Like to chase waterfalls? In Twin Falls, located in southern Idaho, there is no shortage of epic and unique waterfalls to visit. From Shoshone Falls, the Niagara Falls of the West, to waterfalls you can walk behind, Twin Falls is a waterfall lover’s dream! Want to know the best waterfalls in Twin Falls? Keep on reading!
This summer, we spent about a week in Idaho, which has quickly become one of our favorite states. We explored crystal clear springs, unique rock structures, hiked in the Sawtooth Mountains, and biked on the Route of the Hiawatha.
But one of our favorite activities was chasing waterfalls in Twin Falls, a city in Southern Idaho. We are waterfall lovers and the Twin Falls area has some of the most epic waterfalls we’ve ever seen! In fact, the city is even nicknamed the City of Waterfalls because of the many waterfalls in the area.
During our two days in the Twin Falls area (see our vlogs here!), we visited a wide variety of waterfalls. And the best part? They all are a little different from each other! From short and wide falls, to tall and narrow falls, to multiple stream falls, to a waterfall resembling Niagara Falls, there are so many different types of waterfalls to explore. And we’re excited to share the best waterfalls in Twin Falls (and the surrounding area)!
PS: the Twin Falls area has more to do than just see waterfalls! We’re sharing all of our tips for the Twin Falls area, including how to get there, where to stay, the best food to eat, and other activities in our 2 Days in Southern Idaho guide!
Looking for more things to do in Idaho? Check out our other Idaho guides:
- 2 Days in Southern Idaho: The Best Things to do in Twin Falls, Idaho
- Backpacking to Alice Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains
- 2 Days in the Sawtooth Mountains
- 2 Days in Boise, Idaho
- Riding the Route of the Hiawatha Trail
Reminder: Leave no trace
Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!
These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
Before we jump in, we want to quickly share where Twin Falls is. As we mentioned above, it’s located in Southern Idaho, and is just under 2 hours from Boise and a little over 2 hours from Idaho Falls. It’s also driveable from other destinations along the West Coast, making it a great road trip destination!
- Salt Lake City, UT: 3 hours, 219 miles
- Grand Teton National Park: 4 hours, 254 miles
- Yellowstone National Park: 4 hours, 268 miles
- Bend, OR: 7 hours, 443 miles
- Spokane, WA: 8.5 hours, 551 miles
- Portland, OR: 8.5 hours, 555 miles
- Seattle, WA: 9.5 hours, 619 miles
Looking for places to stay near Twin Falls? We list a bunch of suggestions in our 2 Days in Southern Idaho guide!
The 10 Best Waterfalls in Twin Falls
With so many waterfalls near Twin Falls, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to navigate your Southern Idaho waterfall adventure. Below is our list of the 10 best waterfalls near Twin Falls, with the address so you can easily find them, the cost to visit (if applicable), how to access them, and more! Have a favorite that we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Shoshone Falls
Location: Shoshone Falls Parking
Cost: $5/car between March 1-September 30 (free any other time)
If you only have time to see one waterfall in Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls is the number one waterfall you need to see! This massive and majestic waterfall is known as the “Niagara of the West” and at 212 ft tall and 900 ft wide it is actually higher than Niagara Falls.
Located on the Snake River and flowing into the Columbia River, the best time to visit is the spring when the snow starts to melt from upstream. If you go in the summer, know that some of the river is diverted for irrigation which will reduce the flow over the falls. In the fall, the falls might seem dry because the river is still diverted to refill nearby reservoir systems. We have visited both in late June and early July and both times the waterfall has been epic!
One of the best things about Shoshone Falls is how accessible it is. After paying the entrance fee (if applicable), you drive down into the canyon to the large parking lot, which has spots for RVs as well. From there, you can take easy, short pathways to different overlooks of the falls. Our favorite overlook is the furthest one, which has a great shot of the front of the falls.
The park also has a restroom, snack stand, and tons of grass to have a picnic on. And it’s pet friendly, so your dog can enjoy it with you!
Perrine Coulee Falls
Location: Waterfall access coordinates
Cost: Free!
As you enter Twin Falls, you will most likely drive over the Perrine bridge and see the massive canyon, as well as the river that runs through it, below. But if you look closely, you will notice a waterfall on the west side of the canyon, named Perrine Coulee Falls.
But don’t let the view from the bridge be your only experience with this waterfall. You can actually get up close and personal with the falls by going behind them! And in our opinion, it’s a must-see waterfall while in Twin Falls.
To get to Perrine Coulee Falls, you’ll take Canyon Springs Road down into the canyon. The waterfall is just off the road along one of the curves and requires a very short (a few minutes) hike to get to it.
Parking is a little confusing though. We noticed that some people park along the curve, but we did see some no parking signs and our van is a bit long, so instead we parked in the lot just down the road for the Mogensen Trail and then walked up the road. It’s a bit confusing if this is allowed or not. One sign said that walkers should stay to the left on the road, but another sign said no walking on the road, so we were very unsure what to do. We ended up walking since it was close to sunrise and very quiet out. We are avid rule followers, but weren’t totally sure of the rules. There was construction going on during our visit, which we think made the parking situation more difficult.
If you park where we did, make your way up Canyon Springs road until the curve and you’ll notice a break in the bushes where you can take a very short trail to get to the epic 200 ft tall waterfall. Make sure to walk behind it for the ultimate experience, but warning, you will get wet!
Unlike some waterfalls in Twin Falls that dry up during the year, Perrine Coulee Falls has water year round, so anytime is a good time to visit!
Cauldron Linn Falls
Location: Cauldron Linn Falls Parking Area
Cost: Free!
Cauldron Linn Falls, also named Star Falls, is one of the most powerful falls in Southern Idaho, as the Snake River is forced through a passage 40 feet wide.
Located Southeast of Twin Falls, this waterfall is a little bit off the beaten path compared to the others above. In the 1800s, the Wilson Price Hunt party was traveling in the area and tried to cross the river near these falls and lost canoes and unfortunately the life of one person in the party. They ended up continuing their journey on land and named the falls Cauldron Linn, likely after falls in Scotland.
The falls are the most powerful in the spring as the snow melts, so we suggest visiting then for the best experience. And unlike some other falls on this list, Cauldron Linn Falls is an undeveloped area that has no guardrails or pathways. The road to get to these falls can be a bit rough, but it’s worth it to see the powerful falls and enjoy some solitude.
Box Canyon State Park
Location: Box Canyon Entrance
Cost $5 (cash only)
If you want tranquil and beautiful scenery, look no further than Box Canyon State Park! This canyon is home to the 11th largest natural spring in the United States, a beautiful waterfall, and gorgeous canyon views. And if you visit at sunrise like we did, you may just have the whole place to yourself!
To get to Box Canyon State Park, you will drive down a farm road, sort of in the middle of nowhere. As you drive, you may be confused that there is a canyon nearby and worry you’re going the wrong way, but you’ll eventually notice a small dirt lot and a sign that says “Box Canyon State Park.” Unlike some state parks we have visited, this one is very unassuming, with no one manning any booths or even fancy signage.
When you turn into the dirt lot you’ll notice some signage, a gate, and a pay box. If the gate is open, we suggest driving back to the back parking lot, which is right by the canyon. On your way, make sure to put $5 in the pay box. When we visited, there was no envelope to put our money in, so we just wrote a note with it and then left a note on our car to say we paid.
After you park, you’ll walk up to an overlook that’ll give you your first real look at the canyon. Prepare to be amazed! This view is incredible and after driving through farmland unsure of where this canyon actually is, it will blow you away!
This view is amazing but it gets even better! Follow the dirt path to the left and there will be a path to access down to the bottom of the canyon. Parts of this path can be a bit steep so use caution when hiking down. It will be about a 15-20 minute walk to the bottom of the canyon and if you keep following the path, you will find the Box Canyon waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is only 20 ft tall, but it is powerful! And the water is so blue!
If you want even more fun at Box Canyon, keep following the path past the falls and there will be a pool that you can jump in and swim in!
Note: Box Canyon is a unit of the Thousand Springs State Park system, which includes Malad Gorge, Kelton Trail, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, Crystal Springs, and Niagara Springs. We’ll share a bit more about some of the other spots below!
Auger Falls
Location: Auger Falls Trailhead
Cost: Free!
Auger Falls is conveniently located at Auger Falls Heritage Park, a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking, which has a 4 mile loop that will give you a great tour of the canyon and waterfalls, including Auger Falls and a bonus waterfall, Mermaid Falls, which is on the opposite side of the canyon.
From the trailhead, you will reach the 30 ft “corkscrew” Auger Falls after about a mile in. Similar to other waterfalls in Twin Falls, Auger Falls is best in the late spring when the snow has melted.
You can also start this hike on the Jerome side of the canyon (park near here) and cross a small bridge over to Auger Falls. However, this bridge is only accessible if the water is low enough.
Minnie Miller Falls
<h3>Reminder: Leave no trace</h3>Location: Ritter Island Parking Area
Cost: Free!
Ritter Island will be closed beginning September 17, 2020 in order to rebuild the Ritter Island Bridge. They anticipate construction taking until at least mid December.
Minnie Miller Falls is located on Ritter Island State Park, which is part of the Thousand Springs State Park system and is about 30 minutes west of Twin Falls.
The island is named after Minnie Miller, who built the first buildings on the island, and is home to the remnants of a dairy farm from the 1930s, where they were famous for breeding Guernsey cows. You can visit the farm and walk inside the barn and milking parlor, which is really cool!
However, the star of the show is Minnie Miller Falls, which technically is a spring, not a waterfall, but it looks like a waterfall! To get to the falls, park in the parking lot, walk past the house and barn and follow signs down the mowed trail that will lead you to the waterfall. It’s a short and flat walk and you’ll end up in an area with a picnic table with a view of the many streams of the falls across from a crystal clear spring.
The water that flows from this spring is at the end of a 100 year journey underground! As it travels through the underground aquifer, it is being cleaned and the result is crystal clear 55 degree water flowing out of the cliffside.
Note: Ritter Island State Park is only open from 10 AM-3 PM Thursday through Monday between Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Lemon Falls
Location: Ritter Island Parking Area
Cost: Free!
Ritter Island will be closed beginning September 17, 2020 in order to rebuild the Ritter Island Bridge. They anticipate construction taking until at least mid December.
Lemon Falls is also located in Ritter Island State Park. After you visit Minnie Miller Springs, walk back towards where you parked and continue following down that road to a gate with a path, which will lead you to Lemon Falls.
Don’t be alarmed when you reach the falls if you smell a fishy smell, Lemon Falls is run off from the fish hatchery just above it, so it may have a bit of an odor. Don’t let the smell scare you away, the falls are a sight to be seen!
Unlike Minnie Miller Falls, you can get up close and personal with these falls, which is incredible! Just be careful of the stinging nettle nearby…that stuff really stings! Not that we know from our own experience of running into it or anything 😉
Note: Ritter Island State Park is only open from 10 AM-3 PM Thursday through Monday between Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Niagara Springs
Location: Niagara Springs Parking Area
Cost: $5
Niagara Springs is part of the Thousand Springs State Park system and is also a National Natural Landmark. Similar to Minnie Miller Falls, Niagara Springs isn’t technically a waterfall, but we’re going to count it anyways, since it has a waterfall appearance.
The water for Niagara Springs comes from the underground aquifer and there is also a lake at the springs called Crystal Springs Lake, which is a popular spot for fishing.
To get to this waterfall you drive down a narrow and steep road into the 350 foot Snake River Canyon. It’s recommended that large RVs or trailers do not attempt this road.
Malad Gorge and Devil’s Washbowl
Location: Devil’s Washbowl Overlook
Cost: $5
Another gem of the Thousand Springs State Park system is Malad Gorge State Park! This area of the park is very accessible, with multiple stops overlooking the 250 ft deep and 2.5 miles long Malad Gorge.
After entering the park you can drive to several different overlooks, and one of the first is the Malad Gorge Overlook bridge and Devil’s Washbowl. After parking, there is a super short walk to a bridge, which has an awesome view of the gorge on one side, the windy canyon walls on the other, and the powerful water that makes up the Devil’s Washbowl.
After crossing the bridge, you can walk along the rim of the canyon to see the Devil’s Washbowl head on, instead of from above. However, we think the best view was from the bridge!
Note: The Malad Gorge gates are open 7 days a week from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Pillar Falls
Location: Pillar Falls Trailhead
Cost: Free!
Pillar Falls is just as much about the falls as it is about the super cool pillar rock formations between the falls. Located along the canyon near the Perrine Bridge, the falls require either a 1.5 mile kayak paddle upstream or a steep 1.1 mile hike down to access.
If you choose to kayak, you can enter the water from Centennial Park, the same park you can park at to access the Perrine Coulee Falls. Combining Perrine Coulee and Pillar Falls would be a good waterfall bang-bang! Kayak towards the Perrine Bridge and continue on for another quarter mile and you will go around a bend and see the massive rock structures. There are places to leave your kayak so that you can swim in the waters if you choose.
If you want to hike to the falls, find your way to the Pillar Falls Trailhead and take the trail down to the falls. One very important thing to know is that this trail is not maintained, so it can be a bit rough in spots and if the water level is high, it is hard to reach the falls, but the view from the top of the trail is still really nice!
Ready to chase waterfalls in Twin Falls?
Pin this list of the 10 best waterfalls in Twin Falls to plan your adventure!
0 Comments