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.

Fairly new center on a large property, with room to expand. The fossils that have been located…read morethroughout the Hagerman Valley are displayed here. There is a Ranger who can provide all kinds of information on the different Thousand Springs locations, Hagerman Fossil Bed NM and Hagerman Valley area. There is a classroom with children's activities, restrooms, water refill, large parking lot and small gift shop.

There is a really nice visitor ctr for all your educational needs. They have clean bathrooms and…read morefree coffee. The Perrine Bridge is located in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. It spans across the Snake River Canyon connecting Twin Falls. Its 1500 ft long and 500 ft above the Snake River. Free parking, grass and benches to relax and people watch. This view is spectacular and don't forget to be patient and watch for the jumpers off the bridge! The Perrine Bridge is one of the only legal bridges in the USA to BASE jump off of. These jumpers are professionals, and pack their chutes near the Visitor Center. I actually got to witness a jumper, it was amazing to see. There is a company that you can hire to jump with you, I passed on that, Lol! Cool stop, don't miss it.

This four-lane bridge stands 486 feet above the canyon. I don't care if it's 40 feet, it's way too…read morehigh for me to jump off. No for moi! This is what many fearless people do for fun here! My thrill level maxes out running a blender without a lid on! Last month while traveling through Jerome, Idaho, we stopped in Twin falls to get a closer view of the beautiful Snake River and its surroundings. After parking in the Twin Falls visitor's center parking lot, I took some pics and videos. I managed to time things right and witnessed two daredevils base jump. (Building, antenna, span, earth.) Incredible! Apparently it is one of few places in the nation where it is legal to jump all year round. (Again, nope!) I'd love to return to explore the Shoshone Falls or Zip line at Centennial Waterfront Park but BASE jumping...........A HARD NOPE! Please view my video under the photo\video section of this review site. Thank you.

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

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.

It's a bit off the beaten path but worth the detour. Some may think this is a barren, volcanic…read moregraveyard but they would be way wrong. There were so many colors, textures, shapes, caves, cones, spatters, and life in this National Monument. Loved the hiking and views. We did the north crater trail starting away from the visitor and going about half way. There are some big hills walking in sand so it's not an easy trek and half way was enough. The views looking into the crater are awesome. The broken top loop trail gave you a more up close look at the vibrant vegetation. The first part is uphill but after it down and flat. We did the Indian Cave which had plenty of light. It does involve traversing rocks so be prepared. You'll need solid shoes. You need to get a stamp to go into the caves. Stop at the visitor center to answer 2 simple questions. My fav trail was the Inferno Cone viewpoint. The first part is steep but the views from the top are amazing. So worth it.

Fleece the campers???…read more I went through the procedure to reserve one of the smaller sites for our 21' trailer. The price of $40 was prominently displayed. OK, a bit high for a one-night stay in a state park with no sewer or water connection. But, I'll pay for the convenience. Big surprise upon checking out. The total cost was shown to be $58.71, nearly 50% higher than the $40 advertised price. Here is what the additional charges were for: $7 Motor Vehicle Fee. My vehicle is registered in AZ. How is this justified? And since everyone get there with a vehicle of some sort, why is this not included in the displayed price? $10 transaction fee. I did all the work that the person who used to take the reservation over the phone would have done. The ID State Parks have replaced that service with a computer program. And apparently I have to pay for their computer system as well. Go figure. 3% Service fee. Who knows how they justify this? It is fortunate that the West has an abundance of Federal lands on which one can camp for a small fraction of the cost of this state park.

We happened on this nice park and visitors center while driving across country in our RV. It…read moreincludes cabins and RV sites, but we were stopping to make a picnic lunch. We enjoyed the visitors center a lot, and had a delightful lunch near the Snake River. History, shade, friendly people, and serenity - what more could we ask for?

I saw a sign from I-84 for a coffee shop. I drove a bit and thought I passed it then found this…read morevisitors center. I thought I'd pop in and ask and also use the facilities. The 3 women were insanely kind! They told me there was a shop downtown but if I'm just popping in it would be a drive. I looked at all their crafty gifts - very Idahoan and unique. They offered me from their coffee pot that one of them "brewed herself." It was definitely better than stopping at any coffee shop and tops having to go to McDonald's. Very nice, clean, unique stop with great maps and "things to do in a day."

We've stayed at both the Smokey Mountain Campground at Castle Rocks State Park and a few miles…read morefarther west at the City of Rocks National Reserve. Both campgrounds are great, but Smoky Mountain has water and electric hookups and free showers, along with a dump station. City of Rocks doesn't have either of them, but you're camping among the rocks that make up the city. The camp hosts at Smoky Mountain were friendly and the grounds were well-maintained. Just watch for the cattle that sometimes wander through. Drive to the park from the Declo exit on Interstate 84. Even coming from Boise, that's a better route than through Burley and Oakley. You end up on a dirt road coming from that side and it takes a lot longer to get there.

Picked this campsite to stay at for the night as we were passing through. Wish I booked two nights…read moreinstead of one since this park seems to have a lot to offer! I saw hikers and bikers around the campsite. I stayed in campsite #1. I stayed in Smokey Mountain camp loop located a couple of miles from the visitor center. First left as soon as you turn into the campground road from the visitor center. The camp signs were difficult to read at night so we missed our turn and ventured far to Twin Sisters in City of Rocks National Reserve. The campsites are closely located to one another. We were able to hear our neighbors conversations clearly, so not as much privacy. Our campsite had little shade. The views are really nice in the morning. You are able to see the mountains when you walk around the campsite loops. The restrooms are clean. Showers are available but we didn't use them so won't comment on that. Dog friendly campsite and doggie poo bags are available. Recycling is available for plastic and aluminum only. Further down the road is City of Rocks National Reserve which is an absolute must see if you ever stay here! It is a very scenic drive of the rocks and mountains. You are able to hike near/around the rocks. I even saw visitors climbing the rocks, but not sure if that was allowed or not. There is also a creek overlook trail that you can venture off too - up to a certain point, vehicles are no longer allowed. Would have loved to spend more time at this park! Has everything you need - water, electricity, showers, restrooms, hiking trails, dog friendly and scenic views. Self registration is available for those that book last minute. Self registration booth is located about a mile or so before reaching the campsite loop. It will be hard to spot. I booked online and had to pay the online fees - but it's a guarantee for a reserved spot. If you are visiting City of Rocks National Reserve, prepare to drive on dirt, gravel and bumpy roads.

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.]

Food: NA/5 Service: NA/5…read moreAmbiance: 5/5 Parking: 4/5 Family friendly: 5/5 Stroller friendly: 3/5 ADA accessible: 3/5 My family and I came here strictly for the sand dunes and observatory, late on a Sunday evening around 845-9pm. (Apparently the observatory is closed on Sunday?). Entrance fee is $7 cash or check when the gate is closed. You have to be in some type of shape as ascending the 60 deg incline hill of sand takes a bit of muscle and cardio endurance to make it up. Once at the top though, it's a serene and calming experience. On the backside of the first sand dune, the Snake River runs through. Similar to an Oasis in the desert. However, as some people may know or experience, wherever there is water, comes the bugs. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the bugs (mosquitoes) attacked. Not just one or two, swarms of mosquitoes. If you're like me and have allergic itching reactions to pest bites, be warned and have full body covering along with repellent. By the time we escaped to the car my son had been bit on the head and face. Just a forewarning. Bruneau Dunes State Park seems like a cool place to be. There were 3-4 individual camping locations that's were RV friendly and vast spaces for kids to run around. Sand Dunes themselves are not WC friendly unless you invent some type of sled to push/pull the WC up the hill. Also, make sure when dusk arrives, COVER UP!

I'm always on the hunt for an adventure so when I saw this was only 30 mins from my hotel, I knew I…read morehad to make a morning out of it! The entry fee was $7 and the drive to the dunes was quiet and peaceful. I went by myself and felt safe enough exploring the area alone. The views were gorgeous! This is truly a hidden gem tucked away in the farm lands. If you're in the mountain home area, check this place out!