753 yards of golf from the longest
tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 70.8
and it has a slope rating of 123 on Rye grass.
Designed by A. Vernon Macan, ASGCA, the Purple
Sage golf course opened in 1962. John Watson,
one of the nicest people you will ever meet,
manages the course as it's Golf Professional.
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Ontario Golf Course near Ontario, Oregon.
This wide-open course has
only a sparse amount of trees that can affect
your shots, but there is a defined cut of rough
bordering all the fairways. Serious water
hazards come into play on six holes. The large
greens are slightly sloped, fast and have many
subtle breaks. (Some of the greens are a
little rough from over-use of chemical
fertilizers and sterile soil conditions.) There
are many good views of nearby Maheur Butte, a
fascinating cinder cone formation.
Go Bicycling
The New Plymouth area is an
excellent place to bicycle because of the many
lightly-traveled, moderately flat roads that
crisscross through the agricultural valley. For more
hardened riders, bluff roads lead to hilly areas of
lightly-traveled roads.
Go Birdwatching
The Payette River and Snake River
near New Plymouth are outstanding bird watching
areas. Several eagles nests atop power poles provide
nesting places for birds of prey. This area of the
Snake River abounds with pelicans. Storks and cranes
are often seen in nearby flooded fields. There are
literally hundreds of distinct bird species
fluttering about in this area.
Float the Payette River
Although much more exciting nearer
to the headwaters, a lazy afternoon rafting or
tubing the Payette River could help clear your head
and free your spirit.
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