Overview
Introduction
Situated in south-central Idaho, Twin Falls, Idaho, is best known for its impressive Perrine Memorial Bridge—its walkway is a great vantage point for photographing the Snake River Canyon. The bridge isn't far from the spot where daredevil Evel Knievel unsuccessfully attempted to jump the canyon in his rocket cycle in 1974.
North of town are the actual Twin Falls that give the city its name, though they aren't nearly as impressive as nearby Shoshone Falls, which drop 212 ft/65 m. Called the "Niagara of the West," the falls drop 52 ft/16 m farther than Niagara Falls. They're sometimes a little short on water, though—the river's flow is diverted after early May for irrigation purposes.
There are a number of attractions in the surrounding area. To the north, near Shoshone, is the Ice Cave, where you can take guided tours. To the west, near the town of Buhl, is Balanced Rock, a 40-ft-/12-m-tall rock sitting on a very narrow base. To the south is the Idaho Heritage Museum in Hollister, which contains thousands of Shoshone-Bannock Indian artifacts.
Northwest of town is the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, a series of cliffs on the Snake River that contain a wealth of fossils more than 3 million years old. This is an undeveloped preserve with difficult access—if you're interested in seeing it, be sure to contact the monument superintendent before you go.
A one-day stay in the Twin Falls area should suffice.