There are waterfalls and then there are waterfalls.
We’ve been blessed to explore waterfalls all across the country from the many found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the beauties found in places like Hawaii, Alaska, and even those that rage in the desert of Arizona.
But every now and again you come across waterfalls that are just on another level. They exude power and magnificence that you just have to see to believe and Shoshone Falls without a doubt falls into this category.
Below, I’ll give you all the details you need to know about Shoshone Falls, including how to visit and what to expect.
Shoshone Falls: A brief history lesson
Shoshone Falls, a stunning waterfall on the Snake River in southern Idaho, stands at 212 feet, even taller than Niagara Falls, and spans approximately 1,000 feet wide. The falls and the surrounding basalt cliffs are relics of the Bonneville flood which was a catastrophic flood that ripped through the canyon approximately 15,000 years ago.
This natural wonder has long been a significant landmark, both for its breathtaking beauty and its historical importance. Native American tribes, particularly the Shoshone, relied on the falls’ high concentration of salmon for hunting, as it marked the upper limit of the salmon migration.
During the westward expansion, pioneers traveling along the Oregon Trail frequently visited Shoshone Falls as a tourist destination, which I’m sure was a welcome respite from their arduous journey.
In 1932, recognizing the natural and cultural significance of the area, Federick and Martha Adams donated the property surrounding Shoshone Falls to the city of Twin Falls.
Today, Shoshone Falls continues to be a popular attraction, drawing visitors with its rich history and stunning scenery.
Best time of year to visit Shoshone Falls
The best time to visit Shoshone Falls is in the spring, typically from April to June, when the water flow is at its peak due to snow melt from the Rocky Mountains. We’re talking a flow of upwards of 20,000 CFS (cubic feet per second)!
As the summer progresses, the flow begins to die down, often becoming significantly reduced by fall.
This slow down is largely influenced by irrigation demands and water management practices upstream.
The presence of dams and hydroelectric plants also affects the flow, with water being diverted for power generation and to help to irrigate over 500,000 acres of farmland.
We arrived in early August and the flows were still very impressive, so I could only imagine what it would be like in April!
Our experience at Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls is located in Twin Falls, Idaho, which is in the south central part of the state. It’s just a little bit south of Interstate 84 so it makes for a perfect stop when road tripping through the state or following along the Oregon Trail.
We arrived in early August on a day with triple digit heat. I’d been waiting to see these walls for over 10 years so the heat was not about to hold me back!
But do be mindful of the heat if you’re bringing pets because we saw some dogs struggling to deal with the hot sidewalks!
As you approach the falls you will make your way down in elevation and you will come across a couple of different viewpoints.
While these give you some pretty decent views of the canyon, they are not particularly impressive when it comes to be falls. Personally, I think you can skip them.
Be sure to take a look at your surroundings as you’ll see a couple of small waterfalls running down the side of the cliffs, building up some anticipation as you get closer to Shoshone Falls.
As you approach the falls you will come to a entrance booth where you will need to pay $5 per vehicle from March 1st through September 30th (I believe it is free if you are not coming in with a vehicle).
From there you have the chance to go straight to the falls or you can visit Dierkes Lake Park (more on the lake later).
We decided to go straight to the falls.
There are two parking lots with one being adjacent to the overlooks and the other ones requiring a little bit of a walk. But there’s a lot of green areas you can relax in or perhaps take your dog for a walk in.
The main overlook requires you to head down a little bit of stairs but it’s still a pretty short walk and then you sort of go out on a cat walk.
The views are pretty stunning of these falls. Vibrant rainbows span across the base of the falls as white water gushes down the cascades and over the cliffs which as mentioned are even higher than a Niagara Falls.
You can also make your way along the rails to admire the falls from different vantage points. You’ll find a few spots with a little bit of shade which can be a big relief if you’re visiting when it’s really hot like we did.
Overall, this main viewing area is pretty compact, so it doesn’t take that long to visit it but my suggestion is to take your time admiring these falls.
Light shows?
It might be worth planning a visit in the evening as they are known for putting on some elaborate light shows in May. The event is called “Shoshone Falls After Dark” although admission is more expensive at $20.
Hikes and other viewpoints
If you do want to hang out a little bit longer, there is also another viewpoint that you can make a small hike to. You’ll hike along the Twin Falls Centennial Trail/Canyon Rim Trail. If you’re trying to get away from the crowds, I can imagine they will be very much thinned out at that viewpoint.
If you really want to get some exercise you can take this trail all the way to Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump Site and see the spot that Evel Knievel made his infamous canyon jump (that he aborted). You can also drive out to this point which is only about 15 minutes away.
There are some other stops along the trail where you can rest up on benches in the shade and enjoy the view. And you could even continue on all the way to the Perrine Bridge.
Because we had our dog in the car (with AC) and it was so hot, we opted not to do the hike.
There is a restroom and portable toilets by the main parking lot close to the overlook. There’s also a concession stand where you can buy some drinks, snacks, and souvenirs.
Dierkes Lake Park
When you purchase your admission to the falls you also get access to Dierkes Lake Park.
While we did not take a swim here we did check it out and it looked so tempting on such a hot summer day. The water was this beautiful clear green color and the setting looked very pretty.
There’s a man-made swimming pool in the lake with a diving board and plenty of open space to enjoy non-motorized boats. There are even some cliffs that looked really tempting and reminded me of some of the cliff jumping we did on Lake Superior.
You can take the Dierkes Lake Trail all the way around the lake, which is just under 2 miles with a couple of hundred feet in elevation. It will take you past some of the “hidden lakes” which could also be fun to explore.
Flying a drone at Shoshone Falls
Something I really enjoyed about Idaho is that they appear to be one of the more drone friendly states.
And I confirmed with the city that as of the summer of 2024 it’s perfectly fine to fly your drone at at Shoshone Falls. Not only that but it’s also very practical with plenty of space to launch.
My recommendation would be to launch at the end of one of the main viewing area (farthest from the falls) so that you are more removed from people and pets.
Be mindful of the moisture from the falls as my drone got pretty soaked from all of the mist. It affected some of the footage but it seemed to be functioning normal which was pretty awesome.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
