Mrs. Tango and I will be taking a big road trip in next fall - our classic convertible turns 50 years old next year and we’re taking it on a Route 66 Road Trip. Our Day 1 destination as we head to the Chicago start, from San Francisco, will be in Idaho.
It’ll be an overnight stop to get some sleep before heading to Casper WY via Grand Teton Nat’l Park on Day 2.
So, which falls is prettier to view, Twin Falls or Idaho Falls? From a quick image search it looks like Twin Falls may win out. I figure we’ll spend maybe 15 minutes looking at the falls before continuing east.
Go to Shoshone Falls instead. Its rather close to Twin Falls (of which one side is dammed for power generation nowadays) and easy to find by signs pointing the way. Shoshone Fall has a viewing platform (afaik) that is neat, plus a nice lake real close (called Dierkes Lake).
I have not been there in over a decade so facilities/bathrooms are likely better now, too. There were some neat trails to walk/climb-along that follow along canyon wall should that be of interest. HTH
The “falls” at Idaho Falls aren’t really a waterfall at all. They were once a minor rapid, but now roll over a big cement dam. The falls definitely aren’t the big attraction there.
Twin Falls’ eponymous falls are a little better (though like Ionizer says, mostly penned-in for hydropower), but at least they’re at the bottom of a pretty spectacular canyon.
Twin Falls. As mentioned, Idaho Falls is mostly nothing. Even if you only have a few minutes, at Twin Falls the Snake River Canyon is right at the edge of town. You can hike down into the canyon and watch base jumpers on the Perrine Bridge (one of the only legal places in the US to base jump). You can also see the remains of Evel Knievel’s jump site!
If you stay the night in/near Twin Falls, ID (city of), then Shoshone Falls will be maybe 10-15 minutes drive at most from you, while Twin Falls proper will be about twice the time (or so) Twin Falls is upstream from Shoshone Falls, and has one side dammed up for power-generation diversion.
I’d recommend you also go down to Centennial park under the Perrine bridge. Nice place and down in canyon proper. Less than two minutes from the mall If you see anyone hanging out with a boat, ask them if you can get a ride to see Pillar Falls, just upstream from Centennial. Quote often, ‘guides’ will be down there and ime often will ride you up for very small amount of gas money. Pillar Falls was my absolute favorite place during my decade in Twin/Ketchum areas. It is possible to hike to Pillar if you know where the trail-head is (close to Evel’s jump site, fwiw).
Enjoy Twin Falls area even though the Twin Falls are but a historical story now (with one high fall left nowadays). Just do not do what I did after driving non-stop from Denver in huge moving van/trailer and arrive around 0200: turn naively at sign saying Twin Falls and end up in tiny park in canyon without a place to turn around! I learned real quick about brown roadsigns meaning parks and green for towns, and that most places do not have the tiny hairpin turns like entry to Twin Falls park. Kinda scary that night, and my first encounter with confusion of Twin Falls name usages. Asking locals about Twin Falls will get you talk of the town and not the Falls proper
Shoshone Falls sounds great. The images look great. It’ll be a 700 mile day to get there, so we’ll check out the falls the next morning on our way east. Thanks for the tip.
This would be very cool, but we don’t have the time as we’re just passing through. The Evel Knievel jump site would be neat, although I’m a bit dismayed that there’s still some leftover junk (maybe the ramp)? That was 40 years ago!
I would second this. Google says taking the US93/20 route up past Craters of the Moon is only 12 more miles and an extra half hour compared to the dreary Interstate route between Twin Falls and Idaho Falls (and IME Google greatly underestimates your average speed on rural 2-lane highways). It would be great to spend a few hours there, but even driving by and looking out over all the lava from the highway pullouts is interesting.
I think you can see the jump site from the bridge. It’s just a mound of dirt.
To be clear, the canyon and the bridge are literally at the edge of town. The parking lot for Best Buy is right on the rim! Depending where you stay, you might be very close.
This sounds like a “quick win” - we’ll be short on time but if we can do this relatively quickly then it sounds like it’s well worth it. No time for hiking in that area, though. (Centennial Park under the Perrine Bridge; and boat to Pillar Falls.)
I did notice Craters of the Moon on the map! And that route looks like it’s just a little longer than the drab slab of the Interstate. We’ll route ourselves through there, definitely.
Cool. I was a teenager in the 70s, and Evel Knievel was fun to watch! I remember watching the attempt over the canyon live. His chute was deploying even before he left the ramp - but when the TV reporter showed his cockpit setup and the pull-back-to-deploy-the-chute setup, well, what else can one expect under those accelerating forces?
Can I see the launch site from the Best Buy parking lot?
Thanks for all the good tips. It’ll be a quick passing-through, but it’s nice to maximize the sights when doing that.
I believe so, but seriously, it’s just a big mound of dirt off in the distance. Beautiful scenery though. I forget directions, but from the Best Buy side (the city side) it’s off to the right (East?). This site has some pics. I think you can also see it from the Centennial Trail.
Well, our plans just changed. My brother got engaged and it’s a destination wedding in Europe. Instead of 2+ weeks driving the 356 to Chicago and then back to CA on Route 66 we’ll be visiting Europe for the first time (together as a couple).
Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls and Idaho Falls and Snake Cyn will have to wait, but we’re looking forward to Europe.
You’re going to pass up looking at a mound of dirt that Evel Knievel once used in a failed jump attempt in order to go to Europe? I just don’t understand some people.
If you see anyone hanging out with a boat, ask them if you can get a ride to see Pillar Falls, just upstream from Centennial. Quote often, ‘guides’ will be down there and ime often will ride you up for very small amount of gas money. Pillar Falls was my absolute favorite place during my decade in Twin/Ketchum areas. It is possible to hike to Pillar if you know where the trail-head is (close to Evel’s jump site, fwiw).