Draper Wood River Preserve

The Draper Wood River Preserve is a beautiful piece of protected land in Haley, Idaho alongside the Big Wood River. The 124 acre property protects a half mile of the river, and is open for the public to explore and enjoy.

The preserve has several short hiking trails which you can utilize to explore the area. The preserve is comprised mostly of dense forest alongside the Big Wood River, but there is also a boardwalk that takes you to the edge of the beautiful Croy Creek Wetlands area.

One of the highlights of the preserve is the Bow Bridge. This beautifully constructed pedestrian bridge depicts a recurve bow with tips that curve away from an archer when the bow is strung. It was designed by Leslie Howa who drew from her passion for archery when designing the bridge. On the far side of the bridge there is a 17-foot tall steel arrow structure, further adding to the archery theme.

There is also a small picnic pavilion within the preserve. At the pavilion you’ll find a couple informative plaques telling of the history and geology of the area.

There are a few different access points for the Preserve. Perhaps the most convenient is the large parking area by Lions Park off Bullion Street, but the preserve can also be accessed from Aspen Drive or Cedar Street.