Thousand Springs State Park is a beautiful, natural setting in Southern Idaho, and is a must-see for anyone who loves waterfalls. In this multi-unit park, thousands of gallons of water burst from underground and through cliff faces along the Snake River, creating a number of unique, rivuleted waterfalls that are scattered around the area. There are a lot of great photo-taking opportunities here, and also tons of fun things to do along the Snake River like hiking, kayaking, or swimming in the pools.

How to Get There

Many people will make their Thousand Springs visit a day trip from Boise or Twin Falls, but there are plenty of other amazing natural attractions and fun things to do in the area, so you could explore and relax for a week or more. The closest airport to Thousand Springs State Park is in Twin Falls, but you could also drive from the more accessible Boise airport (it is about an hour and a half drive from Boise). Thousand Springs is also a popular destination for anyone traveling through Southern Idaho via I-84 so make sure you put this on your trip planner if you are road-tripping.

Where to Stay

When it comes to lodging, you will probably want to stay in nearby Hagerman, ID. There are plenty of hotels and motels in the area, but we recommend staying at 1,000 Springs Riverhouse, which is a lovely spot on the Snake River, right across from one of the parks, Ritter Island, and a number of epic waterfalls. There is also the Rock House or the Yellow House which are two historic homes you can rent out on Ritter Island itself. You will need to book these through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The historic homes are very popular, so be sure to reserve ahead of time. Summer, late spring, or early fall are the ideal times to visit since a lot of the parks are closed in the winter and most of the best activities are on the water. Another alternative is the 1,000 Springs RV Resort, but it has gotten some pretty poor reviews. Camping at the park itself is fairly limited, but check the Parks and Rec site to see if you can reserve areas nearby.

What to See

The park is split up into several units, which can be a bit confusing for people who have never visited before. There are many different waterfalls to see and varied terrain to explore, so I’ll break down the distinct parks and how to reach them.

Ritter Island

Ritter Island is a small island on the Snake River that is home to several of the most photographed waterfalls in the park. It is also of some historical importance, as it was the site of one of the ferry crossings for pioneers traveling to the coast via the Oregon Trail. There’s an old barn you can visit here which was owned by Minnie Miller, a famous early 20th century business woman, which has a refrigerator powered and cooled by the spring water. The trails on the island are easy and flat, and there are places to swim if you are visiting in the warmer months. Ritter Island is only open in the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am – 3pm, but as I mentioned earlier, you can actually stay the night here in some of the old farm houses and have the whole island to yourself when the park is closed to other visitors.

This park can be reached from the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway or you can get there from the Wendell exit on I-84.

Malad Gorge

This area features the Malad River – a tributary of the Snake River – and its impressive waterfall which plunges down into the Devil’s Washbowl. The best thing to do here is to view the waterfall from the bridge across the canyon and hike to the clear springs around the gorge. Malad Gorge is also home to the main visitor center of the park, so stop here first and get some information or buy a pass that will allow you to park in some of the other areas.

Malad Gorge can be reached from the I-84 Tuttle exit.

Kelton Trail

An old part of the Oregon Trail and a popular 19th century route from Idaho to Utah, this short trail is an interesting detour for history buffs. There are a lot of old ruts from pioneer wagons that cut into parts of the trail which you can see in the surrounding rock. This is a very easy trail with views of the gorge.

You can get to Kelton Trail from 1-84 near Malad Gorge.

Box Canyon

180,000 gallons of water flow into blue-tinted pools from the beautiful springs in this park. This is the 11th largest spring in North America! The springs here are a unique, geological treasure that you can swim in, so you should definitely spend the time to walk down to the bottom of the canyon. You can take a 4.3 mile rigorous hike on the loop trail around the preserve which passes through basalt cliffs, waterfalls, and the crystal-clear, azure swimming pools. The water is fairly cold all year round since the springs keep the water at a steady temperature, so prepare yourself for a refreshing dip on a hot summer day!

You can follow Google maps to get to Box Canyon fairly easily since it is such a popular destination. You will go through a lot of farmland before reaching the parking lot, which has a set fee of $7. You cannot park on the road.

Niagara Springs

Another popular photo spot, Niagara Springs features a wide, rivuleted waterfall that you can view from right off the road. You can drive into the canyon to visit the waterfall, but be careful since the road is narrow and steep like a lot of roads in the Idaho wilderness. This is a great place for fish to thrive since the water is a steady temperature all year round. In fact, you can visit the Niagara Springs Steelhead Hatchery nearby, if this is something that interests you. There are also a lot of recreational fishing areas in the vicinity as well, such as Crystal Springs Lake which is along the same road as Niagara Springs.

Niagara Springs is off the Niagara Springs Grade Road, which can be reached from the Wendell Exit on I-84.

Other Things to do in the Area

The Hagerman area boasts many other interesting parks and adventures, such as the Hagerman Fossil Beds, whitewater rafting, and kayaking tours. There are also several hot springs nearby if you are looking to relax after a long day of hiking and site-seeing. Make sure to plan your activities ahead of time and check out the park website for information on events.