(Updated on May 4, 2019 / Author: Tim Bondy) The John Hoffman Reservoir is located about 6 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho yet I doubt many people have been there. I have seen this agricultural reservoir from the nearby Bennett Hills and the peak of Teapot Dome but never took the plunge and walked out there. Finally on October 20th, 2013 the BondyWeb Adventure Team of Tim and Addie the Plott Hound made it out there.
It’s Dry and Rather Uninteresting
I admit it…the area around this reservoir is rather boring and even worse, the John Hoffman Reservoir was completely bone dry. The prerequisite cow patty mess is unavoidable and the ever-present acres of non-native cheatgrass latches onto socks, shoes and any cloth items it comes in contact with.
But if one doesn’t look too close, this walking spot is actually rather nice. First of all, it’s close to home for a quick Sunday afternoon, walk the dog spot. The sweeping views of the Bennett Hills, Danskin Mountains, solitude and local desert make for a better than an in-town walk. Maybe a return in the springtime would be a good idea to see a full reservoir?
Failure of Technology
Technology let me down today. Digital photos of the bone dry reservoir and shots of a mostly decomposed cow carcass were corrupted and not viewable. My recorded Garmin Oregon 500t GPS track was mysteriously off by 100-1,500 yards. I use the GPS track to Geo-sync my photos and my photos were obviously misplaced. A problem that is easily remedied with the geotagging feature of a program called “Picasa Photo Album”.
Bigger Version of Photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PQJ2EXJjXtPFfyLq8
John Hoffman Reservoir Adventure Scorecard – 5 Stars or Worse
- Remoteness: 2 Stars
- Beauty: 1 Star
- Cleanliness of Our Lands: 1 Star – Sporadic junk found along the entire hike. Lots of cow patties too.
- Rock Hounding: 0 Stars
- Wildlife: 1 Star – Birds and lots of them plus much dried up deer, antelope pellets.
- Overall Score: 1 Star
Remember, this is an Adventure Score and not an enjoyment score.
Originally published elsewhere in October 2013.
Edited and republished on the Bondyweb.com website on May 4, 2019.
This is my Life Off Interstate 84 in Mountain Home, Idaho
