The "Niagara of the West" is a bit smaller but has notably fewer crowds.
On a recent road trip to Idaho, we kicked off our visit to Shoshone Falls State Park. Somewhere along the line, it was nicknamed "the Niagara of the West" due to it's powerful cascades. The waterfalls is 212 feet high, 45 higher than Niagara.
In the past, the falls flowed heavily year-round, but diversion of the Snake River for irrigation purposes causes the flow to dry up during the summer and fall months.
Arriving at ShoShone Falls State Park, you'll have to pay a $5 entrance fee before driving down to the lower parking lot. You'll take a small road down to the viewing point, where you'll notice smaller waterfalls along this road.
After parking, you can walk to the viewing platform, just a few steps down gets you there. From here, you can view and hear the falling water and often will spot rainbows during daylight hours.
Once you've snapped a few photos and admired the falls, you can begin to explore the rest of the park. as you walk to the east, you'll find some history on the falls as well as a hidden rock arch/natural bridge.
While I didn't partake in all of the extra-circular activities at the park, there are hiking trails, spots to launch your paddleboard/kayak, and fishing.
One of the newer activities is Shoshone Falls After Dark, which illuminates the falls in colorful lights and adds some music to the sounds of the flowing water.
Visiting the falls can be a worthwhile 15-minute experience or a full-day of adventure. Be sure to research the flow of the falls before visiting or you may be in for a bit of disappointment.
Know Before You Go
The falls only flow seasonally. Early spring is the best time to see and they often dry up by mid-summer and fall.
There is a $5 entrance fee to access the park.
The "After Dark" experience has limited availability, so be sure to purchase tickets in advance.
Resources
Video
Location
Found roughly 3 miles northeast of Twin Falls along the Snake River. You'll need to take a bunch of surface streets to access it as there is no major freeway nearby. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
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