Waterfalls in Idaho

Overview of waterfalls in Idaho

The City of Twin Falls says Shoshone Falls surpasses the height of Niagara Falls, and Wikipedia puts it 45 feet higher. Mesa Falls is a pair of falls on the Henrys Fork in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls are closed for construction in fall 2026; see the closures section below.

Of the three, Jump Creek Falls is the nearest to Boise. The three are run by a city, the BLM and the Forest Service, so fees and seasons differ. The sections below sort them by region.

Fees at Shoshone, Jump Creek and Mesa Falls

All three Idaho waterfalls on this site charge $5 per vehicle per day: Shoshone Falls (City of Twin Falls), Jump Creek Falls (BLM) and Mesa Falls (Forest Service).

Shoshone Falls: the City of Twin Falls charges $5 per vehicle from March 1 through the fall, collected at the park entrance booth. The same fee covers Dierkes Lake, and a $25 season pass is sold too.

Jump Creek Falls: BLM's Owyhee Field Office lists a $5 day-use pass or a $25 annual pass. A November 2023 Federal Register notice made the day fee per vehicle and gave America the Beautiful pass holders a 100% discount. We could not confirm how the fee is paid on site.

Mesa Falls: the Forest Service lists $5 per vehicle per day and $25 per tour bus at the Upper Mesa Falls visitor center site. Motorcycles, bicycles, horses and hikers pay $1 each. That page was updated August 13, 2026. Confirm it when the site reopens.

Waterfalls near Twin Falls

Shoshone Falls is the one Twin Falls-area waterfall on this site, in Shoshone Falls Park on the Snake River. It is open dawn to dusk all year, per the City of Twin Falls, as of October 2026.

• Shoshone Falls: 212 feet tall and about 900 feet wide, per the city. The vehicle fee is $5 from March 1 through the fall, and it also covers Dierkes Lake.
• Viewing: an overlook sits near the parking area, and a canyon rim trail leads to more viewpoints. The city says the falls are ADA accessible, with several viewing spots reached without stairs.
• Dogs: allowed on a leash, but not in Dierkes Lake's grassy area.

Spring brings the most water, as the next section explains. Late summer and fall flows can be minimal.

When the water runs at Shoshone Falls

Timing matters at Shoshone Falls. The city says spring, usually April to June, is the best time, when snowmelt flows typically run 10,000 to 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). In summer, water is diverted for irrigation, and by late summer and fall the falls can look nearly dry.

Wikipedia says Idaho Power must keep a minimum daytime scenic flow of 300 cfs from April through Labor Day. It can be hard to meet in dry years.

Waterfalls near Boise

Jump Creek Falls is the nearest waterfall to Boise on this site, on BLM land in the Owyhee desert about 7 miles from Marsing. Its status is unconfirmed as of October 2026.

• Jump Creek Falls: about 60 feet tall, per a November 2023 BLM press release. BLM's directions from Boise start on I-84 West to Exit 33A and run through Marsing.
• Fee and hours: BLM lists a $5 day-use pass per vehicle or a $25 annual pass, and hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Walk: about 1/2 mile round trip, per Visit Idaho. BLM rates the walk to the falls easy.
• Swimming: allowed. BLM lists a swimming site and says swimmers can take a dip at the base of the falls.

An older BLM brochure notes a slippery stream crossing on the trail, and we found no accessible route to the falls.

Eastern Idaho: Mesa Falls near Ashton and Island Park

Mesa Falls, near Ashton in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, is closed for construction as of October 2026. The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District manages it.

• Mesa Falls: Upper Mesa Falls is about 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide, and Lower Mesa Falls is about 65 feet, per Wikipedia.
• Normal access: the Forest Service lists an accessible trail and boardwalk from the visitor center to Upper Mesa Falls. A nature trail runs about 1 mile to the Lower Mesa Falls overlook.
• Reopening: Visit Idaho says the road to the falls is scheduled to open in May 2027.

In a normal winter, an archived 2023 Idaho Parks and Recreation page says Scenic Byway 47 does not stay open to vehicles and is groomed for snowmobiles. That winter access does not apply in 2026-27, while the construction closure is in place.

Idaho waterfall closures and conditions (as of Oct 2026)

As of October 2026, Mesa Falls is closed for construction, Shoshone Falls is open, and Jump Creek Falls' status is unconfirmed.

• Mesa Falls: closed. Upper Mesa Falls closed August 10, 2026 for renovation, including road repair, chip sealing, trail paving and boardwalk replacement. On September 17, 2026, East Idaho News reported both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls closed, with people cited for entering closed areas. The visitor center is closed for the rest of the 2026 season, and Visit Idaho says the road to the falls is scheduled to open in May 2027.
• Jump Creek Falls: status unconfirmed. No 2025 or 2026 closure notice turned up, but no dated BLM notice says the site is open either. BLM's Boise District ended its 2026 fire restrictions on September 3, and BLM lifted the Big Grass Fire closure in Owyhee County on October 14. No source we found says that closure reached Jump Creek.
• Shoshone Falls: open, per the city. The City of Twin Falls lists the park as open dawn to dusk all year, and we found no closure notice. The city may close it temporarily when road conditions are poor.

Planning tips for Shoshone, Jump Creek and Mesa Falls

Dogs are welcome on a leash at Shoshone Falls Park. For Mesa Falls updates during the construction, call the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District at 208-652-7442.

At Jump Creek, the final part of the drive is a gravel road through private property. BLM asks you to follow signs and keep to the main road. BLM also warns that poison ivy is thick in places beside the creek and trail.

Plan Jump Creek as a day trip. Visit Idaho calls it day use only, and BLM's 2023 fee proposal would end its old camping-by-permit option. Our waterfall safety guide covers cliff edges and moving water.

Idaho waterfalls FAQ