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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Niagara Springs is a natural phenomenon south of Wendell, Idaho, and way off the beaten path. But…read morethis is surely my favorite hidden gem in Idaho, and the effort to get there is worth it. With parking for only two vehicles located at GPS coordinates 42.664699, -114.674502, you'll almost feel like your lost as you pass the fish hatchery on a road named S 1950 E and enter a very narrow span of the roadway. But within seconds as you cross the short bridge and catch a glimpse of this stunning natural spring to your left, you'll know you're in the right place. After parking, walk on a short path toward the sound of rushing water and you'll be rewarded with a freshwater spring gushing forth from the earth out of a dozen different openings along a steep cliff in the Snake River Valley. It's the Niagara Falls of natural springs and certainly earns its name. But I wouldn't recommend a continued drive east on S 1950 E which only leads to a booth at the state park entrance where you'll pay a fee (US$7 for cars) for a very tiny greenspace and an uninspiring view of the Snake River. It isn't worth the price. Thankfully the springs are completely free and located just before the booth.

The park ranger at Malad Gorge told me that the park entry I paid for at that park was good for…read moresame-day entry at a half-dozen other parks in the area. I checked the map and decided that Niagara Springs was the most convenient. The park is on a dirt road and down a pretty deep canyon. I had no trouble getting there in my sprinter van so unless you're in a big Class A, you should be fine. The spring itself is pretty darned cool. A huge force of water pushing it's way out of the rocks and then down to meet with the Snake River. The park has a circular loop of parking spaces and camping spots. It's so very peaceful that I decided to park for a bit and took a nap. Note that this is well below the surface level and you probably won't have any cell service here. [Review 17792 overall - 62 in Idaho - 1313 of 2022.]

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!

This was a lovely park! There were lots of ducks and ducklings in and out of the pond and the…read moresound of birds was delightful. It was a wonderful lunch stop for us on our way through town.

What a great local park for everyone. Fishing is abundant for the kids and the place is very clean.read more

Wow! Amazing views and depths will be seen here! Colorful shades of blue in the water . Crazy…read moresteep drops, so be careful where you view. No risky selfies please.

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.

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.

Beautiful hike and amazing water to swim in! Not to many people either. The water is really cold…read morebut is worth it on a hot day and also beware is your brings pets the ground is really hot!

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!

This 5 acre public botanical gardens was founded in 1994. Here native & cultivated plants that…read moreflourish at high altitudes are showcased. Unfortunately, it never connected us to the region's unique beauty & fosters environmental stewardship through education, events, displays, and plant collections. This is a popular space for weddings & events. But, there wafe a turn at the sign & went into a redid area with gated homes.

What a fantastic hidden gem and truly worth a stop. It is such a fun place to spend an hour or two…read moreexploring plants, sculptures, and beautifully kept grounds. We had the pleasure of chatting with Nancy who could not have been kinder and happily answered all of our questions. My friend used a plant identification app which added an extra layer of fun to the visit. This is a spot I would highly recommend to anyone in the area.