Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Status Closed for construction.
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Closed for construction. The Forest Service lists the site as closed, with the visitor center closed for the rest of the 2026 season. East Idaho News reported both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls closed on Sept 17, 2026. Visit Idaho says the road to the falls is scheduled to open in May 2027. What the status labels mean
Mesa Falls is a pair of waterfalls on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River near Ashton, Idaho. Upper Mesa Falls is about 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide, and Lower Mesa Falls is about a mile downstream. Both are closed for construction, and Visit Idaho says the road is scheduled to reopen in May 2027. When open, the Forest Service charges $5 per vehicle.
About Mesa Falls
Mesa Falls is two waterfalls on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The Forest Service manages the site through its Ashton/Island Park Ranger District.
Upper Mesa Falls
Upper Mesa Falls is about 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide, according to Wikipedia; we found no official height. The Forest Service says an accessible trail and boardwalk lead from the visitor center to views of the falls.
The visitor center is in the historic Big Falls Inn, built around 1915, the Forest Service says. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Lower Mesa Falls
Lower Mesa Falls is about a mile south, Visit Idaho says. Wikipedia lists it at 65 feet. It is seen from the Grandview overlook, which has its own lot.
For another Idaho waterfall on this site, see Shoshone Falls.
Getting there and parking
Mesa Falls is closed for construction, and Visit Idaho says the road is scheduled to reopen in May 2027. The Forest Service closed Upper Mesa Falls on August 10, 2026 for road repair, chip sealing, trail paving and boardwalk replacement. By September 17, 2026, East Idaho News reported both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls closed, with citations issued to people entering closed areas.
Visit Idaho says the road to Upper and Lower Mesa Falls is scheduled to open in May 2027. Call the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District at 208-652-7442 for updates.
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (ID-47)
Visit Idaho describes the byway as 28.2 miles long. It starts in Ashton at Idaho 47 and runs northeast 12.4 miles to the old Bear Gulch Ski Area site. From there it follows Forest Service Route 294 northwest to U.S. 20, passing the falls.
From Ashton
Wikipedia puts the falls about 16 miles from Ashton by the byway. The Upper Mesa Falls lot is at the visitor center, and the Grandview lot serves Lower Mesa Falls. The Grandview lot is part of the 2026 resurfacing work.
Fees
When the site is open, the Forest Service lists a day-use fee of $5 per vehicle and $1 each for motorcycles, bicycles, horses and hikers. Tour buses pay $25 a day. There is no potable water, but picnic tables are listed.
Map and nearby falls
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Boardwalks and overlooks
There's no long hike here. At Upper Mesa Falls, the Forest Service says an accessible trail and boardwalk lead from the visitor center to the views. Both are being repaved and replaced in the 2026-27 work.
Mesa Falls Nature Trail
The Forest Service says the Mesa Falls Nature Trail runs for about one mile through forest and ends at an overlook of Lower Mesa Falls. It is closed along with the rest of the site.
We could not confirm restroom status after the renovation. Recreation.gov lists vault toilets at Grandview Campground, near the Lower Falls overlook.
When to visit
In a normal year, the Forest Service says the visitor center opens at the end of May, depending on access. Visit Idaho says it is open daily in summer, with limited hours on certain winter weekends. The visitor center is closed for the rest of 2026.
Winter on the byway
In winter, Visit Idaho says Forest Service Route 294 closes to cars and becomes a Forest Service snowmobile route. Winter access is then only by snowmobile or skis.
For 2026 and into 2027, the construction closure overrides the normal season. Fairy Falls in Yellowstone is another falls in the region, but its access road closes to regular vehicles after October 31, 2026.
| Height | 114 ftNote: upper falls, 200 ft wide, per Wikipedia; lower falls 65 ft per Wikipedia; no official height found |
|---|---|
| Trail | Accessible trail and boardwalk from the visitor center to Upper Mesa Falls; Mesa Falls Nature Trail about 1 mi to the Lower Mesa Falls overlook (Forest Service). Closed for construction |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Entry fee | $5 per vehicle per day; $1 each for motorcycles, bicycles, horses and hikers; $25 per tour bus (Forest Service page updated Aug 13, 2026) |
| Permit / reservation | None; day-use fee when the site is open |
| Parking | Visitor center and Grandview lots |
| Hours / season | Normal season: the visitor center opens at the end of May each year, depending on access (Forest Service). Closed for the rest of 2026 |
| Wheelchair / stroller | Upper Mesa Falls has an accessible trail and boardwalk from the visitor center (Forest Service); closed during the 2026-27 construction |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Status after the 2026-27 renovation unconfirmed; the Forest Service lists no potable water. Recreation.gov lists vault toilets at nearby Grandview Campground |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Ashton/Island Park Ranger District) |
Safety and swimming
Respect the closure. East Idaho News reported in September 2026 that the asphalt trails were unsafe and that people entering closed areas were being cited.
When the site reopens, stay on the boardwalks and at the overlooks, and don't climb down toward the river.
We could not confirm swimming or dog rules here. Check conditions first if you plan a winter trip by snowmobile or skis. Our waterfall safety guide has general advice.
Where to stay near Mesa Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Ashton.
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Photos
Mesa Falls FAQ
Is Mesa Falls open?
No. The Forest Service lists the site as closed, and East Idaho News reported both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls closed for construction on September 17, 2026. Visit Idaho says the road is scheduled to reopen in May 2027. Call 208-652-7442 for updates.
How much does it cost to see Mesa Falls?
When open, the Forest Service lists $5 per vehicle per day, or $1 each for motorcycles, bicycles, horses and hikers. Tour buses pay $25.
What's the difference between Upper and Lower Mesa Falls?
Upper Mesa Falls is about 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide (Wikipedia), seen from the visitor center boardwalk. Lower Mesa Falls, about 65 feet (Wikipedia), is about a mile south and seen from the Grandview overlook.
Can you see Mesa Falls without hiking?
Yes, when the site is open. An accessible trail and boardwalk lead from the visitor center to Upper Mesa Falls. Lower Mesa Falls is seen from the Grandview overlook by its lot, or via the 1-mile Mesa Falls Nature Trail.
Where is Mesa Falls?
On the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (ID-47 and Forest Service Route 294) in Fremont County, about 16 miles from Ashton (Wikipedia). Visit Idaho says the 28.2-mile byway runs from Ashton to U.S. 20.
How tall are Upper and Lower Mesa Falls?
Wikipedia gives Upper Mesa Falls as about 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide, and Lower Mesa Falls as 65 feet. We found no official heights.
Can you visit Mesa Falls in winter?
Not in winter 2026-27, during the construction closure. In a normal winter, Visit Idaho says Route 294 closes to cars and becomes a snowmobile route, so access is by snowmobile or skis.
Is Mesa Falls wheelchair accessible?
Upper Mesa Falls has an accessible trail and boardwalk from the visitor center, the Forest Service says. Both are being repaved and replaced during the 2026-27 construction.
Nearby waterfalls
Sources
- USDA Forest Service: Mesa Falls Visitor Center (updated Aug 13, 2026)
- KISU: Upper Mesa Falls will close Aug 10 (May 26, 2026)
- East Idaho News: Stay out, Mesa Falls closures (Sept 17, 2026)
- Idaho Capital Sun: Upper Mesa Falls to close (Jun 1, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Upper Mesa Falls
- Wikipedia: Lower Mesa Falls
- Visit Idaho: Mesa Falls (read Oct 28, 2026)
- Recreation.gov: Grandview Campground
- Visit Idaho: Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with USDA Forest Service, Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Ashton/Island Park Ranger District) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.