SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO A PERFECT LOCATION FOR THE ADVENTURINGADVENTURING SPIRIT | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 58 Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Nature Preserve Early settlers found the Snake River Plain a bit too dry for their taste, so they set about building a dam and irrigation canals along the Snake River. These structures so dramatically changed the landscape—turn- ing arid, cracked soil into fertile agricultural fields—that the area became known as the “Magic Valley.” Everywhere you look, you’ll see evidence of the Earth’s forces at work: deep canyons, high bluffs, unusual rock formations, and even lava flows. Sure, this area is a geologist’s dream, but its terrain also delivers big fun for the adventurer in you. The Snake River is at the heart of the valley’s recreation, inviting you to swim, raft, boat, and paddle its waters, and BASE jump and zip-line into its stunning canyon. The area’s reservoirs are pristine destina- tions for camping, hunting, and fishing— and are home to an abundance of big game and other wildlife. Throughout the region, see springs surge from within cliff walls and thundering waterfalls crash and churn into canyons. Wander through lava tubes, discover world-famous fossil beds, and eat homemade ice cream. Take a relaxing drive through Hagerman’s peaceful countryside, and make your way to City of Rocks National Reserve, where granite columns and spires stand guard over a 500-acre windswept valley. For more south central Idaho adventures, go to visitidaho.org/south-central Follow Visit Idaho on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media channels. visitidaho.org | 59 #VisitIdaho SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO ‹ ADVENTURES AS DRAMATIC AS THE LANDSCAPE City of Rocks HAGERMAN VALLEY While you’re in the area, visit Ritter Island, one of the units of Thousand The valley around Hagerman was the Springs State Park. Ritter Island, which place to be during the Pliocene Epoch sits along the Snake River between two (that’s about 3.5 million years ago). The springs, is a lush haven for wildlife, area holds the richest fossil deposits especially heron, golden eagles, and of the period, including the oldest prairie falcon. If you continue south fossils anywhere of Equus, the genus along the scenic byway, you’ll head that includes modern horses. View a into the western Magic Valley for a replica of the “Hagerman Horse,” the stop in Buhl, a charming little town state fossil of Idaho, at the Hagerman with a thriving arts community. Detour Fossil Beds National Monument Visitor south past Castleford, and you’ll see Balanced Rock Center. The monument itself is a short an awesome sight—Balanced Rock. drive away, but you’ll find information This giant wind-carved rock is 48 feet on recreational trails within the high and weighs 40 tons, and it stands monument at the visitor center. To see precariously on a tiny rock pedestal. the valley’s incredible mix of geological Take a picnic, and hike up to the rock features and rural farmlands, drive the from the nearby Balanced Rock Park. Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, which begins in Bliss and drops down into the If you’re driving the Hagerman Valley Snake River Canyon. Near Hagerman, along I-84, stop at Malad Gorge, a you’ll see the Thousand Springs area, unit of Thousand Springs State Park, where waters from the Snake River to see the Malad River rushing into a Plain aquifer tumble from canyon walls. steep 250-foot canyon on its way to the The springs’ cool temperatures are Snake River. Walk the bridge for a great ideal for rearing trout—in fact, most of view of the Devils Washbowl waterfall. the trout eaten in the U.S. come from From I-84, access several units of the this valley. You’re welcome to tour the Thousand Springs State Park, including Hagerman National Fish Hatchery, pro- Billingsley Creek (grab your fishing ducer of steelhead and rainbow trout. rod), the 350-acre Earl M. Hardy Box | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 60 Follow Visit Idaho on all your favorite social media channels. #VisitIdaho Perrine Coulee Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, with a 20-foot to do around here than just look at the waterfall and crystal-clear springs, canyon though. Amp up your adventure and Niagara Springs, which offers an by rafting or kayaking the Snake River’s amazingly rugged drive into the canyon. many rapids, especially in the exciting Murtaugh section. Or rent a kayak at In Hagerman, stop for lunch or dinner Centennial Park to paddle below the at the Snake River Grill, where inno- Perrine Bridge toward Pillar Falls and vative chef Kirt Martin and his staff climb on the basalt pillars. prepare wild game and locally grown catfish and trout with fresh, seasonal There’s also indoor adventure here. ingredients. Continue your culinary Kids will enjoy the fossils and Native adventure with a tasting at the organic American artifacts—and the 50-foot Snake River Canyon Thousand Springs Winery. In Buhl, planetarium dome—at the Herrett treat the kids to homemade ice cream Center on the College of Southern at Cloverleaf Creamery, where you can Idaho campus. Downtown, enjoy try scoops in unusual flavors like black quaint shops like Rudy’s–A Cook’s licorice and vanilla cloverleaf. Paradise, or treat yourself to a crepe and a latte at Twin Beans Coffee. Twin TWIN FALLS Falls’ culinary options range from the On the south rim of the Snake River down-home, always-bustling Buffalo Canyon sits Twin Falls, the Magic Cafe to the more upscale Canyon Crest Valley’s largest city. You might remem- and Elevation 486—both on the canyon ber that Evel Knievel tried to jump the rim, where stunning views complement Snake River Canyon in 1974 on his outstanding menus. special “rocket” motorcycle; he didn’t See what it was like to live in the Magic make it very far, but the attempt was Valley long ago at the Twin Falls County impressive nonetheless, considering Historical Museum and, in nearby the canyon is a quarter-mile wide and Jerome, at the Idaho Farm & Ranch 500 feet deep in that spot. You’ll find Museum and Jerome County Historical awesome views of the canyon at the Museum. In Hansen, take a self-guided visitor center on the southwest side of tour of Rock Creek Station, a preserved the Perrine Bridge, where you’ll also settlement that once served as a likely see BASE jumpers in action, transportation center on the Oregon parachuting into the canyon. Stroll to Trail. Near Jerome, you can visit the the east side of the bridge to admire a Minidoka National Historic Site, where sculpture called The Twins, by Coeur thousands of Japanese-Americans were Shoshone Falls d’Alene artist David Clemons. If you interned during World War II. look down, you’ll see two golf courses and Centennial Park, a great spot for If you’re near Shoshone between May taking photos of the bridge, picnicking, and September, cool off underground boating, and fishing. At Shoshone Falls at the Shoshone Ice Caves. The “cave” Park, catch an amazing view of water- is actually a lava tube with a year-round falls cascading 212 feet down from the ice floor. Bring a sweater; even in rim of the canyon; the falls are actually summer, the 45-minute tour can be slightly taller than Niagara Falls—so chilly. You can take a self-guided tour a selfie is probably in order here. (The falls are most stunning during spring runoff; ask at the visitor center about Thousand Springs State Park current water flow.) There’s a lot more REGIONAL INFO ‹ LARGEST CITY TWIN FALLS Population: 48,260 ‹ REGIONAL CLIMATE Summer Average High: 87° Winter Average High: 41° Annual Precipitation: 10" ‹ ELEVATION Highest: 10,339' (Cache Peak) Lowest: 2,575' (Snake River) Perrine Bridge SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO REGIONAL MAP ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS Craters of the Moon National Monument 75 Sawtooth 93 Scenic 46 Byway A Rest Area Shoshone Bliss 84 26 24 Hagerman Minidoka Wendell 71 Lake 86 Minidoka National Walcott Rest Area Jerome Historic Site Rupert Lake Walcott State Park Thousand Rest Area Hagerman Springs Heyburn Fossil Beds Snake River State Park Rest Area National 30 Monument Twin 81 Rest Area Buhl Falls Filer B Hansen 30 Burley Albion Thousand Springs Scenic Byway 27 B 77 City of Rocks Hollister Back Country Oakley Byway C Rest Area 93 84 A Castle Rocks Almo State Park Rogerson City of Rocks National Reserve 93 SCENIC DRIVES Jackpot ‹ Sawtooth Scenic Byway A 208-774-3411 ‹ Thousand Springs Scenic Byway B 800-255-8946 ‹ EXPLORE IDAHO PARKS! ‹ City of Rocks Back Country Byway C 208-824-5519 ‹ Castle Rocks State Park For additional information, ‹ City of Rocks National Reserve go to visitidaho.org/things-to-do/ ‹ Craters of the Moon National Monument state-parks-byways and Preserve ‹ Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument SKI AREAS ‹ Lake Walcott State Park ‹ Thousand Springs State Park A ‹ Magic Mountain Ski & Summer Resort magicmountainresort.com B ‹ Pomerelle Mountain Resort pomerelle.com skiidaho.us | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 62 Blue Heart Springs of another lava tube at the nearby which you can see in the Craters of the Mammoth Cave; it’s not icy, but it Moon area. Whether you like geology shares a location with the very unusual or just being in a majestic place, take ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS Shoshone Bird Museum. a drive south of Burley to Castle Rocks State Park and City of Rocks National BURLEY/RUPERT Reserve.