52 Weeks of Fun

Not Just Destination Finders, But Destination Storytellers

Ashton Idaho

Mesa Falls

At Upper Mesa Falls, a thunderous curtain of water – as tall as a 10-story building – pours over remnants of an ancient volcanic super-eruption. A mile south, Lower Mesa Falls repeats the performance, the river continually chiseling away at the solidified ash and lava. The beautiful Upper and Lower Mesa Falls are located on Henry’s Fork, the last prominent waterfalls on the Snake River that is unaffected by manmade influences. A scenic walking path leads to excellent viewpoints.

The Mesa Falls Visitor Center occupies the historic Big Falls Inn, built around 1915 by the Snake River Electric Light and Power Company. With its spectacular setting, the Inn was a popular spot for social gatherings in its past lives. It had its day as a hotel, a cafe, and a dance hall. Later it became a way station on the Yellowstone Highway for ranchers, sportsmen, and tourists.

The Visitor Center is open daily in the summer and has limited hours on certain weekends during the winter. From the Visitor Center, an accessible trail and boardwalk provide spectacular views of Mesa Falls. Winter access is only available by snowmobile or skis.

From Ashton, the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway heads northeast into the lush landscape of the Targhee National Forest. It's a loop that runs for nearly thirty impressive miles all the way to the Island Park area.

Ashton Chamber of Commerce
US Forest Service

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Mesa Falls

Mesa Falls are the only major falls in Idaho not used for irrigation or hydroelectric projects.

Attraction Advice

The Visitor Center's summer hours are 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily. It has limited winter hours only on selected weekends. There is a fee to enter Harriman State Park to access Mesa Falls. Vehicles are $5 a day; motorcycles, bicycles, horses, and hikers are $1 a day; tour buses are $25 a day.



US Forest Service

A rainbow often decorates the canyon on summer mornings when sunlight passes through the mist.
US Forest Service

The Mesa Nature Trail starts at the upper parking lot of the Mesa Falls Visitor Center.
Ashton Chamber of Commerce

The falls can only be reached by snowmobile or skis in the winter.
US Forest Service

Astounding views of the Lower Mesa Falls can be seen from the Grandview Overlook one mile south of the Visitor Center along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.

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