When traveling to Yellowstone National Park from the West, you simply must take the Mesa Falls Scenic Bypass Loop near Ashton, Idaho. A 28-mile scenic road loop off of Highway 47 through the Targhee National Forest is well worth the time because you will see the beauty of potato farms, meadows, forest, wildflowers, the Snake River, the Teton Mountain range, water falls, all inside an ancient volcanic caldera.
The Lower Mesa Falls are 65 feet high.
While the power of these falls is quite apparent, they are the only two falls in the entire state of Idaho which are not used for either irrigation projects or hydroelectric power, so the area is pristine and natural.
The Henry's Fork of the Snake River is particularly scenic because of the black lava gorge that drops off in elegant columns.
Do not miss the Upper Mesa Falls. There is a parking fee of $3.00 per vehicle to enter the Upper Falls area. The expense is completely worth it as the Falls drop 114 feet and are a spectular 200 feet wide. This is the largest undisturbed waterfall on the entire Columbia River System.
The walkway takes you right up to the majesty of the falls. The rushing water is deafening and the spray of water that hits you is completely refreshing.
I can't help but to feel at peace with the world when the view is so serene, yet powerful. The rainbow combined with all of nature's various shades of green is a visual treat.
The peacefulness of the area contradicts its violent past. Two major volcanic eruptions, the first 1.3 million years ago, and the second 200,000 years ago, left lava deposits which form the vertical sides of this deep canyon.
The wildflowers add a splash of unexpected color in such rocky landscape:
Stop in the charming Visitor's Center for more information about this beautiful and geologically fascinating place.
Have fun exploring!
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Comments: 32
You were missed dearly, by many.
Love and hugs - S.
This was a breath taking tour, I loved It!!
Amazing pictures once again :)
Heather, you should come out west some time. The first time I drove out to California to move here back in 1992, I was totally amazed at these mountains and how beautiful the west is. I don't think I would ever move back East again - I love it here.
Thank you so much, Apryl. It's so nice seeing you here!
Thank you, Susan Grace and it's nice meeting you. Thanks so much for taking a look.
Julie, I'm surprised you never came out to Yellowstone. Now it's far for you to go there, but you should some time. It is such a cool place.
Thank you, Larry!
Mike, I think when you went to Yellowstone these Falls weren't set up as a scenic route like they are now. The information I read said that these because a public recreation area back in 1986. I think a water company owned them before that and they probably were all fenced in.
Thank you, Rick. I really enjoy your group about travel.
Sue, you really must go there some day! The entire state of Idaho is something really special - especially that part that borders Wyoming.
Thanks so much, Shaunee.
Heather, thanks for letting me know about it! That's so cool. I went to check - Wow!
Thanks, Chuck aka Ron.
Thank you, Jill. I remember your photo essay about your trip to Poland. It was one of the first photoessays I ever saw. I still remember all those doorways that you shot on your trip. It's so nice to see you again! I hope you've been having a great time.
DW, your photoessay totally rocked. I still think about it. I was thinking of you when I was on a little hike by these sort of remote falls that had a lot of raspberries. I was trying to get a good macro like yours and then this gigantic mouse-like creature popped out from nowhere and stood on his hindlegs and was so tall he was at least hip-height. Then he ran towards me to get to the river and I as completely freaking out. So, I didn't get the raspberry photo or even a photo of mousezilla :-( I found out later he's a marmot though. Creepiest animal I ever saw.
Rated 10.
Great photo essay...you really captured the energy of the place!
Elizabeth, your travels always sound so cool! My co-worker was just in Yellowstone and she highly recommended river rafting down the Snake River too. I wanted to, but my son is kind of reluctant to do stuff like that and we already sent him out on a fishing expedition in Lake Yellowstone that turned extremely rough because of an afternoon storm, so I didn't want to torture him. Grand Titons really do look like breasts - it's so funny. Is there any National Park in the U.S. you haven't visited yet? It's so cool that your family had those experiences.
Jessie, that is so kind! I always think of you every time I do a photoessay because you are the person who taught me how when I was a new Gatherer.
Thank you, ♥ Mike! I was quite surprised about it.
Steve, that's what we did in 2001 and that was not enough time at all. We did manage to see most of the park, but I was just left wishing I had more time. This time I was there for a full week and I felt like it was a true vacation. It's still a great experience to drive through, if that's all the time that you do have.
Layla, thank you for looking! I was there as a youngster and it's weird because I still remember where I was in the park and some of the things we did. It's one of those few places that you never forget about.
Thank you so much for coming to look, Vivian.
Crispin, do it! Plan a trip! It's a neat place any time of the year, but I think May and June are probably best for animal viewing.
Thank you, Dennis. How have you been? I haven't seen you on Gather as much. Hope things are going well and you are enjoying your summer.
Jane, that part of the country is simply amazing. I've never seen anywhere else quite the same. Thanks so much for looking at this.
Spartan, Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is a beautiful drive. That's how we came home and we took a lessor known highway that took us through some beautiful mountains and ranches and is supposedly the quickest route to SLC - certainly no traffic to deal with. This scenic drive is fairly new - previously this had been part of a Water company and probably there was no public access - and certainly not the state highway and all the signs leading to it. I'm glad that I saw the turnoff and decided to take a look because it only set us back about an hour in time and was so worth it.
Thank you, Nancy!
Karin, we don't have even rivers in Southern California so seeing waterfalls is certainly exciting for me too. We do have fantastic waterfalls in our Sierra Nevada mountains, but that's quite the trip from my place.
Idaho Falls is only about 45 min. from where I live but I would not say it is cute though.