While you’re in the area, we recommend multiple outdoorsy activities that you can enjoy …
The Bureau of Reclamation just boosted the flows on the Snake River to more than 17,500 cubic feet per second this week – adding to the thunder and majesty of 212-foot Shoshone Falls – and officials say they expect the flows will remain at that robust level through the month of April!
That means folks have at least six weeks or longer to plan a trip to visit Shoshone Falls, including during Spring Break in March.
“It depends on how the snow comes off and if we have a wet spring, but we may actually increase flows before we decrease them,” said Ryan Newman, assistant manager for the Bureau of Reclamation in the Upper Snake Region.
Newman said there will be extra water releases for salmon flow augmentation in late May and early June, which will present another opportunity for viewing the spectacular waterfall.
Shoshone Falls Park, operated by the City of Twin Falls, offers the best viewpoint. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. There’s an entrance fee of $3 per vehicle. Last Saturday, the park was full of people from throughout Southern Idaho – lots of locals, plus folks from Idaho Falls, Boise, and out of state. There is a lot of parking available in the park, and large lawns where kids can play and dogs can roam.
Bring your bike or your hiking shoes, and you can get some exercise on the Canyon Rim Trail, which can be accessed directly from Shoshone Falls Park, and also by Dierkes Lake, a short distance away from Shoshone Falls. Dierkes Lake has a 1.7-mile natural-surface path around the lake, and it has playground equipment for the kids to enjoy. The Canyon Rim Trail from Shoshone Falls provides a different view of the falls from downstream, compared to the direct views from the observation decks.
Stop at the Visitors Center in Twin Falls to learn about all of the many outdoor opportunities you can explore while you’re in the area. Another segment of the Canyon Rim Trail takes off from the Visitor Center and goes downstream, providing fetching views of the Snake River canyon and several golf courses down below.
Speaking of golf, that’s one of our recommendations. There are nine golf courses to explore in the Southern Idaho region. The Southern Idaho golf passport has expended to 11 courses this year.
Other recommendations:
- Drive the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway on your way to Shoshone Falls and visit one of the five units of Thousand Springs State Park. If you’re coming from western Idaho, you can stop at Malad Gorge before you reach Hagerman and turn off on the byway. The byway runs from Bliss to Buhl before reaching Twin Falls on Highway 30.
- Basejumping from the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, a 486-foot drop from the eighth-highest bridge in the U.S. Tandem basejumps with a trained guide are available for the adventurous, similar to tandem sky diving.
- Visit Miracle or Banbury Hot Springs, or Thousand Springs Resort, all located off the Thousand Springs byway.
- Go whitewater rafting in the Murtaugh or Hagerman reach of the Snake River with Idaho Guide Service.
- Go mountain biking at Auger Falls next to the Snake River near the Canyon Springs Golf Course.
- Take the kids fishing at Hagerman Wildlife Management Area. There are multiple ponds and streams to fish for trout, bass and crappie.
- Visit City of Rocks National Reserve, a very scenic top rock-climbing destination, also great for hiking, or Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
- Disc golf. There are a number of disc golf courses in the area including Twin Falls Golf Course, College of Southern Idaho and Lake Walcott State Park near Rupert.
For recommendations on local food, here’s a Trip Advisor menu of top local dinner spots in the region. For overnight accommodations, here’s a list of options for RV Camping or hotels.
Have fun while you’re visiting Southern Idaho!
Nature Is Ready to Put On a Show
This spring, get outside and watch Mother Nature show off thousands of sparkling, rushing, tumbling waterfalls. We’ve put together a guide that includes out-of-the-way gems and crowd-pleasing stunners.
Pin it for Later!
