Always seen the awesome pictures from Craters of the Moon and while passing through the area had to…read moremake a quick stop in to check it out! Visitor center is chock full of gifts and swag for NPS and Craters of the Moon. Get your NPS passport stamp here, good restroom facilities, top off on your water, get a map and get the free permit stamp/brief for the cave portion. The ranger fee station is just down the road after you have your permit and off and running you go! The loop is a quick drive by itself. There are multiple pull off areas with parking for hiking trails or a quick scenic over prior to it transitioning to the one way roads. Adequate parking available for light season. Bathrooms are available at a few of the major stops as well (old school no running water). The lava fields trails and approximately 3/4 of a mile (one way) hike to the caves can be very warm on a hot day. Ensure to stay hydrated and use some sunscreen if spending quality time within the park. Enjoy!

+ I arrived late (after 6pm), so no one at the booth to confirm my America the Beautiful Pass ;)…read more+ Pleasant scenice drive without the crowd. + Inferno Cone's an excellent short stop to explore the terrain of one of CM's humble-sized dormant volcanoes. + Pigeons live in the now dormant Spatter Cones. That's why you don't wanna throw anything down there. + So glad I didn't chicken out of checking out Dewdrop Cave and Indian Tunnel. If you're visiting the Mt West hoping to visit gems like Wind Cave or Lewis and Clark Caverns SP and are disappointed to realize the spots fill out early, here's a fantastic consolation: scrambling around the boulders of the fascinating Caves Trail caves. + Peaceful place to camp safely too. Not too far into the wilderness away from infrastructure. - Seemed to be few restrooms or water throughout the Loop Rd though. + Glad there's a lavatory and trash bins at Caves Trail parking though. - Virtually no shade throughout the monument.

3 miles off the main road hwy 21 you come to a beautiful Lake which reflects the Sawtooth…read moreMountains. Absolutely spectacular views of snowcapped mountains with lodgepole pines as far as you can see. There are 16 spacious campsites, no hookups, pump water well, pit toilets, reservations for $14 a night through https://www.recreation.gov/camping/stanley-lake-campground highly recommended. It is wonderfully peaceful and absolutely breathtaking. Fishing was great, the lake allows motors although we only saw a few kayaks. Husband caught a few trout and they were yummy. The views of the mountains will keep you captivated for hours. We camped in our very large 30 for trailer and fit just fine. Host was very nice and sells firewood for $7. The very small town of Stanley is close by with gas, a couple restaurants and a market, but bring what you need because there isn't a lot of choice. This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds we have ever stayed at.

The staff was very very rude and unprofessional. The park was empty parking police came and wrote…read moretickets for us when we didn't get the chance to put the tags on the vehicles when we payed.

I felt that the website made it seem like there was a lot here, but there really wasn't. We walked…read morearound a little bit, but there wasn't much to see.

I love to camp here. It's quiet, peaceful and Beautiful!! Looking out over the water, watching the…read moremoose and little bunnies around the campsites. There's a nice restroom with shower and flushing toilets. The campsites are kept clean and well cared for by the staff at Willow Bay. Can't wait to go back there this year and do some fishing.

What a wonderful experience all around . We stayed 2 nights on our way to The Tetons and…read moreYellowstone. The customer service we received from Chris and Jason, the clean facilities and the amazing views helped make our decision to stop on our way back home to Oregon . Same friendly 5 star service and gorgeous views. Truly a gem !! Sincerely, The Phillips

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.]

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.

We stayed at Anderson Camp in late July with our 28' TT. We stayed in pull-thru site 15 with FHU…read more Site 15 was a corner site with plenty of grass and shade trees. Check in was easy and the staff was friendly and helpful. Cell service and the WiFi was good. The water slide and pools were a hit with the kids and the adults. We didn't get a chance to do the mini-golf. The campground is well maintained. The only downside was that the store and water slides close at 6pm on Sundays. We would definitely stay here again when in the area.

Don't waste your money!…read more Planned a get together with my out of state family and decided on renting 2 cabins at Anderson camp. I should have read the reviews before booking. I don't even know where to begin in explaining how awful our experience was. We paid $80 a night per cabin, plus a $25 refundable remote fee. When we called to book the cabins the person we talked to said it was private and that the spaces were apart so that we would have privacy but we were surrounded by RV spots. The pictures online are very misleading! On the site map it shows the cabins next to a stream with the doors facing the stream but that is not the case. The doors and the porch face the longterm RV spots which was not a nice view or private at all. The cabins were so HOT inside it was like sleeping in a sauna. Even tho there are 2 fans and windows you can open, it was so miserable, even at night! At 9pm I went to wash my hands in the sink inside the cabin and the sink started backing up. I found a plunger in the bathroom and when I tried using it in the sink a bunch of old stagnant, stinky, slimy and moldy water came up and you could tell it has been plugged up for a while. I had to call the after hours number and spoke to some lady who told me she would send the maintenance man over. About 20 min later he shows up stumbing all over the place, slurring his words and stinking like alcohol. He had the nerve to ask us "what we put down the sink" I told him we did not put anything down the sink and that obviously the sink had been plugged for a while. He then told me that he "has never had that happen in 7 years". I told him theres a first time for everything and that I was offended that he accused us of doing it. NO apology was given! After he fixed it he stumbled back out to his car and left. The cabins were dirty and full of cobwebs. Our fan quit working in the middle of the night, and in order to shut the light off without turning the ceiling fan off, we had to use the rickety chair to stand on in order to reach the chain to turn off the light. I called the next morning and talked to the "so called" manager and told her what happened....she didnt care. And again...no apology! She brought us another fan and said that the maintenenance man "her husband" was not drunk, he had just woke up....whatever lady, I know a drunk when I see one! For little more money we could have stayed at the KOA with AC, privacy and good customer service. To "Jason" the owner, your business has gone to downhill and you should either get rid of the clowns you have running it, or teach them some manners and how to treat their customers with respect. You should care more about how your customers are treated so they will actually have a good experience and come back. Do better!!!

This review is for Banbury Adventures-- We were looking for a kayak rental that allowed our 10 lb…read moredog and this was the spot! Gentleman behind the counter was friendly and got us taken care of as a walk in rental. We were able to fill out our waivers quickly and packed up our cooler and waterproof bag to meet him at the life jackets (included with the rental). We brought our dog's life jacket since she's used to paddle boarding and being unfamiliar with the Snake River, we wanted to be safe. Kayaks were clean, good quality and had backrests which were nice. It had storage space in the front and back of the kayak too. We paddled out to Blue Heart Springs and back. We'd definitely come back when we have more time to explore!

Mixed Review. What you need to know when booking a stay…read morehere, NO WIFI and no cellular service. This is the second time we have been there in the last 2 years and they said the same thing last time "we are working on it." This time we booked the condo which was nice enough but w/o service and no cable there is little to do when you are not swimming. There are 2 TV sets but one is hooked to nothing and the other has a DVD player but no DVD's. The actual hot spring pools and private rooms are quite nice. There is a diving board as the deep end is 8 feet deep. is It is clear they are upgrading things around the springs. Kayak rentals are on site. There are no swimming in the Snake River from the kayak launch. Camp sites were busy and the area was pretty clean. The only food and drinks are soda, water, chips, and candy bars. All very reasonable prices. The staff was helpful and polite.

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!

- Only one way in and out of the park. -- Man, no wonder a…read morelong slow line of vehicles formed out the entrance that Sun afternoon. Think I waited 20-30min before finally entering the park. . $5/car. - Crowded parking. Had to seek the overflow parking, - The overflow parking in the picnic area is about a 2min walk to the overlook. + but at least the overflow parking is shaded; - The main parking closer to the vista isn't. - Limited restrooms. . Ah, the kayakers you see down there stay far from the falls cuz the turbulence can continuously flip the boat and the mist can make it hard to breathe and see. . Note: Early autumn, irrigation needs divert upstream Snake River, reducing Shoshone Falls to a trickle. Enjoy while you can. Nice they post a livefeed [ https://www.tfid.org/309/Shoshone-Falls ] to let you know beforehand today's volumetric flow. Given this con:pro ratio, Shoshone Falls is a tourist trap. Just go see Niagara Falls lol