We didn't swim here, it was a stop for exercise only. Good parking, park was very clean, diving…read moreboard available, hiking trails and tables to eat and clean bathrooms. No lifeguard on duty our visit. There is no extra cost, just pay the fee to enter Shoshone park $5. Tip: not somewhere I felt welcome, from the stare downs and racist conversations overheard by me. I would probably never go back unless security was available. Beautiful spot to definitely relax or have a picnic.

For a $5 fee at the entrance to the park, access to both Dierkes Lake and the Shoshone Falls is a…read moregift. Both spots are very accessible, though it can be a hassle driving back up the windy hill in the later afternoon when the sun hits eye level. The lake itself has a structured area for swimmers, and visitors can go kayaking and such in the deeper waters. It even has a diving board into the swimming area, though many kids and teens opt to go cliff jumping. I took the plunge from one of the cliffs and my adrenaline was pumping for quite awhile afterwards. Best to stick to cannonballs, though, and keep in consideration the water depth. The water is cool/cold, but not intolerable, and certainly nothing compared to larger bodies of water. We visited in early June, and I assume that the water warms up later in the summer. Would absolutely visit again if I'm ever back in Idaho.

An absolutely gorgeous family friendly park located on the edge of Twin Falls. Centennial park has…read morewaterfalls, hiking trails, multiple docks to the Snake River, a playground, multiple picnic areas, grassy areas, rocky terrain to explore, and more. Theres really so much to do here for the entire family. During peak season they even have a zip line open. The parking was ample, the bathrooms and park were kept clean, and the park really provided a nice well rounded experience for everyone. I definitely recommend stopping by here for the views if nothing else if you're in the area.

Definitely really neat to check out and get an amazing picture of the bridge! I loved going and…read morewatching the sunset at bridge. Truly breathtaking!

Niagra of the West!…read more The 212ft waterfall is a jewel destination for the state of Idaho. Spectacular viewpoints, paved pathways for hiking and bicycling. Picnic tables with views. Boat ramp available. *If you have the time, hike the pathway for a few miles to the famous launch site of Evil Knievil's attempt to jump across the Snake River!

Shoshone Falls is the Niagara of the West located in Idaho! We drove from Salt Lake City, Utah…read morewhile vacationing this past summer. There is a small fee of $5 to enter. The park is beautiful, bathrooms are clean, educational signs and its well taken care of. Honestly it wasn't Niagara falls on this particular day we went. I was honestly disappointed. I gave it 4* because its a very nice park for all to enjoy. Maybe on a rainy day the falls will put on a show. Tip: drive around park, Dierkes beautiful lake is in this park. I will review lake in another post.

So awesome sight seeing. The water was so clear. Could see the fish swimming with such carefree…read moremovements. Seen a guy up to his knees in that snow run-off water fly fishing. Hope he caught something.

I am really confused. How is this possible??? I thought Idaho was known as..."the potato state"…read more But I am wrong. I admit it and I take responsibility. Idaho is really known for its WATERFALLS!!! Yes, waterfalls! I am from Florida and now I know going forward, if you're interested in exploring around some of the USA's most beautiful waterfalls...then come visit Idaho! And so with that dramatic introduction, lol...I'd like to present, well...it's not really Ritter Island State Park...it's more like...LEMMON FALLS located inside Ritter Island. Lemmon Falls is absolutely jaw dropping fantastic! It was the highlight of my visit here. I don't know the height of Lemmon Falls and I tried searching for it online and couldn't find the exact number. But, regardless...it splashes down the cliffside in front of your eyes. You don't have to work hard to be rewarded. Let me explain... You can plug Lemmon Falls into Google Maps and be guided into the park just fine. Once you find a parking spot, you'll notice Lemmon Falls as the focal point of the surrounding backdrop off to the left hand side of the main entrance. Simply walk over to the falls. It's a 5 - 10 minute stroll. From the pathway, you have access to Lemmon Falls and opportunities for magical picture moments. Some visitors climbed on the rocks for closer perspectives, but I didn't find that necessary. From the pedestrian path, photos were very impressive. Lemmon Falls, alongside Perrine Coulee Falls and Fall Creek Falls have been some of my favorite waterfalls exploring around Southern Idaho. Now...there's more to see and do here at Ritter Island SP... One thing, I know this may sound confusing...Ritter Island is really a subsection unit of Thousand Springs State Park. Regardless of this info, there's another waterfall here on Ritter Island I'd like to mention, and that's...Minnie Miller Springs. To gain access to Minnie Miller Springs waterfall, you cross a footbridge to arrive at an overlook viewpoint. This footbridge isn't always open. Specific hours are...Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thursday - Monday 10am - 3pm. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There's a bridge volunteer attendant who is there to answer questions. The pathway is easy to Minnie Miller Springs. It's only half a mile. Along the way you'll pass by old fashioned Guernsey Barn which you can walk inside if interested. It's like taking a stroll down memory lane of what life was like back in the day here at Ritter Island. Next, make sure to veer to the right beside the Snake River when leaving the barn area. You'll pass underneath some trees offering shade from the summer sun. Then you'll approach a picnic table and this the lookout point, and in my opinion, the best glance at viewing Minnie Miller Springs. Minnie Miller Springs is a cascading waterfall hung in the background like an art painting. The setting is quaint and charming and if you visit in the afternoon time, the sun will be at your back which creates scenic photo opps. Only problem is the waterfall is located far in the distance. It's not accessible like Lemmon Falls. So basically, you can grab a few pictures of the lush surroundings before returning back towards the footbridge. If you decide you're enjoying the walking path, you can complete the 1.8 mile roundtrip loop around the farm. If not, it's half a mile back to where you started. While here on Ritter Island, people had their canoes, kayaks and paddle boards enjoying the waters. Folks barbecued under trees while lounging around. It was extremely crowded on a Sunday during early August. Granted, it was 105 degrees outside. For me, I had to go swimming and cool off. I just found a little spot beside the banks of the river and hopped in. Surprisingly, Snake River waters were frigid. I couldn't believe how hot it was and you'd assume that'd translate into relaxing swimming conditions, yet that wasn't the case. I think I had a brain freeze from the chilly waters. Still, you adjust to the cold and eventually it's refreshing hanging out in the river on a lazy Sunday. Last extra notes... - It's a $7 fee for day use. You can fill out a slip with payment and drop it into a lockbox. They accept checks. - Ritter Island is located in Wendell, Idaho which is a small town. But, it's 35 miles northwest of Twin Falls, ID, a great city to explore. - I'd suggest arriving sooner than later as there's only so many parking spaces during prime summer visitation season. Overall, coming here to Ritter Island and getting to experience Lemmon Falls was breathtaking. Imo, it's the standout highlight. Minnie Miller Springs is decent and a quiet hike to arrive at. And lastly, taking time to lounge on the grass and have access to the Snake River to cool off on hot summer days is why families make frequent visits. Btw, for those waterfall enthusiasts out there, check out Box Canyon Springs next, 5.5 miles away.

This park is such a hidden gem! On the hunt for balanced rock, we drove right past the park without…read moreeven seeing it. Luckily we spotted it on the drive out. It's a quiet, gem in the bottom of a canyon with shaded (and not) picnic and camping areas along a flowing stream. It was beautiful, grassy, with bathrooms, bbq's, fire pits, swings, and ample nature surrounding you. According to Google, this area is open 24/7 and camping is free. The signs posted say max 7 days. This would be a perfect place for a picnic or relaxed afternoon to hang out with your family, Just be prepared that there is no cell phone reception. Satellite was available intermittently. If nothing else, it's worth the drive out here to soak in the beautiful views and spot a few yellow bellied marmots.

Loved it! The beauty, mystery of Balanced Rock is awe inspiring! It's a must see! Welcome to…read moreSouthern Idaho! Gods Country

Amazing views from the trails and awesome asphalt trail. Definitely worth checking out !!!read more

Pretty 30 second walk from road to waterfall .zip lining in the canyon was awesome the tour guides…read morewere super chill had a great time. Lots of activities to enjoy great stop. Ate at the golf course yummy pretzel flavors lemon buffalo was fire . Lots to see and do , great pit stop

Took the tour to Pillar Falls. We were grateful that AWOL was still offering a tour in mid Sept…read more We had a fabulous time! Dalton was so knowledgeable about the area and I thrive on facts like that. Got to see a BASE jumper as we passed under Perrine Bridge. Explored the pillar rocks and pools too. Gorgeous day. Thank you AWOL.

We had an amazing time with Dalton and Braxton as our guides. They made the entire experience so…read moremuch fun! They were super friendly and made everyone feel included. They were helpful and answered all of our questions. Tyler was an amazing pontoon driver and was also a lot of fun and made the trip fun! Lucy was super helpful with the merchandise.. and manager Paul was also super nice! Everyone made our day. Shoshone Falls was absolutely beautiful... it was so much fun paddling on the Snake River up to the falls. Definitely an experience that I will remember forever. We will definitely come back and recommend AWOL to EVERYONE!!!

Wow, easy beautiful hike…read more A great friend moved to Twin Falls recently and I had to visit. On a Friday afternoon she recommended this fantastic hike. We parked at a paved small lot off Pole Line and Eastland Drive N. The trail head is well marked. The approximately 3 mile path from here to the Shoshone Falls Park is 12 feet wide and paved. Hikers, joggers, bicyclists and dogs on leash are all welcomed. From the parking lot the elevation doesn't change much for the first 2 miles. The last mile declines into the Shoshone Falls Park. So remember you'll have to hike uphill a while to return to your car. The trail winds through a housing development and a few pastures. Edging the south rim of the Snake River about 500 feet down. Step off the trail and enjoy the occasional bench to take in the magnificent rock colors and formations. Slowly the falls will start to appear and you'll hear the low rumble of the water crashing to the pool below. There a couple of observation platforms just off trail. They are easy to find and get to. At the end of the trail we descended into the park. Here we spent time reading the history kiosks and getting close up shots of the falls. We took our time and savored all the sites for almost three hours. Also along the trail we walked past the Evel Kinevel launch site from 1974. That brought back memories. The views will vary on the time of year and the water flow. We enjoyed a partly cloudy day with some gusty winds. It was still fabulous. I will do this trail every time I visit. No restrooms along the trail. There are some at the falls in the park, along with a small refreshment stand.

Not for me. But could be a great place for those that like walking, hiking, biking, ETCread more

I honestly never knew this place existed, but I love a national park, so we drove a few hours to…read moreget here. We came at the perfect time, late in the day in September when the park had emptied out and the weather was cooler. It was almost like a ghost town. There are lots of paths to walk, and I think this place would even be great for someone in a wheelchair since the paths were so nice and smooth. The welcome ranger was a doll and the gift shop was decent. I do wish they had a little movie screening room that shared some history about the place. That would have made the visit even better!! Bathrooms were nice and clean.

Stopped by here when we were driving by to check out this National Monument. They have a small…read morevisitor center and gift store that was open for off season hours and part of the driving loop was closed for the season, but we were still able to experience part of the park. We had a great experience.

Malad Gorge State Park is located in Hagerman, Idaho and is one of several units of the Thousand…read moreSprings State Park area. Other nearby sections include...Niagara Springs, Box Canyon Springs and Ritter Island. For visiting Malad Gorge, yes...you do have pleasant surroundings from high above. But the frequently talked about highlight for coming here is getting to see Devil's Washbowl. Devil's Washbowl is a 150 foot waterfall splashing down into the Snake River that cuts between the canyon gorge. All you have to do is walk a short pathway from the parking lot (1/4 of a mile) to an overlook vista point to catch the best glimpses of Devil's Washbowl. ***But, here was my problem...Devil's Washbowl was so far off into the distance, it's virtually impossible to get a quality photo of (if you're using your phone and not a professional camera). That was disappointing. If you simply view Devil's Washbowl with your own eyes, it can be nice. It can be dramatic. But I was expecting to be standing a lot closer to the waterfall and this distant lookout point was a letdown because I had high expectations after getting to see other colorful waterfalls around Thousand Springs. It takes 2 minutes to watch Devil's Washbowl from the observation point. If you'd like, you can continue along the 2.5 mile walking pathway from high above the gorge, but there's not much to see. Extras to mention... - When walking over to Devil's Washbowl vista point, you cross over a footbridge beside I-84. Although it is noisy outside from the passing cars on the highway, the views looking down through the gorge were picturesque. Plus, Devil's Washbowl is actually located right underneath this footbridge. So...if you're not afraid of heights and don't mind leaning over the bridge, you can get a closer view of the falls standing on top of them. But, during my research, I read it was still difficult taking pictures from atop the footbridge. I didn't attempt this because if I ever somehow dropped my phone, I'd have problems, lol. - It's $7 day use entry for visiting Malad Gorge SP. But, this $7 is good at the other units as well like Box Canyon, Ritter Island and Niagara Springs...the parks that I stopped at for the day. - Devil's Washbowl is located off to the right hand side when you enter Malad Gorge SP. There's a roughly 5 mile scenic loop road you can drive around the park. It offers different viewpoints of the gorge, but nothing will get you closer to Devil's Washbowl than the primary lookout point beside the footbridge. Off to the left hand side when entering is a large picnic pavilion with plenty of grass. In the end, Malad Gorge State Park is a quick visit. I know I've said this before in many prior reviews where I don't have the most fulfilling experiences, I'd just relay to others to maybe temper expectations when seeing Devil's Washbowl. It's not so special and I found better opportunities at nearby waterfalls...Lemmon Falls, Minnie Miller Springs and Box Canyon Springs.

With no particular itinerary on this drive, I spotted this state park at the side of the highway…read moreand took the detour. I'm so glad I did! The Devil's Washbowl and the canyon/gorge here go directly under the highway. They were created by volcanic activity and erosion. Much of the park is accessible by vehicle with a couple of short walks. Easily get to some amazing views of the 250-foot gorge as it leads the way to the Snake River. If you're on I-84, take a half-hour (minimum) to check this out. You'll be glad you did. Also, your park entry pass for the Malad Gorge is valid for a number of other same-day visits to other parks in the area. [Review 17791 overall - 61 in Idaho - 1312 of 2022.]