If you’ve lived in Idaho for long, then you probably know what it’s like to show off photos of our beloved state to your non-Idahoan friends and be met with a mixture of shock and surprise. It seems like the rest of the country is wholly uninformed when it comes to Idaho’s beauty! In fact, one of the most criminally underrated views in the country is our very own Shoshone Falls, and Lonely Planet agrees. They recently named the majestic cascade on their list of the most underrated vistas in the U.S., and we have to say, they aren’t wrong!
Showing people from out-of-state photos of Shoshone Falls, a common reply is an incredulous "That's in Idaho?" To that, we say: Dang right it is!
It's called the Niagara of the West for good reason. Made up of multiple cascades that stretch approximately 900-feet-wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the grandest waterfalls not only in Idaho but in the entire northwest.
And at 212-feet-high, it's actually taller than the real Niagara Falls! During peak season, about 20,000 cubic feet of water per second is pumped out over the majestic cascade via the Snake River.
Located just outside of Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls is definitely a popular destination for those looking for a scenic view. Surrounded by a lovely park, you'll often see the area packed with families taking advantage of the viewpoints of the falls, picnic areas, and nearby hiking trails along the Snake River Canyon.
The epic sight of the falls is a wonderful reminder of the powerful forces of nature. The waterfall was formed due to the cataclysmic flooding of Lake Bonneville during the Pleistocene ice age around 14,000 years ago.
The falls are tucked away in a remote area of the canyon, but reports of Shoshone Falls were documented by Europeans as early as the 1840s. It didn't take long for the falls to become a thriving tourist destination, with visitors flocking to see the cascade for themselves in the 1860s.
It's one of the most iconic natural wonders in Idaho today but largely remains unknown to those outside of our state. Although, the fact that it was featured on Lonely Planet's list of the six most underrated views in America means that could possibly change.
