ICE FISHING

Inaugural Cascade Ice Fishing Derby

The event will be Saturday, Jan. 26, on Lake Cascade. Registration is at the Cascade American Legion Hall or at cascadeicefishingderby.com.

Entry fees are $25 for adults and $10 for kids 14 and younger. All proceeds will benefit the annual Youth Ice Fishing Day. There’s also a parking fee for people who use the state park parking lots.

Start time is 6 a.m., and anglers must stop by the American Legion Hall before fishing to pick up an official ticket. All anglers entering fish in the derby must be back at the hall by 5 p.m.

Volunteers will be available to drill holes for anglers who do not have ice fishing gear. Check at registration for details and directions where holes will be drilled.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the heaviest perch, trout and other species. The amounts will be based on the number of entries. More than 50 door prizes also will be raffled to all who enter the derby.

A separate raffle will be sponsored by Idaho Youth Outdoors; tickets will be $5 and sold at the American Legion.

For more information, go to cascadeicefishingderby.com or email cascadeicefishingderby@gmail.com.

STATE PARKS

Sweetheart snowshoeing set at Castle Rocks

Here’s a way to take your sweetheart on a romantic, yet chilly, getaway.

It’s a snowshoeing trek into Castle Rocks State Park south of Burley sponsored by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park is offering a recreational package for couples on Feb. 14 that includes snowshoeing (guide and equipment provided), one night’s stay in the Lodge, Smoky Mountain Yurt or Bunkhouse at the park, and an evening dip at Durfee Hot Springs.

Space is limited and reservations are required.The package price starts at $100 ($50 per person double occupancy required).

Snowshoeing will begin at 11 a.m. at the Castle Rocks Ranch House, with the event concluding at 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided and special valentine amenities will be given.

For reservations and package prices, contact Juanita Jones at 824-5916.

For more park information, go to parksandrecreation.idaho.gov and search for Castle Rocks State Park.

Castle Rocks is open throughout winter for recreation and offers several lodging options from yurts to bunk house to RV spaces with electricity.

The park is reached by taking Interstate 84 east past Burley to the Declo exit. Head south to Declo and continue on Idaho 77. You’ll go through the towns of Albion and Elba before getting to Almo. The park is about 50 miles south of Burley in Cassia County.

Expect about a 4.5-hour drive from the Treasure Valley.

SNOWSHOEING

SNRA plans Saturday family snowshoe outings

Leisurely walks are planned at 10:45 a.m. Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 2 and March 9 at North Fork, about 9 miles north of Ketchum off Idaho 75.

The tours start at 11 a.m. and go about one mile. It’s an opportunity to try a pair of free snowshoes, or you can bring your own.

The trips provide an opportunity to get out and learn winter ecology and animal tracking. Children younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Register by calling 727-5000. Meet inside the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters visitor center.

A $5 Blaine County Recreation snowshoe pass is needed for adults.

WILDLIFE

Deer Flat refuge plans day camp

Learn how animals and plants survive the winter at the refuge’s winter day camp for second-, third- and fourth-graders, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 9.

Hibernate, Migrate or Insulate: A Wildlife Winter Survival Guide Camp is free at the visitor center, located at the intersection of Roosevelt and Indiana streets in Nampa. Participants must register by Jan. 31.

For more information or to register, call 467-9278 or email deerflat@fws.gov.

To get events published email them to outdoors@idahostatesman.com.