The best thing about the little-known wonder that is Box Canyon State Park is the fact that it seems to appear out of nowhere. Located in the middle of southern Idaho’s stark scenery, a canyon with a hidden blue water spring is one of the last things you’d expect to find here. The park is just one unit of Thousand Springs State Park, yet the beauty that can be found here definitely warrants a visit on its own. The next time you find yourself driving down Highway 30 near the town of Wendell, be sure to make a quick roadside stop to this incredible paradise.
The 11th largest spring in North America is hiding in southern Idaho and you'll want to be sure to add it to your bucket list. Its bright blue waters are something you'd expect to see in the Caribbean, and yet it's right here at Box Canyon State Park and Nature Preserve!
The park can be found along W Point Road near the small town of Wendell. Visitors must pay the $5 state park vehicle fee, but this fee also gets you into the other units of Thousand Springs State park including Malad Gorge, Niagara Spring, and Ritter Island.
Box Canyon is the definition of a hidden gem. Surrounded by the high desert landscape of southern Idaho, you almost don't realize you've arrived at the canyon until you're nearly on top of it.
To see the canyon and the crystal clear springs it contains, follow the trail from the park's parking lot. The trail is basically an old farm road and will take you right up to the lookout on the edge of the canyon. Peering over the canyon ledge, you'll get a fantastic view of the bright blue waters below.
Keep walking down the dirt trail for another mile or so and you'll find a direct path down the canyon that leads to one of its vibrant pools. On a hot summer day, these blissful aqua blue pools are great for swimming, kayaking, and paddle-boarding.
Don't forget to see the waterfall! Follow the trail at the base of the canyon and walk down a man-made staircase. It's here you'll find a cascading 20-foot waterfall that flows all year long, and it's a truly beautiful sight.
Seeing the crystal clear water at the bottom of Box Canyon is well worth going out of your way for. Not only is it a pretty sight, but visiting the springs themselves guarantees you're in for a memorable adventure.
Did you know about the blue water spring that’s hiding in Box Canyon? It just goes to show that no matter where you look you in Idaho, there’s always a stunning destination waiting to be found.
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