Idaho Gem: Shoshone Falls

I’m back with the next must-see spot in my Idaho Gem series—places around the state that I personally love and feel are worth visiting! Idaho is full of natural beauty and fun attractions, and I wanted to showcase those in case you ever find yourself planning a trip.

There are so many gems to be found in the Gem State! (Sorry—I had to!)

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

Shoshone Falls is located in the Magic Valley, near the city of Twin Falls in the heart of southern Idaho. It is known as the “Niagara of the West” and is actually taller than Niagara Falls at 212 feet! The Snake River carves through the basalt canyon and over the falls, and the flow of the river varies wildly depending on time of year, how much snow the mountains got over the winter, and how much water the farmers in the Magic Valley are using to irrigate their crops (which also is related to how dry it is that year). The canyon seems to come out of nowhere!

The best time to view Shoshone Falls is in the spring when the river is at its highest flow (up to 20,000 cfs after a very wet winter, but typically around 10,000 cfs). Once summer and fall hits, during a dry year especially, the river flow can become very low to practically nonexistent because the river is diverted upstream of the falls for irrigation purposes.

Korri and I stopped by Shoshone Falls on our way home from our big Utah and Colorado road trip in early May and caught it at sunset. The river wasn’t raging like we saw two years prior, but it was still quite beautiful! I love all of the natural rock formations.

The last time we visited the falls, in March 2019, the central Idaho mountains had received some incredible snow amounts over that winter, so the falls were roaring—and we were sprayed by it! Before you go, you can check the current streamflow via USGS (expressed as discharge in cfs, or cubic feet per second).

Things to Do Around Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls is accessible by car and a short walk down some stairs to an overlook. This is a popular spot for photographers catching the sunrise or sunset (or the fun optical illusion that appears in the morning when the sun angle is just right—the falls appear to fill up the river like a bathtub!).

There are a few other random waterfalls coming out of the basalt cliffs in the area, so be sure to wander around and find those!

Near Shoshone Falls is Dierkes Lake, where you can swim, boat, and hike around on the many trails around the lake and basalt rock formations.

You can rent a kayak to the falls by starting downstream at AWOL Adventure Sports. The trip takes multiple hours to complete, passes under the Perrine Bridge (Highway 93), and requires you to hoist your kayak out of the river and carry it over Pillar Falls (called a portage). I totally want to do this someday! (Be careful if storms are in the forecast, though. You don’t wanna be caught out there!)

Looking for more things to do around the Snake River and Twin Falls? Check out the Perrine Bridge, walk along the Snake River Canyon Rim trail, grab a drink at Elevation 486 overlooking the river, visit Centennial Park, or golf at Canyon Springs. Or head to the Murtaugh area and check out Cauldron Linn, an extremely narrow area of the river with rushing rapids!

VISIT SHOSHONE FALLS!

4155 Shoshone Falls Grade
Twin Falls, ID 83301

How to get to Shoshone Falls:
If you’re traveling eastbound on I-84, take Exit 173 for Twin Falls. Turn right (south) on US Highway 93. Turn left (east) on 4100 N. Turn left (east) on Falls Ave. Turn left (north) on Champlin Rd/3300 E and follow the road to the falls.
If you’re traveling westbound on I-84, take Exit 182 for Kimberly/Twin Falls. Turn left (south) onto Highway 50. Turn right (west) on 3900 N. Turn right (north) on Champlin Rd/3300 E and follow the road to the falls.

Park hours (year-round): Dawn to dusk

PARK ENTRY FEE: $5 per vehicle (from March through September)

LODGING/RESTAURANTS/GAS: Twin Falls, Idaho (west of the falls) is the closest city with lodging and restaurants as well as a regional airport. Gas is available near the interstate and in Twin Falls.

Check out all of the gems in the Idaho Gem series!