Shoshone Falls

This is the continuing saga of our adventures in the city of  Twin Falls.  We received information on where to see the falls of the Snake River Canyon and continued 3miles from the Visitor's Center into the city.  Realizing that we had a steep drive into the canyon to see them, we detached our car from the rig.  It was well worth it to see the "Niagara of the West". 

 

Shoshone Falls plunges 212 feet into the lower Snake River, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States.  It is comprised of a series of falls that include the following: Bridal Veil, Bride's Maid, and Bridal Falls on the lower left; Two Graces in the Center; Sentinel as the southern most-and largest- fall.  Ordinarily the falls, by this time of the year, are not as spectacular ( during the summer the water is diverted for irrigation).   It was because of a heavy snow melt this year we were able to see the usual beauty of the falls.

The falls are almost fully diverted for irrigation, goes down to a trickle and then the river is changed downstream of Milner Dam into one of the West's most powerful rivers.  The Twin Falls Canal Company as well as the North Side Company manage miles of canals, laterals, and irrigates a total 363 thousand acres.   All thanks to the Snake River Plains Aquifer, an underground natural reservoir about the size of Lake Erie.  This information we received at interpretive signs in the park.

While we were standing on the observation deck a large rainbow had formed at the bottom of the falls.  It was quite the spectacular sight!  We finally made it to Boise later that day.