Located at the edge of Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls is a natural beauty on the Snake River. At 212 feet, the falls are higher than Niagara Falls. The falls offer a unique blend of recreational facilities, including playgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, a boat ramp, swimming area, and a scenic overlook. A picnic in the shaded, grassy areas provides a perfect vantage point for viewing the falls.

Shoshone Falls is among the most spectacular of natural beauties along the Snake River. At 212 feet, the falls are higher than Niagara Falls. They are best viewed during the spring and early summer when water flows are high – depending on winter snow melt. Irrigation diversion of Snake River flows can significantly diminish water over the falls in the summer and fall, particularly during dry years.

However, even without high water flows, the views at the falls remain spectacular year-round. The City of Twin Falls owns and operates the Shoshone Falls/Dierkes Lake Complex. It offers a unique blend of recreational facilities, including playgrounds and hiking trails, landscaped picnic areas, a boat ramp and swimming area, and a scenic overlook. The complex provides restroom facilities and visitor information, and for $5 per-car entry fee, visitors can enjoy picnicking and relaxing in the shaded, grassy areas, which provide perfect vantage points for viewing Shoshone Falls.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

This spectacular bridge spans the majestic Snake River Canyon on the northern edge of Twin Falls.

It is 1,500 feet long and 486 feet above the Snake River. The four-lane bridge has pedestrian walkways with views of the river, sheer cliffs, the Blue Lakes, waterfalls, a park and two golf courses. A road descends to these areas. The Twin Falls Visitor Center is next to the bridge.

A parking area adjacent to a Visitor Center allows for close inspection of Idaho’s most striking bridge. It also provides easy access to the developed canyon rim trail system.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

Miracle Hot Springs is open year-round with 15 Private Hot Pools, 6 VIP Pools & 4 Outdoor Public Pools. The water is soft to the touch and naturally clean with a sensational alkaline pH of 9.6. Professional massage therapists are on site.

There is a 10-unit RV park w/electricity & water and tent spaces. Miracle also offers overnight camping domes for rent and a 1000-sq. ft. event dome can be reserved for group activities.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

Soar through the solar system in the newly upgraded Faulkner Planetarium or peek at a planet from the Centennial Observatory. Explore the museum galleries where you’ll see a complete mammoth skeleton, fossils, contemporary art, and artifacts from ancient cultures. Planning a special event? The Rick Allen Community Room might be the perfect place. And don’t forget to visit the Herrett Center Store. You’ll find unique gifts, jewelry, and educational toys. Located on the College of Southern Idaho campus, just off North College Road.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

In his risk-taking heyday, nothing seemed to intimidate the notorious motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel. Not even the 500-foot-deep, quarter-mile-wide Snake River Canyon, which he famously attempted to jump on a steam-powered skycycle in September 1974.

Though Knievel crashed on the jump because of a parachute malfunction, he survived with only a broken nose. It was barely a scrape for a man who had broken nearly 40 bones in his career, including his back seven times. Knievel died on November 30, 2007, after an extended illness. But his legacy lives on in the Twin Falls area and throughout the world.

The earthen ramp where Knievel launched from is still visible on the Snake River Canyon rim. It is about two miles east of the Twin Falls Visitor Center. The site itself is on private property. Visitors may view the ramp from the Visitor Center or come within 100 yards of the site at the top of the Centennial Trail, which originates at Shoshone Falls. The trail is paved, but does include some steep inclines. The 1.8-mile trek is worth it to give you the perspective Knievel found himself in on September 8, 1974.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

Established in 1988 as a national reserve, City of Rocks in Idaho encompasses 14,407 acres of land.

The park is renowned for its scenic, geologic, and historic significance.

The City of Rocks area was an important landmark on the California Trail. City of Rocks is one of the finest granite-face climbing sites anywhere. Climbers find the younger granite of the Almo Pluton to be some of the best rock they’ve ever ascended. There are almost 700 climbing routes available. City of Rocks also has ample access to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. City of Rocks Camping is a great experience for RVers or tent campers. There are lots of options in the park and the neighboring Castle Rocks State Park.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

The result is one of the most intimidating, spectacular waterfalls in Idaho. Also known as Star Falls, this site proved perilous to the Wilson Price Hunt party in 1811. Employed by John Jacob Astor, Hunt’s party traveled overland using information gleaned from the Lewis and Clark expedition. But Caldron Linn proved too rough — Hunt’s party lost a man and two canoes in the area, forcing them back on land. Scottish members of Hunt’s party gave the area its name.

Not much has changed since 1811: The area is still natural and untamed, and you won’t find safety features like guardrails or paved paths. Upstream, anglers will find great bass fishing; downstream, daring kayakers will find Class IV and IV rapids with huge drops.

For the biggest visual impact, visit Caldron Linn in the spring, when snowmelt swells the falls.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com

World-famous Balanced Rock near Castleford is a true Southern Idaho icon. The mushroom-shaped rock measures 48 feet wide at the top and only 3 feet, 17 inches at the base. Thousands of people have climbed up to the rock over the years to take a unique photo or visited the county park for a picnic or overnight camping.

Nowadays, it’s very popular to visit Balance Rock and take a unique selfie to post in the social media.

April is a great time to visit Balanced Rock. The park, managed by Twin Falls County Parks and Waterways, is situated in a beautiful box canyon shaded by cottonwood trees along Salmon Falls Creek. You can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the quiet setting in the park for an afternoon or camp overnight. It’s self-support camping; there are no RV hookups. You also can fish Salmon Falls Creek.

The park is shaded by the canyon and mature trees. Self-support camping is allowed.

How to get there: Balanced Rock is easiest to access via Buhl on U.S. Highway 30, the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, and then follow signs to Balanced Rock.

Balanced Rock was carved by wind and weather over time. It’s part of a rhyolite lava formation that was created 15 million years ago by multiple volcanic eruptions in the area. It’s the same type of rock that forms the Jarbidge Canyon and portions of the Bruneau Canyon.

Source: visitsouthidaho.com