Boise, Idaho is a pretty place. Nicknamed the City of Trees, nature seems to weave its way through the cities streets following the Boise River flowing southwest through rugged mountain country. As scenic as this is, it seems to be that within the state of Idaho the further you travel outside of Boise, the more beautiful the landscape becomes. So what is there to see if you travel all the way across to the eastern border of Idaho and Wyoming? Mesa Falls, a 10- story high waterfall secluded in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Divided into Upper and Lower falls, Mesa is one of the last large waterfalls that is unaffected by man-made objects like dams. 100% natural. It’s a journey to get to but if you’re on your way to Yellowstone National Park, this is something you need to see.
Lower Falls Viewpoint (Map)
The lower portion of Mesa Falls will only take you a quick minute to see. Located next to the Grandview Campground, the overlook is not close to the waterfall but provides an eagle-eye view from about 1000 feet away. Walk through the trees from the parking lot until you get to an information sign and a short stone wall. See the falls, fill your lungs with the sweet clean air of the mountains and just take a moment to appreciate your surroundings. You may also want to walk and stretch your legs since you have probably been sitting in a car for a decent amount of time. Go early and you will have the place to yourselves. One thing to note is that the trail to the Lower Falls does not start here. It starts at the Upper Mesa Falls Interpretive Site.
Upper Mesa Falls (Map)
The Lower Falls don’t hold a candle to Upper Mesa Falls. Visiting the Upper Falls does come with a fee unless you have an Idaho State Parks Pass. The fee is around $5. Once parked, head down towards the Information Center and then proceed onto the boardwalk. It’s a loop so it doesn’t matter which way you start.
Someone once told me if you always go right, you’ll never miss anything. I don’t know if that’s true but let’s start there. Going right starts you upstream from the falls. The first lookout is right at the crest of Mesa Falls. In the morning, when the sun hits the water, you can see a rainbow following the trail of water.
Continue to the next viewpoint, and you will really be able to see the full picture of the Upper Falls. The third viewing spot faces away from the falls and overlooks the Henry Forks River, one of the best flyfishing rivers in the world.
The trail to the Lower falls begins in the Southeast Corner of the Overflow Parking Lot. The trail will take you a little over an hour to walk and will put you right above the Lower Falls. If you were paying attention at the Lower Falls Viewpoint you could see exactly where the trail ends.
Keep Exploring
Mesa Falls is only an hour away from the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Keep the adventure alive and go find some Bison in America’s first National Park.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.