Take winter adventures in Southern Idaho during December to enjoy wide open spaces all to yourself! December is truly the most wonderful time of the year and there are tons of indoor and outdoor opportunities for you, even in the winter season. Enjoy your December adventure itinerary exploring the warmer Magic Valley, and partake in winter sports in our higher elevation areas.
Exploring the Magic Valley
The Magic Valley can vary in temperature and snowfall in December. Some years there is no snow, and others can bring winter wonderlands. Either way, there are plenty of hikes and places to visit whether there is snow or not! Multiple Christmas light displays can be found in Hagerman, Rupert, Jerome, and at Orton Botanical Garden in Twin Falls.
Snow or not, the waterfalls and canyon walls all around Twin Falls freeze! Frozen waterfall chasing is a thing, and our favorite one to visit is Ross Falls. This is about an hour drive south from Twin Falls. The entire drive is beautiful, winding through the snowy south hills. The path to Ross Falls is only one mile round trip, and usually packed down nicely so no snow shoes are required.
Stay in Twin Falls: https://twinfallschamber.com/visit/lodging/
Stay in Hagerman: https://hagermanvalleyinn.net
The Snake River Canyon running through Twin Falls has frozen waterfalls all over. Drive down the grade to Shoshone Falls to see an entire ice wall, or visit Perrine Coulee to see giant icicles all around the waterfall. Near the canyon’s edge are a few amazing restaurants to try. Redhawk is one of them, and you can walk right behind the restaurant to see the top of Perrine Coulee. Redhawk has great holiday specials to try out. Order one of their specialty warm drinks to get in the spirit!
Downtown Twin Falls
Downtown Twin Falls has amazing shops to do all your holiday shopping at as well! Stop in at Perrine Man Press to find epic Idaho swag. Trying to save money on holiday gifts? Shop at the locally owned shops Downtown like Fashion 15 Below. While you’re browsing downtown get coffee at Twin Beans Coffee Co. to stay warm and refreshed. There are also two breweries downtown; Koto Brewing and Milner’s Gate. Both offer excellent food choices and fun locally sourced beers to try. Lastly, the Downtown Common Area has beautiful Christmas decoration for you to enjoy as well as at City Park.
Balanced Rock Park
After you’ve filled up on incredible food and drink, take a little winter drive to a secret canyon! Balanced Rock is located about 40 minutes from Twin Falls and is the best place to watch sunset in the winter months. Whether there is a dusting of snow on it, or none at all, the giant boulder balancing on its 3 foot pedestal makes the perfect family photo location. Explore the park’s shocking canyon formations by stopping at the picnic area. A great town to stop at near Balanced Rock is Buhl. Visit Cloverleaf Creamy if you love ice cream no matter how cold it is, or get dinner at Magic Valley Brewing where you can taste test delicious craft beers and homemade sodas!
Winter Sports
Ready for some epic powder? Head up to Pomerelle Mountain Resort! They generally are open by mid-December. It is an extremely affordable resort pricing less than $50 for a whole day of skiing. This mountain is perfect for all levels of skiers or snowboarders. On the way back from Pomerelle stop at Burley’s Straw Maze to see an epic Christmas light display as well! Drive up to Rupert before heading to Pomerelle and get the best caramel rolls in the world at Sofie’s Chatterbox. First off, Rupert is one of those quaint cities you can’t skip while visiting the area; and secondly, these rolls are that big of a deal. They are truly to die for, and all the other breakfast feasts are delicious too! All of Sofie’s food is extremely affordable and very filling. The Rupert Town Square is where Sofie’s is located, and its a great place to spend some Christmas money on local shops!
Depending on the year, Magic Mountain can be open in December. They have a wonderful ski hill and tubing hill. There are tons of x-country skiing, snow mobile, and snow shoeing options all around the mountain. Rent x-country skies and snow shoes at Magic Mountain Lodge. Diamond Field Jacks is the perfect place to park for the snowmobiles. Enjoy hundreds of acres to explore!
Stay warm and enjoy adventuring around Southern Idaho this holiday season!
Where to Stay
Great hotels with pools, breakfast, and gyms are the TownePlace Suites and the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Both of these hotels have great rates this time of year. If you’re looking for a cozy place to stay with that classic “homie” feel check out our options for Airbnbs, or stay at the Filmore Inn and Blue Lakes Inn, both gorgeous boutique hotels. Airbnbs vary depending on size. Escape the hustle and bustle of a big city and enjoy the peace and tranquility Southern Idaho brings.