The Ultimate Guide To Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls, a spectacular waterfall of the Snake River!
Shoshone Falls, also known as the Niagra of the West, is a roaring waterfall tumbling down a broad rim of the Sanke Canyon!
Located in southern Idaho, about seven miles from the city of Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls is a waterfall of the Snake River, a tributary of the Columbia River, originates in Wyoming and passes through Idaho and Washington before meeting the Pacific Coast. Over the years, the Snake River has carved a rugged, deep, and long valley known as the Snake River Canyon, and tumbling down one of the cliffs along this canyon is the Shoshone Falls.
Shoshone Falls, measuring about 212 feet high and around 1,000 feet wide at the top rim and making a loud rumbling noise as it plunges down from the edge of the cliff, is an imposing waterfall! However, the appearance of Shoshone Falls greatly varies with the flow of the water, which is at its best during spring and early summer months but starts to gradually decrease after that, with fall known to have the least water flow in Shoshone Falls.
Even with a decreased water flow, the Shoshone Falls is an excellent destination in Idaho outside the winter months, as the road to the Shoshone Falls Park is closed in winters due to heavy snowfall in the area. The Shoshone Falls Park offers a viewing platform, a few hiking trails, a boat ramp, and picnic areas. There’re kayak and bout tours of Shoshone Falls offered by AWOL Adventure Sports.
Here is my ultimate guide to Shoshone Falls, featuring essential trip-planning information, things to do in Shoshone Falls Park, hiking trails, tours, nearby attractions, and recommendations on hotels and restaurants near Shoshone Falls!
Planning Your Trip To Shoshone Falls
Spring & early summer are the best time to visit Shoshone Falls when the water flow is at its best, and the hiking trails and boat tours are accessible!
Best Time To Visit Shoshone Falls: Shoshone Falls is accessible outside the winter months, as the road to Shoshone Falls Park is closed during the winter months due to snowfall in the area. However, even outside the winter months, the best time to visit Shoshone Falls is during spring and early summer, April through June, when the melting snow increases the Snake River’s water flow, giving Shoshone Falls its full volume and the best appearance. Fall is when the water flow is the least, but if you happen to be in Idaho during late summer and fall, you could still visit Shoshone Falls and hike a few trails exploring the Snake River Canyon.
Time Required At Shoshone Falls: You can spend as little as an hour marveling at Shoshone Falls from the observation platform or the entire day hiking and touring the waters of Snake River. The kayak and boat tours to the base of the waterfall are also a great way to experience Shoshone Falls.
Getting To Shoshone Falls: The best way to get to Shoshone Falls is by flying into the Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls or, alternatively, taking a train or bus to get to Twin Falls, Idaho and then renting a car and driving to Shoshone Falls.
- Flight: Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF), Twin Falls, Idaho, is the closest airport to Shoshone Falls, about 12 miles from the park. Shoshone Falls is also accessible via two international airports, including Boise Airport (BOI), Boise, Idaho, about 130 miles from the Falls and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, around 220 miles, but requires a good amount of driving.
- Train: There’s only one Amtrak station in Idaho, the Sandpoint Amtrak station, located in northern Idaho, way too far from Shoshone Falls. Instead, you could ride an Amtrak train to Salt Lake City in Utah and then drive 220 miles to Shoshone Falls.
- Bus: Greyhound offers bus services to Idaho, with the closest Greyhound bus stop being Twin Falls, located just 7 miles from Shoshone Falls.
Parking In Shoshone Falls: There’s ample parking in Shoshone Falls, including the main large parking lot right next to the observation deck and an overflow RV parking lot.
Other Attractions Near Shoshone Falls: The city of Twin Falls and the nearby Shoshone Falls area is home to quite a few natural wonders and interesting places and can be added to your Shoshone Falls itinerary.
- Perrine Memorial Bridge: The Perrine Memorial Bridge is a popular roadside attraction in Idaho. Located just seven miles from Shoshone Falls, the Perrine Memorial Bridge is an arch bridge spanning the Snake River has pedestrian walkways offering excellent views of the Snake River and Snake River Canyon. Perrine Memorial Bridge Address: Perrine Memorial Bridge, Jerome, ID 83338.
- Centennial Waterfront Park: Located about eight miles west of Shoshone Falls, Centennial Waterfront Park is a public park offering boat and kayak rentals and Snake river & Shoshone Falls tours. Centennial Waterfront Park Address: Centennial Waterfront Park, Canyon Springs Rd, Twin Falls, ID 83301.
- Twin Falls: Twin Falls is a neat little waterfall of the Snake River located about 6 miles east of Shoshone Falls. Twin Falls Address: Twin Falls, Idaho 83341.
- Dierkes Lake Park: Located about a mile east of Shoshone Falls, Dierkes Lake Park is a city park on the banks of Dierkes Lake, offering several hiking trails, a swimming area, and several picnic areas. Dierkes Lake Park Address: Dierkes Lake Park, Twin Falls, ID 83301.
- Miracle & Banbury Hot Springs: Soak in natural hot spring water in Miracle & Banbury Hot Springs, located about 32 miles northeast of Shoshone Falls in Buhl, Idaho.
- Shoshone Ice Caves: This is one of Idaho’s off-the-beaten-path experiences, located about 50 miles north of Shoshone Falls; Shoshone Ice Caves offers guided tours of underground lava tubes where resides naturally formed ice, no matter the outside temperature.
- Craters of the Moon: The Craters of the Moon is a National Monument and National Preserve, protecting a rugged lava land with several volcanic features. The Craters of the Moon is located about 98 miles northeast of Shoshone Falls.
Lodging Near Shoshone Falls: You may not find luxury and boutique hotels and resorts near Shoshone Falls, but there are quite a few big brand chain hotels and bread and breakfasts in the city of Twin Falls, located pretty close to Shoshone Falls. Here’re my top picks for hotels in Twin Falls
Dining Options Near Shoshone Falls: While there’re no restaurants inside Shoshone Falls Park, you will find several dining options in the city of Twin Falls. Here’re my top picks for local eateries near Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls – Johnny Carino’s for Italian food, La Fiesta for spicy Mexican food, A Taste of Thai if you like Thai food, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery for American fare and desserts.
Things To Do In Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls can be enjoyed from the observation deck and also from the Snake River on a kayak or boat tour!
Shoshone Falls Park offers quite a few fun ways to explore Shoshone Falls, including a couple of observation platforms, picnic areas, a few hiking trails providing different views of the waterfall, and also hosts the seasonal Lights and Lasers show. If you head to Centennial Waterfront Park, you will find several other exciting ways to explore Shoshone Falls, including paddleboarding, kayaking, boat tours.
Viewing the Shoshone Falls: The Shoshone Falls Park is open outside the winter months, from 8 to 10 PM, and has two observation decks offering great views of the waterfalls. The first observation deck is located right near the entrance, offering distant views of Shoshone Falls. The second observation platform is located just next to the main parking lot and provides the best views of the waterfall. Shoshone Falls Park Address: Shoshone Falls Park, 4155 Shoshone Falls Grade, Twin Falls, ID 83301.
Hiking Trails In Shoshone Falls: There’re several hiking trails in Shoshone Falls Park, the Canyon Rim Trail being the most popular and a well-maintained trail. Starting at Shoshone Falls, the Canyon Rim Trail is an 8 miles moderately strenuous hike, meandering through the Snake River Canyon, offering incredible canyon vistas and different views of Shoshone Falls. There are also a few unmaintained small dirt trails in the park, offering great views of the area.
Lights and Lasers In Shoshone Falls: The annual Lights and Lasers event in Twin Falls happens every spring when the park is bustling with food trucks, vendors, and music. In the evening, the Shoshone Falls and the Snake River Canyon are illuminated with several LED lights as a laser show is projected on the canyon’s wall and the waterfall.
Shoshone Falls Kaya & Boat Tours: The Centennial Waterfront Park, located about 8 miles east of Shoshone Falls, is a public park and offers a few great ways to explore Snake River and Shoshone Falls, including boat and kayak rentals and boat tours. AWOL Adventure Sports offers kayak and boat tours to Shoshone Falls, which involves a boat ride followed by a two-mile kayak tour. They also have a scenic Pontoon boat tour cruising through Snake River, offering great views of the Pillar Falls and Perrine Bridge.
Other Idaho Attractions & Related Posts
I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Shoshone Falls, and I hope this will help you plan your trip to Shoshone Falls. You can find other Idaho attractions in my Idaho Travel Guide.
Happy feeding your soul!
Shop Travel Gear
This is not a sponsored post, and I recommend products based on my experience. This may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using my link at no extra cost to you. More Travel Accessories.