When you ask, “Where are there waterfalls near me in Idaho?”, your mind most likely goes to the famous ones like Mesa Falls or Shoshone Falls. There certainly is not a shortage of fantastic waterfalls to see in Idaho. However, keep in mind that you don’t have to travel a long distance just to see them. There are several stunning natural waterfalls hiding just a short hike away – you just have to know where to find them. This particular hike in northern Idaho leads you to two beautiful waterfalls, and the best part is there likely won’t be a crowd of people blocking your view. The hike to Shadow and Fern Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in Idaho! Give it a try!

Shadow and Fern Falls are located in Idaho Panhandle National Forest along the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.
D. Taylor in Idaho/Flickr
The forest is 2.5 million acres of gorgeous mountains, rivers, and lakes. There are so many hiking trails with waterfalls in Idaho, but once you do this hike, you'll have to admit - hiking doesn't get much better than this! This hike is considered to be pretty easy and good for all ages.
The falls are located off of the river. In order to get to the trail head you will drive along Interstate 90 and take the Kingston exit to highway 9. You'll follow the highway as it goes along the river.
Jeremy Yoder/Flickr
The old access to the hiking trail was from "Yellow Dog Creek" road, but has since been closed off. Instead, you will continue on the highway until you see a sign for Shadow and Fern Falls and turn left onto the marked road.
Being in the middle of the beautiful forest is an experience in itself. You'll feel a million miles away from it all. You'll likely see some wildlife, too! The gravel trail is wide and well maintained.
D. Taylor in Idaho/Flickr
Both of the waterfalls are along the same creek. Just follow the small stream and you'll find them!

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First, you will come across Fern Falls just a mile up the trail. You'll likely feel the cool mist in the air before you see it.
Stan Peterson/Flickr
The falls, at only 12 feet high, may be small but they are certainly impressive. The sight of the silky cascades of water is certainly a beautiful one!
Fern Falls is the smaller one of the two. Keep treading on to see the slightly bigger and better Shadow Falls.
Stan Peterson/Flickr
Shadow Falls are slightly hidden and more difficult to get to (although it's certainly doable).
Stan Peterson/Flickr
You'll continue along the same gravel trail, which will get steeper. After a couple of hundred of yards you should see Shadow Falls tucked up above Fern Falls.
Shadow Falls is hidden away in an obscure part of the forest, and therefore viewing it is a pretty magical experience. These falls are twice the height of Fern Falls at 24 feet tall. The same silky flow of water pours down from them, surrounded by lush and mossy greenery. It's like a little hidden oasis that you'll never want to leave.
Stan Peterson/Flickr
This place is like a little piece of heaven on earth. Can you believe these beautiful waterfalls are just a short hike away in the beautiful Idaho wilderness? Once you've completed the hike, you'll understand why we think that this is one of the best waterfall hikes in Idaho!

Have you hiked this trail to Shadow and Fern Falls? What are your favorite waterfall hikes? Let us know!

Want more waterfalls? Check out our 10 Unbelievable Waterfalls Hiding In Plain Sight…No Hiking Required!

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Waterfalls near me

Sarah M. | April 08, 2022

What is the best time of year to visit these waterfalls?

These waterfalls are rather far north in the state of Idaho. As you probably know, winters are pretty brutal in this part of the state! Because of this, it's probably wise to tackle this hike in the summertime, at least the first time you attempt it. It's an easy hike but you'll have a hard time keeping track of the trail in the deep snow. However, keep in mind that it can be pretty buggy there in the middle of the summer, so be sure to bring insect repellent along with you, too.

Where should I stay to visit these waterfalls?

There are dozens of campgrounds and hundreds of campsites in the Coeur D'Alene National Forest and countless options for dispersed camping on BLM land in this area too. You can pitch a tent almost anywhere but be sure to follow BLM's rules and Leave No Trace, too.

Camping is probably your best bet due to the remoteness of these waterfalls, but if you want to stay in a hotel, you can do that too - but you'll have to drive almost two hours to reach the nearest hotels in Kellogg, Wallace, or Coeur D'Alene.

What else is there to do in this area?

You'll find miles and miles and miles of trails in the Coeur D'Alene National Forest; you could hike every weekend for years without doing them all! Not all of them have waterfalls but they are all beautiful. This area also has plenty of opportunities for fishing in Idaho's many rivers and streams. If lake life is more your thing, you're not far from two of Idaho's biggest lakes - Harrison Slough to the west and Lake Pend Oreille to the north. Northern Idaho is beautiful! Dive in!

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Shadow Falls, Idaho, USA
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