Southern Idaho Waterfalls

In looking for things to see and do in Twin Falls, Idaho, I was surprised at the number of waterfalls in the area...

Click here to view the web page I used to plan my day trip

Shoshone Falls is located on the Snake River just a few miles east of town. At 212 feet the falls are higher than Niagara Falls...

Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls with a double rainbow

Perrine Coulee Falls is another waterfall close to town. It drops almost 200 feet down a sheer cliff and you can walk behind it...

Perrine Coulee Falls

Niagara Springs appears to spring right out of the side of the mountain. Caveat: the canyon road to Niagara Springs is narrow and steep and not recommended for either motorhomes or large trailers....

Niagara Springs

Thousand Springs consists of two major waterfalls next to each other...

Falls from the side

Falls from the bottom

Click here to see a Google Map I created for my waterfalls tour. You can send the directions to your smartphone and follow the same route I took. It takes you through some bucolic countryside where you will see more irrigation systems than I knew existed and huge cattle lots with more cows than I could count. All in all, a nice way to spend the day and experience the beauty of Idaho.

Payette National Forest Ride

We did not make it to Black Lake due to...

So we rode the forestry roads to various mountain tops...

Click on photo to enlarge

Owyhee Mountains Ride

Another great ride in the Owyhee mountains southwest of Boise.

Elevation ~8,400 feet (click on photo to enlarge)

Bonnie & Clyde's car?

Old Idaho Penitentiary

The Old Idaho Penitentiary was operational from 1870-1973 and is one of only four Territorial Prisons still open. If today's inmates think they have it rough, they should consider serving time here in late 1800s when you were housed in a two man cell about the size of a walk-in closet and with only a bucket as your indoor plumbing.

There is also a surprisingly good weapons exhibit.

Gatling gun

Silver City Ride

Last month at the Hells Canyon Rally, I met several riders from the Boise area, who invited me to join the Boise ATV Trail Riders and ride with them. This morning I joined Jay, Derrill and Dennis for breakfast in Murphy and then rode to Silver City via a route that included numerous creek crossings, narrow mountain trails, and pine scented forests.

Derrill, Jay, Lucy (dog), Dennis

Silver City subdivision (note half bath out back)

Experimental Breeder Reactor-I Atomic Museum

EBR-I generated the first usable electricity from atomic energy in December 1951. The tour showcases four nuclear reactors (including two aircraft nuclear propulsion prototypes), a reactor control room, remote handling devices for radioactive materials, radiation detection equipment, and much more. The facility is located 18 miles southeast of Arco, Idaho. Click on photos to enlarge.

Control room

Nuclear reactor

Here are the two nuclear aircraft engine prototypes...

Lead shielded locomotive developed to move the nuclear powered aircraft

Lastly, I photographed this encrypted code written on the mountain outside of Arco...

Craters Of The Moon

This National Monument is the result of a series of volcanic eruptions over 15,000 years (the last one occurred ~2,000 years ago). Early pioneers, who encountered this area, referred to it as "the Devil's Vomit".

There is an extensive cave system here which is open to the public but you will want to be careful as getting in and out of them is not easy.

Trivia Question

What was the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power?

My RV is starting to glow in the dark

Coeur d'Alene

Is a pretty town located on the shore of Coeur d'Alene Lake in northwest Idaho. It has an active downtown with lots of specialty stores, restaurants and outdoor sculptures that makes strolling main street a delight. Unfortunately, the cool, rainy weather has hampered my exploration and photography.

Nez Perce National Forest Ride

Today's ride was mainly on gravel roads and dirt trails within the Nez Perce National Forest where you can ride for miles and miles with almost no traffic.

Myra, Skip, Nick, Carol, Tom

UTV Magazine's "Rider of the Year"

Okay, who brought a map

Video of Skip and Myra on three wheels...

Private Land Ride

Over two hundred participants met at Killgore Adventures this morning where they were divided into three groups for different rides. Our group followed a member of the Idaho Pathfinders ATV Club, who gave us a tour of his family's 35,000 acre ranch.

Click on photo to enlarge

Kirkwood Ride

Well, I thought yesterday's ride had a little bit of everything but I was wrong.  It did not include snow... which we rectified today.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Fortunately, if you do not like the weather in the Idaho mountains, just wait 15 minutes...

Here's an option for your ATV/UTV that my Polaris dealer did not offer...

Big Canyon Ride

Today was a fun ride!  It had a little bit of everything: good company, magnificent vistas, exotic wildlife, and a trail where I could have used a machete.  The sun even came out in the afternoon.  Click on photos to enlarge.

The unusual suspects

Mountain riding

Big horn sheep

Having too much fun

It's a jungle out there

Here's a video of one of the creek runs....

Hells Canyon Ride

Nick and I met Harold Morris, his wife, and another couple and did a half day ride over to the Snake River in Hells Canyon.  Everyone had the opportunity to try out their rainsuits on the way back.  Click on photos to enlarge.

View going up the mountain

Hells Canyon in the background

Sunbather