Shoshone Falls & Pocatello

Shoshone Falls

A couple of weekends ago, I went on a short weekend trip to Pocatello, stopping at Shoshone Falls on the way. Did you know that Shoshone Falls is often called the "Niagara of the West"? The waterfalls' flow volume depends on the amount of snowfall the area has received, so spring is the best time to see . In October, the falls are at very small volume, but even seeing the rock formations and the overall scale of the falls was awe-inspiring. Also, the fee season is March 1-September 30, so if you're in the area, fall is a great time to swing by and take in this sight for free!

I've heard about being able to kayak to the falls, and this guide lays out all of the details on how to plan a trip. I am putting this on my Idaho bucket list as a fun summer adventure!

One of the great walkways to view the falls

Hints of fall color peaking through in the brush!

Traveling further into Eastern Idaho, I went to Pocatello, and explored this area for the first time. I took a mountain bike ride on Mink Creek trail in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This was a beautiful, gradually uphill trail in gorgeous forested areas along Mink Creek. The fall colors were beautiful, especially the vibrant yellow aspen leaves, and the trails were fairly empty.

The next day, I took a drive and small walk in the Scout Mountain area outside Pocatello. It was a very brisk fall day, and the mountainside was covered with the shimmer of an early frost. There are a lot of trails in this area, and I would love to go back and explore it more. There is also a National Forest campground here, making it the perfect base for hiking, biking, or trail running!

It was fun to see a different part of the state in all of its autumn glory!

Gorgeous yellow aspens on the Mink Creek trail

View of golden aspen-clad drainages on the road to Scout Mountain outside Pocatello

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