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UPDATE: Quagga Mussel Larvae found near Shoshone Falls. Upriver of Pillar Falls closed to both private people and tours. AWOL tour owner tried to get a permit but as of time of trip not acquired. We spoke with manager of this mussel project at Southern Idaho Water District and he expected the larvae testing would continue for months. We will try again early summer mid-end of May 2025. You can kayak from the docks to Pillar Falls and back, which is what we did this trip.
Sample Itinerary:
Friday
8:00 am - Carpool
12:30 pm - Lunch at Dierkes Park (bring your own brown bag lunch. swim and see Shoshone Falls from above) $5 Per Vehicle to enter. Card or cash.
OPTIONAL
2:30 pm - Drive to Blue Heart Springs
3:30 pm - Kayak/Paddleboard Blue Heart (typically 90 min round trip to complete) $5 Dock Fee (included if renting from them. Card or cash, Sign Waiver).
5:30 pm - Leave for 1000 Springs Campground (can check in as early as 1:00 pm)
6:30 pm - Set up camp then Dinner in Hagerman Snake Creek Grille or bring dinner on own.
Optional Evening Activities:
10 min drive south of 1000 Springs Resort. Paid springs and pool, more upscale than 1000 Springs. Closes at 11 pm. No cell service. $14/person.
1000 Springs Pool and Hot Springs at our campsite. Think 1970s with tub-spring private rooms. Closes 8:30 pm. No cell service. Not kept up well but convenient.
Saturday
Saturday
7:00 am - Drive to Centennial Park
8:00 am - Hike Perrine Falls
8:45 am - Centennial Park AWOL Trailer for check in
9:00 am - Rent kayaks from AWOL at Centennial Park. (changed our reservations from boat tour to just 4 hr kayak rental).
10:30 am - Pillar Falls. explore, jump in water, eat.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm paddle back to Centennial Park.
1:30 pm - Twin Falls Visitor Center to change clothes/bathroom/buy souvenirs.
Great view of Perrine Bridge, base jumpers, souvenir shop and nice bathrooms.
2:00 pm - lunch in Twin Falls
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm - head home
Optional - Twin Falls Visitor Center
Great view of Perrine Bridge, base jumpers, souvenir shop and nice bathrooms.
Directions: Centennial Waterfront Park, Idaho
Activities:
Swimming at Dierkes Park - Dierkes Park is located above Shoshone Falls and is a great public area for swimming and cliff jumping. Shallow areas and grassy beach. Public bathrooms for changing. Can just sit on grass and eat your lunch. Next level, swim around a bit. You will probably want to once you see this place. Great beginner and intermediate cliff jumping places right next to where we will eat lunch.
Kayak Shoshone Falls - 2 routes
8 mile paddle - Start at Centential Park. Rent from AWOL or bring your own and put in on right shoreline. Parking. Bathrooms. 6 hrs. Tandem sit- insides went faster than solos and were lighter to carry over Pillar Falls. You will want to bring 3 L water. Sunscreen, lunch, snacks, wide brim hat & sunglasses. 2 miles to Pillar Falls. At Pillar, Dock on far right at dirt trail NOT on rocks. You walk through water a bunch so it is not always clear where to go. Stay far right. Carry your kayaks.
Then 2 miles to Shoshone Falls. Mess around, enjoy, swim to the left of the falls. 2 mile kayak back to Pillar. 2 mile back to Centennial. 3 pm wind picked up and made it harder to paddle back.
4 mile paddle with Boat Tour - Start at Centenial Park and rent kayak from AWOL. Boat will bring you to Pillar Falls and short 0.5 mile hike. Kayak 2 miles one way to Shoshone Falls with guide and return. Boat Tour: 3 hrs. 4 miles kayaking 20 min boat ride to Pillar Falls. Drink their complimentary waters. 15 min hike along Pillar Falls. I don’t think we will be carrying our own kayaks here, they said they take them out. They were already out and no need to carry on the recon. This short hike does concern me with major knee injuries. It is fairly level but lots of stepping up and down on rocks with slippery puddle/water hiking where you can’t see what you are walking on. 45 min kayak to the falls. Farther than Blue Heart to get to, maybe that distance plus a 1/3. Water is fairly flat so tipping over is very rare. 30-45 min mess around at the falls. No motorized boats are allowed here so it makes it more secluded. Guides supervise but can go up fairly close to falls. Don’t get closer than 20ft, current would suck you in. Swim to the side of the falls as a group or optional easy cliff jump off a boulder. 45 min-ish kayak back to Pillar Falls. May be a bit trickier as you are going upstream. Still, I haven’t done arm exercises in who knows how long and this was doable.
Hike Perinne Falls - Perfect kid hike! You will be glad to know about this place for your next trip north. It is very slippery with a steep downhill at the beginning. Bad knees, you can see it all from the trailhead. Just chill and watch. Everyone else head down, trail goes to flat dirt 40-50 ft down. Can go behind waterfall. May get misted on.
Tip: Good to reserve boat tours/kayaks few months in advance.
Bathrooms: At all locations
Cell Service: Not at campground nor actual kayaking in canyon to Shoshone Falls.
Gear: swimsuit, sunscreen, long sleeve synthetic shirt, water shoes, kayak and/or paddleboard (can rent), tent, sleeping bag, pad, change of clothes, change of swimsuit/water gear for next day, sunglasses, pillow. If taking a shower (kinda dumpy showers fyi): towel, shampoo & conditioner, lotion, wear watershoes in shower. Waterproof phone case (optional), Dry bag or small pack to attach to kayak. 2L water for Boat Tour people, 3L water for 8 miles. Sunscreen!
Food Ideas:
Friday
Lunch: Bring own to eat at the park.
Dinner: Snake Creek Grill in Hagerman or bring own dinner. Campground has charcoal briquette grills. Closes at 9:00 PM (has cell service/Wifi). Snake Creek Grill Review (try frog legs; pie)
Saturday
Breakfast - bring own
Lunch - 8 milers - bring own.
Boat Tours have time to eat out in Twin Falls before or after the kayak.
Recommendations in Twin Falls:
Scooter's Chillin' & Grillin’ Burger Joint - Get garlic Parmesean spiral fries. Open 11 am - 11 pm
Emma's Cafe & Market - Excellent skewered meats and flat breads. Opens at 11 AM
Dinner - buy on the road
Recommend:
Guppies Hot Rod Grill just south of Twin Falls in Kimberly.Burger Joint with classic car vibe. Sit in the truck bed. https://guppieshotrodgrille.com/ or anything along your route.
Rentals:
(recommend sit on top tandem if doing advanced route)
Cost:
Dierkes Park
$5/car to enter Dierkes Park to see Shoshone from above
Kayaking Shoshone Falls
4 milers - *AWOL Boat Ride & Kayak Tour : $80/person plus tax, boat ride back and forth and shorter kayak (boat 1/2 of route kayak 1/2 of route) strongly recommend to most abilities.
8 milers - AWOL Tandem Kayak 8 milers: $30/person plus tax, kayaking full length of the route on your own power. (great for fit, experienced kayakers) or can bring own kayak but strongly recommend a tandem sit in side
Camping - 1000 Springs Resort: $3/person
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