Island Park Idaho - Hotel, Lodging, Recreation, and Fishing

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway travels along Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Under consideration for designation as a wild and scenic river, Henry’s Fork offers a variety of recreational activities like fishing, whitewater rafting, and waterfall

Mesa Falls
Mailing Address
Box 858
Ashton, ID 83420
Phone: (208) 558-7301
Hours: Mid May - Labor Day, 9am-5:30pm; Reduced hours in off season. Road closed in winter.
Fees: $3 per car, $1 motorcycle or bike, $25 tour busGolden Age/Access passports get in for no charge

In all of Idaho, there remain just two undisturbed waterfalls of any real consequence. Both thunder through a narrow chasm carved by the Henrys Fork River in eastern Idaho, near Yellowstone National Park. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway visits both of them, offers good views of the Teton Range, and passes through forests and meadows frequented by deer, elk, and moose.

If you visit the falls before noon, the rainbow will be there. It disappears in the afternoon. Mesa Falls Recreation area has lots of things to do. You can simply enjoy the power and beauty of the falls and watch the osprey and eagles that frequent the area. The walkways make viewing safe for all. Please–to ensure your own and your family’s safety–stay on the walkways at all times.

The Big Falls Inn opened as an interpretive center in the year 2001 . Visit the Center to see exhibits on the geology of the falls and canyon, history of the lodge, the river ecosystem, plants and animals of the area, the Forest ecosystem, cultural history of the area from prehistoric times to present, and maps of other parks and points of interest in the area.

There are several hiking trails in the area. There is an improved hiking trail from Lower Mesa Falls to Bear Gulch. There is a moose trail that follows the canyon up stream from the upper falls. The old road that runs behind the parking lot is 1 mile out to an overlook of the lower falls and access to fishing. The bicycle trail that is the old railroad bed begins at Warm River Campground and goes clear to Yellowstone. It is a combined ATV/bicycle trail from Bear Gulch north.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 13th, 2006 at 3:08 pm and is filed under Island Park Attractions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway travels along Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Under consideration for designation as a wild and scenic river, Henry’s Fork offers a variety of recreational activities like fishing, whitewater rafting, and waterfall

Mesa Falls
Mailing Address
Box 858
Ashton, ID 83420
Phone: (208) 558-7301
Hours: Mid May - Labor Day, 9am-5:30pm; Reduced hours in off season. Road closed in winter.
Fees: $3 per car, $1 motorcycle or bike, $25 tour busGolden Age/Access passports get in for no charge

In all of Idaho, there remain just two undisturbed waterfalls of any real consequence. Both thunder through a narrow chasm carved by the Henrys Fork River in eastern Idaho, near Yellowstone National Park. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway visits both of them, offers good views of the Teton Range, and passes through forests and meadows frequented by deer, elk, and moose.

If you visit the falls before noon, the rainbow will be there. It disappears in the afternoon. Mesa Falls Recreation area has lots of things to do. You can simply enjoy the power and beauty of the falls and watch the osprey and eagles that frequent the area. The walkways make viewing safe for all. Please–to ensure your own and your family’s safety–stay on the walkways at all times.

The Big Falls Inn opened as an interpretive center in the year 2001 . Visit the Center to see exhibits on the geology of the falls and canyon, history of the lodge, the river ecosystem, plants and animals of the area, the Forest ecosystem, cultural history of the area from prehistoric times to present, and maps of other parks and points of interest in the area.

There are several hiking trails in the area. There is an improved hiking trail from Lower Mesa Falls to Bear Gulch. There is a moose trail that follows the canyon up stream from the upper falls. The old road that runs behind the parking lot is 1 mile out to an overlook of the lower falls and access to fishing. The bicycle trail that is the old railroad bed begins at Warm River Campground and goes clear to Yellowstone. It is a combined ATV/bicycle trail from Bear Gulch north.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 13th, 2006 at 3:08 pm and is filed under Island Park Attractions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.