Unit 60 60 (Island Park)
High Yellowstone-plateau lodgepole and caldera country on Yellowstone's doorstep — general elk with a premier moose draw.
Eastern Idaho — Island Park; Fremont County (Island Park Zone) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
434
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
6,100–9,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 60 sits on the Island Park volcanic plateau in Fremont County, a high, lodgepole-covered caldera country pressed against Yellowstone National Park, Henrys Lake and the Continental Divide. It is a general Island Park-Zone elk unit with modest success typical of big timbered country, holds mule deer at fairly low densities, offers spring and fall black bear, and produces an excellent once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose tag. Almost entirely Caribou-Targhee National Forest, it is big, cold, high country where elk migrate and pressure concentrates on the road corridors.
Terrain
High volcanic plateau and caldera rim, rolling from ~6,100 ft flats and meadows to forested peaks and divide ridges above 9,000 ft near the Continental Divide and Henrys Lake mountains.
Cover: Extensive lodgepole pine forest with Douglas-fir and spruce-fir at elevation, interspersed with sagebrush flats, wet meadows, willow bottoms and the Henrys Fork riparian corridors that hold moose.
Landmarks: Island Park Caldera · Henrys Lake · Henrys Fork of the Snake River · Continental Divide · Sawtell Peak · Big Springs
Access
Overwhelmingly Caribou-Targhee National Forest with an extensive Forest road and trail network off US-20. Wilderness-quality roadless pockets sit along the Continental Divide and near the Yellowstone boundary. Scattered private subdivision and resort inholdings ring Island Park village, Henrys Lake and Macks Inn — respect posted boundaries. The Yellowstone Park line is closed to hunting.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (Island Park resort/subdivision inholdings)
Access points: US-20 (Island Park / Macks Inn / Last Chance) · Henrys Lake State Park area · Big Springs Road · Sawtell Peak Road · USFS road and trail network
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general Island Park-Zone elk opportunity with modest success across big timbered plateau country. Elk migrate with weather, and Yellowstone-adjacent herds shift; mature bulls hold in the roadless divide pockets.
- →Hunt the timber pockets and meadow edges away from US-20 traffic
- →Work the Continental Divide roadless country for less-pressured bulls
- →Bugle and cow-call September ridges and park boundary fringes
- →Follow migration to lower elevations after early snows
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer occur at fairly low densities across the high plateau, favoring sagebrush edges, meadows and mixed timber. A general opportunity more than a trophy target here.
- →Glass sagebrush flats and meadow edges at first and last light
- →Hunt timber-to-opening transitions
- →Move to lower elevations as snow accumulates
- →Watch the willow and riparian fringes near the Henrys Fork
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered plateau with spring and fall opportunity in the meadows, burns and berry country. Be grizzly-aware — this is occupied grizzly range.
- →Spring: glass green-up meadows and south-facing openings
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and berry brush fields
- →Carry bear spray and confirm black vs. grizzly before any shot
- →Cover ground between glassing points on the Forest road grid
Moose
common trophyShiras moose are a premier controlled draw here — a once-in-a-lifetime tag with very high success. Henrys Fork willow bottoms, Henrys Lake wetlands and Big Springs riparian corridors hold good bulls.
- →If drawn, scout willow bottoms along the Henrys Fork and Big Springs
- →Glass wet meadows and lake-edge willows at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow through brushy riparian corridors
- →Expect a long point wait to draw the tag
Pro tips
- →Leave the US-20 corridor for the roadless divide country to escape pressure and find mature bulls
- →Watch the weather — early snow moves elk and deer and can make or break the hunt
- →This is grizzly country — carry bear spray and be certain of your target on any bear
- →If you draw the moose tag, focus on Henrys Fork willows, Henrys Lake and Big Springs riparian bottoms
- →Respect the Yellowstone Park boundary and posted Island Park subdivision inholdings
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly bear range — food storage, bear spray and target ID are essential
- !Yellowstone National Park boundary is closed to hunting — know exactly where you are
- !Private resort and subdivision inholdings ring Island Park, Henrys Lake and Macks Inn
- !High elevation means early, heavy snow can gate roads and strand vehicles
- !Cold, remote country — come prepared for winter conditions in any season
Logistics
Island Park and Macks Inn along US-20 offer fuel, lodging, groceries and services; Ashton to the south and West Yellowstone (MT) to the north are larger resupply hubs. An extensive Caribou-Targhee road and trail network reaches most of the unit. Numerous Forest and state campgrounds ring Island Park and Henrys Lake. Expect cold nights and early snow at these elevations.
Nearest towns: Island Park, Macks Inn, Last Chance, West Yellowstone (MT), Ashton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 60 · IDFG Island Park Elk Zone · USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 60 in Idaho?
- Unit 60 (60 (Island Park)) covers about 434 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,100 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 60?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (Island Park resort/subdivision inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 60?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 60 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.