Exploring Twin Falls, Idaho
Rock Creek RV Park
A hidden jem! This small county park is located just south of Twin Falls and provides easy access to everything.
Twin Falls Canyon Rim Trail
Our first adventure in Twin Falls is a bike ride from the campground up to the Canyon Rim Trail, which traverses along the south side of the Snake River Canyon all the way to Shoshone Falls.
Snake River Canyon
Just after we join the Canyon Rim Trail on it’s western edge, we find an overlook with an incredible view down into the Snake River Canyon below. Here we can see Canyon Spring Golf Course, Centennial Waterfront Park, and to the far west (left) we can just see Auger Falls Park; which we plan to explore this afternoon. To the east, we can see all the way to the Perrine Memorial Bridge.
Perrine Coulee Falls
A little further down the trail, we come across Perrine Coulee Falls. Fed by the Perrine Coulee Creek, this fall drops 200 feet into the canyon year round.
Perrine Memorial Bridge
Continuing further down the trail, there are several overlooks on both sides of the bridge with benches. The bridge sits 486 feet above the Snake River and spans 1,500 feet across the canyon. There is a visitor center, pedestrian walkways, and is famous for offering BASE jumpers a year-round launching point.
BASE Jumpers
People love to sit and watch jumpers launch themselves off the bridge, deploy their parachutes, and gently float down to the designated landing pad next to the hiking trail below. We were lucky enough to see a group of people doing this. You can watch one our YouTube channel here – Base Jumper at Perrine Memorial Bridge.
Wildlife
As we stop at several of these overlooks, some of the local wildlife decides to make an appearance.
Pillar Falls
Our next stop along the trail is Pillar Falls; which is a series of cascading waterfalls around rhyolite pillars in the Snake River Canyon. There is a one mile long trail providing access to the falls from the rim; but it’s extremely steep and there’s forecasted rain heading our way. So, we decide to only go part way down the trail.
Evel Knievel Jump
After leaving Pillar Falls the rim trail passes between residential and farmland areas before getting to the site of Evel Knievel’s attempted jump across the Snake River Canyon in 1974. Attempted, because his parachute deployed only seconds after the X-2 cycle shot over the canyon at 300 mph. The cycle was then blown backwards into the south canyon wall.
Shoshone Falls
Shortly after, we catch our first glimpse of Shoshone Falls, and oh boy is it fantastic! We can definitely see why it’s nicknamed “Niagra of the West”. And, we got really lucky, as they’re currently doing a special release of water and the falls are near peak flow.
The falls are 212 feet high (45 feet higher than Niagra Falls) and span the width of the rim; which is nearly 1,000 feet. Experience via our YouTube Channel… Shoshone Falls.
Auger Falls Park
After having a late lunch just south of the bridge while we let the rain pass us by, we head down into the canyon via the Canyon Springs Road. There’s a sign at the top warning that it’s a 10% grade, so it’s a good thing my wonderful Honey just serviced our bikes. The ride down is fairly easy; but we do stop at Perrine Falls to let the brakes cool down before continuing. It’s here we get to hear the water pounding on the rock below and you can too by clicking here… Perrine Coulee Falls.
Random Falls along the canyon to Auger Falls
Once we reach the bottom, we begin to see random falls along the road to Auger Falls Park.
Auger Falls
Once we reach the park, we immediately head down to the Falls, and as we’re heading down the path we see a tall waterfall on the north canyon wall. We believe this to be Auger Falls; but in fact it’s coming from Alpheus Creek. Auger Falls is actually further down the trail and is a series of small cascades and rapids.
Alpheus Creek Falls
Interstate Bridge
Just east of Alpheus Creek Falls is the 1960’s Interstate Bridge/Alpheus Creek Bridge. The bridge is 145 feet long, 14 feet wide, and was built to deliver gravel from the Auger Falls gravel pit to to the interstate near Jermoe, Idaho. Quite a feat given the narrow, winding road on the north side of the canyon.
Looking down the Snake River Canyon
As we’re leaving the falls, we pop up on a hill and get this specatular view down the Snake River Canyon.
Herrett Center
It’s raining on and off today and there’s more in the forecast, so we decide to go explore the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho.
In addition to the Natural History Museum, they’re offering a movie in the planetarium all about T-Rex as well as offering views of sunspots, solar flares, and a view of Venus from the observatory (between the clouds).
The movie was very enjoyable and the museum was interesting. However, the highlight for us was being able to see the sunspots and the solar flares.
The sun spots basically looked like freckles; but the solar flares were fascinating. The filters used to see them make the sun look like a bright red ball with flowing hair. The astronomer said he usually describes them as whiskers, but there were so many of them today, he agreed flowing hair was a good analogy.
Minidoka National Historic Site
Just northeast of Twin Falls is the Minidoka National Historic Site. Which preserves and commemorates what’s left of the compound that imprisoned more than 13,000 Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Visitor Center
The visitor center is a small museum telling the stories of how this compound came together and what life was like for the people imprisoned here. There’s a film that we would definitely recommend watching before touring the site. It adds much needed information and perspective.
Interpretive Loop
After leaving the visitor center, we head out on the 1.6 mile interpretive trail around the compound. The signs do give descent information for those who either choose not to or don’t have the ability to see the short film.
This site is very interesting; but it is also very sobering.
Next stop… Pocatello to Idaho Falls
