Shoshone Falls, Idaho

The Niagara of the West.  That’s  one name for Shoshone Falls, but Niagara Falls is “just” 167 feet high, and Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high, and 900 feet across.  Shoshone Falls is sort of a seasonal waterfall on the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho.  In the summer it usually has a vastly reduced flow because water upstream is diverted for irrigation, but in the spring it can be booming after a wet winter.  This year we had a huge snow pack, and the falls are roaring.

We visited the falls on a very windy day, and the spray was soaking the observation area of the beautiful city park.  Photography from the nearest observation areas was nearly impossible because the lens was wet as soon as the cover was removed, so this photo was taken a bit further away.  Even so, I had to wait for a moment when the mist was at a minimum and hurry to take the picture.

The mist and bright sun combined for wonderful rainbows.

The rainbow framed the Snake River Canyon when Linda and I returned the following morning.  We hoped that there would be less wind, therefore less mist, and drier conditions for photography.  Wrong, but at least we saw the rainbow from a different angle because we were so much earlier in the day.

If anything, the wind was worse, and instead of the observation area being soaked, the entire city park was drenched.   The best we could do was remove the lens cover, take a quick shot or two, and slap the cover back on.  Then find someplace dry to clean the lens.  Then try again. 

 Even seen through the mist, the power of these magnificent falls was astonishing.  If you go, try to be there between April and July during a wet year.

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Fall Creek Falls

The snow and ice has disappeared early this year, but the countryside hasn't started to green up yet along the Snake River near Swan Valley, Idaho.

Just a couple of miles off the main road, Fall Creek drops off a cliff into the Snake River.  Fishermen have the best view as they drift down the Snake in their fishing boats.

Anywhere else, these falls would be a tourist attraction with trails, guard rails, parking lots, and souvenirs.  They are totally undeveloped.  There are no signs to help you find the place, and you need to be careful around the unprotected cliff edge.

The view from the cliff is largely obscured by brush and trees, so it takes some effort around the top of the cliff to get a decent photo.  Morning light would probably be best to photograph spectacular Fall Creek Falls.

Mountain Goats

Mountain goats are often seen in the Snake River Canyon near Alpine, Wyoming.  It isn't unusual to see a few fairly close to the road in winter, but when we were there, they were a long way up the mountain.

Several members of our Sharp Shooters Camera Club have taken beautiful close-up photos of these interesting animals, but I wasn't so lucky.  However, I was extremely fortunate to see a huge herd of over 75 goats grazing their way across the mountain.  The snow had just about melted, so I suppose they were taking advantage of the bare ground to find food.

The herd was scattered over a wide area and was gone in about a half hour.  This huge herd was probably a nursery group of nannies (females) and kids.  The billies (males) usually form much smaller groups and keep to themselves.  These photos show just a small part of the widely scattered herd.  As the weather warms up they will head for higher elevations and won't be seen again until next winter.         

Snake River waterfalls

The winter / spring 2011 water season is the wettest since we moved to Idaho.  Here in the Bear Lake Valley our precipitation is 151% of normal.  That means that the waterfalls along the Snake River will be blasting until the flow is decreased when the water is diverted for irrigation.  Linda and I drove to Twin Falls on Friday to explore the area, and on Saturday morning photographed Perrine Coulee waterfall and the only survivor of the original Twin Falls.  Then we met camera club friends Dave and Lynette Bower for lunch and together explored fabulous Shoshone Falls.

                                    
                                                
Perrine Coulee Falls drops 197 feet over the rim of the Snake River Canyon at Centennial Park.  The park is one of the few places in the area where you can drive into the canyon to the river.

The city of Twin Falls was named for similar "twin" waterfalls.  One was destroyed when the Snake River was dammed for a hydroelectric plant in 1935.

The surviving Twin Fall roars through a basalt slot in the Snake River Canyon.  In a dry year, or when the river is diverted for irrigation, its spectacular 125 foot drop will be reduced to a trickle.

SHOSHONE FALLS

The crown jewel of waterfalls in the Twin Falls area is spectacular Shoshone Falls.  Don't miss the chance to see it during a wet spring, but if you wait too long it will be a disappointment.  When this photo was taken it was flowing at the rate of 9200 cubic feet of water per second!

This waterfall is 212 feet high which is higher than Niagara Falls.  There are great viewpoints from a city park, but protect your camera gear because everything will get wet from the spray.  The falls produce beautiful rainbows on sunny afternoons as seen from this more distant viewpoint.