We headed north through Nevada on Highway 93. We love that drive as it is quiet, peaceful, not much traffic, and there are a number of large, flat places to pull over for a lunch break. We drove through Jackpot, Nevada by Cactus Pete’s just before crossing into Idaho.
Our RV park was directly off highway 93 in Filer, Idaho. It has a very basic entrance and is easy to spot.
RV Park: Twin Falls 93 RV Park
Location: Filer, Idaho
Site: 46 (pull thru)
Cost: $65.72
Services: FHU
Comments: A simple, clean, neat RV park, right off Highway 93 south of Twin Falls. It was an easy place to stop and spend a few nights. We had a site in the back and heard very little highway noise at night. We wanted to tour the many units of Thousand Springs State Park and thought this would be a good place to stay. Unfortunately, the campground at Thousand Springs State Park, which was slated to open in early 2023, was still not open while we were there otherwise we would have opted for that campground.
The park had very few people staying there and it was very windy and dusty and a bit warm. There was a strong smell of smoke in the air from maybe prescribed burns? We kept our doors and windows shut.
The Thousand Springs State Park has 5 different units in different locations scattered throughout the area west of Twin Falls. Many offer springs, waterfalls, hiking, and picnicking. The main unit, Ritter Island, was closed and doesn’t open until Memorial Day weekend so we missed that unit along with the Billingsley Creek Unit which we didn’t visit due to the high winds. We did drive part of the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway Highway 30 which allows a glimpse of Ritter Island from a distance.
We started off with driving to the Niagara Springs Unit (also referred to as Niagara Springs State Park). The wind was blowing as we drove through the countryside past dairy farm after dairy farm. It is a beautiful area and would have been nicer without the strong winds. The snow covered Sawtooth Mountains could be seen to the north when the wind stopped blowing.
Niagara Springs
We drove into the Snake River Canyon to get to the state park. The Niagara Springs Hatchery is located by the Niagara Springs State Park and Snake River and welcomes visitors. There are a few interpretive signs with some great information. They hatch about 2,000,000 Steelhead a year.
Next was the Niagara Springs themselves pouring out of the canyon wall. It was quite an impressive sight and quite loud!
Further on is the Crystal Lake and Crystal Springs right along the Snake River. The lake is a green color.
Our next stop was the Earl M Hardy Box Canyon unit of Thousand Springs State Park, also known as Box Canyon State Park. This canyon is the nation’s 11th largest springs. There is a trail along the top of the canyon which leads down into the canyon for better views. The wind was so intense that we could hardly stand up so we opted NOT to hike along the side of the canyon!
Our final unit to visit was the Malad Gorge which is located right off I-84 which makes it much easier for drive by tourists to visit. Here is where you can walk over a bridge and look down and view the Malad River as it cascades down staircase rocks into the Devils Washbowl. It was quite a sight.
There are a few trails and a picnic area but the high winds kept us from enjoying either of them. Our picnic lunch was eaten in the car with an onlooker!
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