Shoshone Falls in September? (Boise, Twin Falls: live, storage, cabin)

[Botev1912]

Is it worth visiting Shoshone Falls in September? I heard people can't see any waterfall because it's too dry.

[banjomike]

The falls isn't like it is during the spring runoff flood, for sure, but even when the river is running very low the view of the gorge is still breathtaking. The low water only highlights just how deep the plunge is.

If you are anywhere close to Twin Falls, it's certainly worth a detour to go see it. The experience is stunning any time of year because the gorge is so hidden. A person drives into the park that's on the top of the cliff, but there's nothing to be seen of the falls until you walk to the overlook, and then….. whoo.

The coolest thing about Shoshone Falls is there isn't any touristy development stuff around it at all. The approach from the street looks just like a nice little park, the same as can be found in any city. Only signs direct visitors toward it.

[oldafretired]

This is a link to a live shot of the falls. Not much water but still looks nice.

http://shoshonefalls.tfid.org/live.htm

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by oldafretired

This is a link to a live shot of the falls. Not much water but still looks nice.

http://shoshonefalls.tfid.org/live.htm

great link. It looks very dry. I will postpone my visit for spring time.

[Botev1912]

it still looks dry. Is this the normal or it's just because this winter has been super dry?

http://shoshonefalls.tfid.org/live.htm

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

it still looks dry. Is this the normal or it's just because this winter has been super dry?

http://shoshonefalls.tfid.org/live.htm

Right now, in late winter, is the time when all the rivers are at their driest always. One reason is natural; all the moisture is up on the mountain sides in snowbanks, and the other is man made; all the dams are closed so reservoir storage is filled for the coming seasons.

Water storage practices have drastically changed over the 21st century. It used to be that the dams were left open until spring runoff began, but now, if there is heavy spring runoff, the dams are opened up wide to allow the rivers to flush themselves from silting and to send excess water down hill, where other coastal dams now need the water much more than in the past.

All the rivers in idaho are essentially dammed at critical reservoir points, making our rivers a series of big storage lakes with many wild running rivers feeding the lakes. This is especially true of the Snake, one of the longest and largest rivers in the northwest.

Shoshone Falls lies about 1/4 of the way down from the Snake's headwaters. Upstream, the Palisades reservoir is catching and keeping about 1/3 of the water, and another 1/4 of what's left is stored in the American Falls reservoir which is just upstream from the falls. The Snake's remanding waters are caught and stored all the way south to the Boise region, and then north up to the confluence of the Columbia, just past our boundary with Washington state. There are a lot of dams that all have reservoirs to be filled along that long stretch.

The Snake makes the Columbia the big river it is. At the confluence, it's much bigger than the Columbia. The reason why it goes northward, which seems to defy nature at first thought, is due to the overall elevation difference between southern and northern Idaho. The entire southern half of the state is higher overall than the northern, and the Snake is mostly confined by mountains. It's only gravitational path goes in a U shape, from headwaters high in the Rockies to the confluence, just south of the Cascades, which are a lower mountain range.

Oddly, I've waded across both headwaters, and the headwaters of the Missouri, too. They're all shoulder deep or deeper in spots, so don't try any of them without a wading suit with an inflatable inner tube sewn into the suit.

I have only waded across one headwater of the Snake. The other is too deep to wade. Henry's Fork, the north fork of the Snake, is mostly formed at Big Springs. The springs are very big and very deep and emerge from underground close to Pond's Lodge. Henry's Lake outlet is another headwater. The Island Park caldera creates a unique catchment system for the waters.

Check out
Big Springs idaho - Bing Images

For some images of Big Springs. Johnny Sack, one of the famous Idaho hermits, built an exceptionally nice cabin and water wheel right where the springs emerge. His place is a state park now.

[Botev1912]

so when is the best time to visit Shoshone Falls?

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

so when is the best time to visit Shoshone Falls?

If you want to see the falls in full flood, I suggest checking with the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. They will know more about it than I do.

Sometimes the falls are very spectacular when there is less water, as the chasm's real depth can be obscured during full flood. Late June would be good for seeing them then.