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.

Cool state park. I liked the hike/ path to the waterfalls. Very beautiful and full of wildlife …read more The recreation area was nice for families with picnic tables and grassy areas to have a picnic and play in or fish the river. I was disappointed that many people enjoying the nature didn't pick up their trash . There is a dumpster to dispose of waste when leaving.

This is one of our favorite camping spots. Located just an hour east of Boise, it's a very pleasant…read morespot as the weather starts to cool down. Campsites are spacious, mature trees provide shade and there's plenty of green grass. The campground includes free showers and a Frisbee golf course. The Snake River, where Oregon Trail pioneers crossed to the other side, is on the southern edge of the park and the Trail interpretive center is worth a visit. It's free.

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 chose the canyon trail and falls at Box Canyon as a stop on our road trip last week. Off the…read morebeaten path but easy to find, there's a small parking and info area as you pull off the road. You can go through this lot to another parking lot for the blue pools overlook. The pools are gorgeous from above, I assume the water was low at this time of year but it didn't take away from the beauty. We chose to take the trail down to the falls from that point. You'll see a ladder built into the fence nearby...take that ladder and walk along the canyon until you see the entrance to the trail that will lead you down into the canyon and to the falls. *There is also a different trail leading down from a bit farther up by the lot, in case you want to not walk along the rim. The trail going down to the canyon floor is a bit tricky, lots of rocks and some slippery areas. But overall not bad at all, and you've got some built-in rope rails to help on the steep spots and gorgeous scenery all the way, as well as the sounds of the rushing water. The falls are beautiful, crazy clear blue waters. There are a few different viewpoints at waters edge from which to choose. The entire package, falls, gorge, and surrounding nature all provide the cherry on top of a fun little hike down. Box Canyon Springs is a must see!

Box Canyon is a 20 foot waterfall located in one of the Thousand Springs State Park units near…read moreWendell, Idaho. It's $7 entrance fee which is asked to be paid when you enter. Fill out a slip with payment and drop it into the safe box beside the gate. Then it's one mile drive to the parking area. Box Canyon Springs is not hard to reach. It's a half mile descent 400 feet into the valley floor below. As you keep going, the falls will be on the right hand side. They can't be missed. Then you can turn around and head back towards the canyon summit. But, if you have the time and want to explore more, Box Canyon Springs is a 3 mile loop. This will give you better opportunities to walk among nature alongside the Snake River. I must confess...the hike was better than seeing the actual waterfall, imo. Starting out beside the parking lot, take in the views from high above the canyon looking down as the Snake River veers its way through the valley floor. It's worthy of a photo from the overlook. You'll notice a small staircase with a few steps to climb over the barbed wire fencing. It adds a unique element to the journey. Then walk a short distance more until reaching a sign saying..."Caution: Unimproved Trail, Use at Your Own Risk". Don't be deterred by this sign. It's not dangerous whatsoever. It's here you'll discover the pathway leading down to the bottom. It's just a few switchbacks and is safe for everyone. Coming upon Box Canyon Springs...it's a decent waterfall. But with it being only 20 feet, it doesn't pack a punch of excitement or have that "wow factor" element I was anticipating. You may think the first area to see Box Canyon Springs is the best it'll get. The initial look at the falls is a side angle glance. But, if you continue just a little further on the trail, you'll discover a much more fluid backdrop of the falls splashing down the Snake River. There'll be a specific rock to stand upon which allows you to take in the scenery of Box Canyon Springs in its entirety. Going back to the actual hiking trail...it's easy - moderately challenging. What I really liked about hiking it was...for early August, the temperatures in Idaho were reaching 100+ degrees, but being next to the river offered a breeze and fresh air which cooled things down considerably. And when I started hiking, it was still morning time so being in nature without suffering from the heat was a relief, lol. Although I just did the out and back hike, according to visitsouthidaho.com, the path wraps around an aqua blue pool which you can go swimming in. Although the waters are mighty cold, they can be refreshing. Lastly, just a note on what I was doing. This whole area of Thousand Springs, Idaho is waterfall accessible. I visited 5 waterfalls all in one day. Starting out in Twin Falls, ID, they were...Niagara Springs, here at Box Canyon Springs, Lemmon Falls and Minnie Miller Springs (located together on Ritter Island) and finally...Devils Washbowl at Malad Gorge State Park. Out of these 5 waterfalls, Lemmon Falls was the clear winner from my pov. In the end, Box Canyon Springs is a quiet setting to bask in the heart of the great outdoors. I was just one of a handful of visitors out exploring this under the radar part of Southern Idaho that's surrounded by total farmland. Although the 20 foot waterfall wasn't magical looking, I still enjoyed making the trek down to the canyon floor and taking time to explore around.

Took a little side trip to see this waterfall while staying in nearby Jerome, ID. It costs $5 per…read morevehicle to enter. There is a guarded pay station as you drive into the parking area. They take credit cards for payment. We anticipated a lower falls flow than usual, since it's so late in the season, but we still thoroughly enjoyed our visit and thought it was well worth the $5 fee. They have restrooms, picnic tables, dog potty area with waste bags, garbage cans, and an information kiosk off the parking area. There is a nice sized viewing platform available for a closer the falls and Snake River. There's about a dozen stairs down to the platform from the parking lot. There are plenty of viewing opportunities from the parking lot as well, if stairs aren't an option for you. Overall we really enjoyed our time here. We would highly recommend!

Known as the "Niagara of the West," this waterfall is definitely worth a stop. There's a $5…read moreentrance fee, and a sign at the entrance shows the current water flow level--full, medium, or low. We visited in mid-September, so unfortunately the waterfall wasn't at full flow. It's very easy to access, with a short walk from the parking lot to the viewing area. For the best chance of seeing the waterfall at full flow, spring or early summer is normally the best time to visit. We also visited Dierkes Lake nearby. It's a beautiful lake and a nice addition to the visit.

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

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.

Took a full day out to go along the river. We started here at Centennial Park and had a nice…read morepicnic. We ordered some burgers and stuff from burnt lemon grill. After having a picnic, we started exploring the river. The river was definitely cold. We found a place outside the park to get in the river as the river officials knocked down people getting in the river. It seems when they rebuilt the bridge, a lot of the debris was allowed to fall into the river and they did not want anyone to have issues. Definitely did get in the river and have some fun.

If you want to touch and feel a fall, this is the must-visit!…read more1. Short walk to the fall (hard for handicapped) 2. You can see the fall up close, and walk to the back of the veil. NOTE: you are going to get a little wet, also wear hiking shoes! 3. Walk by the main road you get a spectacular view of the valley, bridge, and the waterfall

Really cool short hike to see the falls! You can even walk behind it!…read moreThe trail/path is sandy to start but you could probably wear flip flops if you wanted. You can see the Perrine bridge in the distance. Cool stop!

Great place to take the family for an afternoon. There's lots of green space to spread out... some…read moreshade and sun. If you get there early enough you can set up in one of those shady spots! There's a huge floating dock marking off the swimming area. There's a diving board and also "rock/cliff jumping" It's $5 to get in but if you live in Idaho it would be worth the $25 season pass!

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.