Ahh, summer! The best time of year to visit a beach, play in the sand and splash around in the water.
However, living in Idaho, we can’t exactly take a walk down to an oceanfront, so what do we do when we need to get our beach fix? Well, one of my favorite places to go for that is Jefferson County Lake (better known as Rigby Lake), it may not be the ocean, but to me is the perfect place to go beachin’.
Our favorite part of the lake to go to is the side where animals are permitted, even when we don’t take our dogs. There’s a bit more space open there so my kids can play in more areas of the sand. We normally rent a paddleboard from the rental shack and then we’re able to go around to the other side via the water so they can still do the waterslide. You 
can even reserve your paddleboard or kayak online for your day at the lake with Yellowstone Boat Rentals, which I am definitely going to do from now on.
Day at the Lake Details:
Things to bring: life jackets, water toys, sand toys, cooler with food, snacks and drinks, towels, water shoes, blankets, chairs, canopy or tent for shade
Cost: $5 per day
We have yet to go camping here, as I’m not really a camping person, but I think the campsites here look nice, so I’ve been toying with the idea of trying it out. I figure, it’s still really close to a city, so it should be easier for me to camp there. Fingers crossed I decide to brave it eventually! For those that already are campers though, here’s some info and the rates:
Camping Details
“Jefferson County Lake Campground is a superb location to camp with very reasonable rates (rates displayed below). The lake fills naturally and is normally full the first week of July. Call or stop in for reservations. Amenities include 50 beautiful campsites with water and electric hookups. There is a camp host on site, bathrooms, volleyball nets, playground equipment, a tennis court, sandy beaches, a lake slide, grassy areas, walking trails, a boat ramp for non-motorized boats, small shelters on a first come first serve basis outside the camping fee area, and large shelters by reservation only.
Shelters may be reserved online via the the Reservation Website. Rates are $15 per day.
Campsites are $20 per night for up to any three of the following things, space permitting (For example, you can have two tents and a car; or, a truck, trailer and a tent.):
Group RV sites are $35 per night
Tent Sites are $10 per night – Group Tent Sites are $25 per night
- Walk in pass $5 per day
- Day pass $5 per day
- Annual pass $30
Each additional vehicle or tent $5 (ONLY if space permits)
Check out by 11 am
The lake entrance fee and applicable taxes are included in the above rates.” –The Jefferson County Lake website
If you haven’t been out to Rigby Lake yet this summer, then you definitely need to head out there before school starts and check it out. All of our family and friends that we have introduced to the lake love it just as much as we do, and it should be checked off everyone’s summer bucket list!
