How To Visit the Stunning Shoshone Falls (Idaho): Everything You Need to Know

by | May 2022 | 0 comments

*All photos are protected by copyright and the property of Briana Nickas unless they are stock photos or otherwise noted.

You’ve probably come across photos of Idaho’s impressive Shoshone Falls on Instagram. After all, that’s how we first found out about it. When we saw “The Niagara of the West,” we knew we had to see it in person! 

So Shoshone Falls went on the must-visit list. And the next time we found ourselves in Idaho, we made a point of visiting the Twin Falls area to see the Falls.

Let me tell you… they did not disappoint! If you’re planning on making a trip to southern Idaho, be sure to at least take a day trip to Twin Falls.

Wondering what you need to know for visiting Shoshone Falls? Keep reading for all the deets on how to see the Falls, including:

How To See Shoshone Falls in Idaho

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Shoshone Falls Idaho

Shoshone Falls Park Information

Standing at 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide, the massive Shoshone Falls is one of the USA’s largest natural waterfalls.

Known as the “Niagara of the West,” Shoshone Falls is actually taller than Niagara Falls if you can believe it.

You can see the roaring falls at Shoshone Falls Park. Here are some details to be aware of for your visit.

Is Shoshone Falls in Idaho on your must-visit list? If not, add it and start planning your trip to Twin Falls, ID to see the stunning “Niagara of the West”! #shoshonefalls #visitidaho Click To Tweet
  • Location: Shoshone Falls is located in the small town of Twin Falls, ID off the I-84 in south-central Idaho.
  • Address: 4155 Shoshone Falls Grade Rd, Twin Falls, ID 83301
  • Entrance Fee: Just $5 per vehicle from March 1st through September 30th, which also includes access to Dierkes Lake (more details about the lake below). Payable by cash, credit card, or check (the only form of payment they don’t accept is American Express).
  • Hours: Dawn to dusk year round (other than the occasional temporary closure due to road conditions).
  • Parking: There’s quite a bit of parking available.
  • RVs: There are 5 pull-through RV parking spots that can fit most RVs (these spots are also shared with tour buses). We saw a few large RVs make the drive, but be aware that the road to the parking area is narrow and windy.
  • Dogs: Shoshone Falls Park is very dog-friendly with plenty of grassy areas for your fur-baby to enjoy on leash. However, dogs are not allowed in the grassy area of the nearby Dierkes Lake. They are only allowed on the trail or dog training area.

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Shoshone Falls Best Time of Year to Visit 

If you’re trying to plan your Idaho trip at the optimal time to visit Shoshone Falls, spring is it! According to the Twin Falls Idaho website:

“Spring, when the snow pack begins to melt, is the best time to see Shoshone Falls. In the summer months, a portion of the river is diverted for irrigation purposes, which reduces the flow over the falls. In the Fall, you will often experience a minimal flow where Shoshone Falls will appear nearly dry.”

We were there in mid-August when the water flow was only 1/3 its full strength. That doesn’t sound like there would be much water. But it was more than we were expecting and still impressive. 

Just look at the photos and video! Can you believe that’s only a fraction of what the full flow can be?! Wondering what the current flow conditions are? You can view a live video feed of the Falls!

Where to Stay Near Shoshone Falls

We traveled to Idaho by RV and stayed in-between Boise and Twin Falls in Mountain Home, ID. We originally tried to stay in Boise but couldn’t find any RV parks with availability. 

So we ended up in Mountain Home, and it actually worked out nicely. Just 44 miles to Boise and 85 miles to Twin Falls, it gave us a good home base to explore both places.

The RV Park we stayed at was Mountain Home RV Park, and we really enjoyed it. The sites are spacious, and there’s a pool as well as private bathrooms and a grassy dog park.

The older section of the park has grassy sites with large, mature shade trees. There’s also a newer area of the park. We would have preferred to stay in one of the sites with grass and trees. But either way, it’s a nice RV park.

Don’t have an RV? Rent one and give it a try!

Hotels.com Destination Inspiration: Not sure where to go? You've come to the right place!

How to Get to Shoshone Falls

From Boise, you can take a day trip to Twin Falls. It’s about 130 miles and roughly 2 hours each way. Or if you’re heading to/from Boise, stop for the day (or a couple nights) in Twin Falls. It’s a straight shot on I-84.

Once you’re in Twin Falls heading to Shoshone Falls, the route to get to the Falls seems a bit random. And there aren’t many signs for the Falls. So you might wonder if you’re going the right way. Don’t worry, you are!

You may also like: Utah National Parks: an Epic One Week Road Trip Itinerary

From Boise

  1. Head East on I-84 toward Mountain Home

From I-84

  1. From I-84, take Exit 173 for US-93 and head south toward Twin Falls
  2. Turn left onto E 4100 N
  3. The road curves right and becomes N 3100 E/Eastland Dr N
  4. Turn left onto Falls Ave E
  5. Turn left onto Champlin Rd
  6. Turn right onto Shoshone Falls Gd Rd
  7. Keep left for Shoshone Falls

From Twin Falls, ID

  1. From Main Ave, head northeast on Shoshone St E toward 2nd Ave E
  2. Take a slight right onto Addison Ave E
  3. Turn left onto Champlin Rd
  4. Turn right onto Shoshone Falls Gd Rd
  5. Keep left for Shoshone Falls

What To Expect at Shoshone Falls Park

Shoshone Falls are located within Shoshone Falls Park and surrounded by a beautiful park-like setting with grassy lawns, large shade trees, and several picnic tables. So pack a picnic, and enjoy!

There are also restrooms and a concession stand with drinks and snacks if you didn’t bring any with you. And the Park is very dog-friendly! Just be sure to keep your pup on a leash.

As for the parking situation, there are plenty of parking spaces. And if you’re wondering how far you’ll have to walk from the parking area to see Shoshone Falls, it’s not far at all! The nearest parking is just a mere 75 feet away from the main viewing platform.

There’s a walkway to wander along the Canyon Rim Trail with several different viewing areas. So you can check out the views of the Falls and the Snake River below from different vantage points.

On top of that, Shoshone Falls Park is ADA/wheelchair accessible with several areas to see the Falls without having to use any stairs. Everyone can experience the “Niagara of the West”!

You may also like: 45+ Road Trip Essentials You Need to Pack Before You Hit the Road

Best Time of Day to Get to Shoshone Falls

As for the best time to get there during the day, we arrived around 10:45am and didn’t have to wait to get in or struggle to find a parking spot.

When we left around 12:00pm though, there was a line of cars waiting to enter the Park. So you may want to get there earlier rather than later.

Line of Cars Waiting to Get Into Shoshone Falls Park

We didn’t plan on spending that much time there and figured we’d just walk up to a viewpoint, snap a few photos, and head out.

But we couldn’t get enough of the roaring Falls framed by a gorgeous rainbow! We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Shoshone Falls Park and hope you will too.

BONUS #1: Visiting Dierkes Lake

After getting your fill of Shoshone Falls, why not stop by the neighboring Dierkes Lake? It’s less than a mile drive from the Falls. And the entrance fee is included in your fee to access Shoshone Falls. So you might as well get your money’s worth!

In addition to the park area at the Falls, there’s a park area at the lake as well with a playground and picnic tables. If you want to go for a stroll around the lake, there’s a 1.7 mile unpaved walking trail you can take. There’s also a boardwalk over the water that you can walk on.

The lake has a small beach area and a sectioned off area for swimming with a diving board. So bring your swimsuit to take a dip! Or bring your kayak to paddle around the lake since non-motorized boats, kayaks, and canoes are allowed. 

You can even scuba dive at Dierkes Lake to see sunken rowboats, a hidden treasure chest, and more! How cool is that?! Or perhaps you like climbing. If so, you can climb the cliffs surrounding the lake.

The only bummer with Dierkes Lake is that sadly, dogs are not allowed in the grassy area for some reason. They’re only allowed on the trail or dog training area. So be sure to keep that in mind if you bring your pup along.

BONUS #2: Twin Falls Visitor Center

If you have some extra time, stop by the Twin Falls Visitor Center for stunning views of the Snake River Canyon and Perrine Bridge spanning 1,500 feet long and 486 feet above the Snake River. You can also see the historic Evel Knievel jump site here.

You can explore the Snake River Canyon by parking at the Visitor Center and accessing the Canyon Rim Trail system for more than 10 miles of trails to walk, hike, or bike. You can even BASE jump from the Perrine Bridge or kayak the Snake River. There’s plenty to do in the area!

You may also like: 3 Reasons Why Page, AZ Needs to Be on Your Bucket List + an Epic 3-Day Itinerary

Wrapping Up How To Visit Shoshone Falls in Idaho

If you just happened to stumble upon this post and weren’t planning on making a trip out to Idaho before reading this, I bet you are now!

And if you were already planning to visit the Twin Falls area in Idaho to see Shoshone Falls, you should now have all the info you need to have an awesome visit.

Have questions about visiting Shoshone Falls Park? Drop them in the comments below!

If you’re taking a road trip to Idaho to see the stunning Shoshone Falls, be sure to grab your Free Road Trip Checklist to make sure you have everything you need for an awesome trip!

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Briana Nickas of Next Destination Unknown

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Hey there! I’m Briana, a blogger, hiker, traveller, RVer, photo-taker, and National Parks lover who is passionate about exploring the great outdoors while practicing clean living for a healthier lifestyle to continue doing the things I live for. My goal is to inspire others to live a life focused on wellbeing and wandering. Join me!

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