Thousand Springs State Park: Impressive Canyons, Ice Blue Waterfalls, and Surging Springs

Thousand Springs State Park in Idaho’s Magic Valley offers multiple areas to explore leading intrepid visitors to impressive canyons, ice blue waterfalls, and surging springs.

Waterfalls and lush vegetation is not what usually comes to mind when people think about Southern Idaho but hidden within the desert landscape and agricultural fields are several spring pools the color of icy blue glaciers, canyons that can be hiked into or walked across, and numerous places to have fun in and on the water.

The several places that make up Thousand Springs State Park are Malad Gorge, Box Canyon, Niagara Springs, Ritter Island, Kelton Trail, and Billingsley Creek. Each place offers a unique experience.

All of the units that make up Thousand Springs State Park are within a short drive of each other and the best way to visit all of them is to take a short road trip along Thousand Springs Scenic Byway.

This road trip can be completed in one day and you’ll have plenty of time to spend sightseeing at each unit of Thousand Springs State Park. However, if you want to go hiking in the area or would like to spend some time on the water, then consider turning your day trip into a weekend getaway.

There are several campgrounds along Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, some of which come with incredible views of the Snake River and some that even have onsite hot springs!

Thousand Springs State Park is situated between Boise and Twin Falls, so if you are looking for day trip ideas from Boise, this makes a great place to visit as the drive is only 1.5 hours southbound. From Twin Falls it is not more than a thirty minute drive to any of the units that make up Thousand Springs State Park.

The natural wonders listed below are testament to why this part of Idaho is called the Magic Valley. Here is a guide to the several different units of Thousand Springs State Park that you can explore.

Thousand Springs State Park

Malad Gorge State Park

Malad Gorge State Park is literally one of the most overlooked state parks in Idaho. If you’ve ever driven from Boise to Twin Falls you have gone right past Malad Gorge and probably didn’t even realize there was a state park right beside Interstate-84.

This state park which is part of Thousand Springs State Park, protects a 250 mile long canyon where turquoise colored water meanders over large basalt rocks on its way out to the Snake River. Also inside this state park is a sixty foot thundering cascade named the Devil’s Washbowl.

Yes, every day motorists are driving over a sixty foot thundering waterfall without even knowing! Although Malad Gorge is located right beside the highway, it is out of sight from the road so you will have to visit the state park to see this hidden gem.

At the park you can stroll across a frighteningly high footbridge which allows you to peer directly down into the canyon. On one side of the footbridge you can see the Malad River snaking through the canyon, and on the other side is the Devil’s Washbowl.

The next time you are driving through the area, be sure to take the exit and visit Malad Gorge State Park. It’s a great roadside attraction with wonderful views and good place to stop and stretch your legs.

>>Read: Malad Gorge State Park: A Hidden Gem In Southern Idaho

Box Canyon State Park

Hidden amongst the flat farmland and dairy pastures is a secluded canyon where crystal clear water seeps from rock walls into a brilliant blue pool. This sparkling blue pool is the eleventh largest spring in the United States!

Known as Box Canyon, this is yet another hidden gem in Southern Idaho’s Magic Valley which really must be seen to be believed. The light blue waters of the pool and surrounding lush vegetation can be viewed from an overlook at the rim of Box Canyon.

If you are up for an adventure, there is a very impressive hike down to the canyon floor where you can find a hidden waterfall that is the icy blue color of glaciers. This hike is a lot of fun and I highly recommend making the trek down to the bottom of Box Canyon.

After the hike down you can cool off in the refreshing, crystal clear waters of the spring at several small sandy beaches located along the stream bank.

>>Read: How To Hike Down To Box Canyon & Where To Swim.

Niagara Springs State Park

At the bottom of the Snake River Canyon near Wendell lies Niagara Springs State Park, a lush oasis where fresh spring water pours out of the canyon walls.

What looks like a tropical waterfall cascading over fern covered rock walls is actually dozens of springs surging from beneath the earth’s surface. This surging water pours out at 250 feet per second! Pictures cannot do justice to how beautiful this place truly is.

Getting to Niagara Springs involves driving down a narrow and steep road that will have you ascend 350 feet into the Snake River Canyon. From the canyon floor, visitors can drive down a graded road to Crystal Springs which are a series of smaller waterfalls that spill into Crystal Springs Lake.

Crystal Springs Lake which is stocked with hatchery trout provides year-round fishing opportunities as well as great bird watching.

Ritter Island

Ritter Island is a place where you can view natural spring water gushing out of towering canyon walls and witness several stunning waterfalls topple over the Snake River Canyon rim.

This state park offers various recreational opportunities and boasts endless natural beauty. Not only are the springs and waterfalls in the area impressive, but also this section of the Snake River is especially picturesque and very peaceful.

There is a trail around the island that visitors can hike, as well as a short trail beside the Snake River that leads to impressive Lemmon Falls.

If you have paddle boards or kayaks with you this is the perfect place to launch and explore the Snake River, but if you would prefer to go for a swim this place is a good spot for that too.

Ritter Island is very easy to access from Interstate 84 at the Wendell exit but is also accessible from Highway 30. The island does have unusual hours and is only open from Thursday through Monday between 10am to 3pm.

Billingsley Creek State Park

Billingsley Creek lies below the volcanic rim of the Snake River Plain and provides habitat for wintering waterfowl as well as shelter for uplands birds. As a result, this area provides fantastic bird watching opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts.

Some of the species of birds you are likely to see here include mallards, northern pintail, gadwall, green-wing teal, cinnamon teal, American widgeon, pheasants, and quails.

The creek is also popular with fly-fisherman and is an excellent place to fish for trout.

On the Billingsley Creek property is an indoor horse riding arena and indoor market building where a local farmers market is held.

If you are staying in Hagerman, there is a new paved bike trail that leads from town into Billingsley Park.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Thousand Springs State Park

When Is The Best Time To Visit Thousand Springs State Park?

Spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to visit Thousand Springs State Park. Temperatures in Southern Idaho begin to warm up around late May and stay very warm until late September. Visiting between May and October means you’ll be able to enjoy water activities like swimming and kayaking.

How Much Time Should You Spend At Thousand Springs State Park?

If you are aiming to visit all of the units that make up Thousand Springs State Park, you should dedicate an entire day to sightseeing. If you are only going to visit one or two areas of the park, you can cover them in half a day.

Is There A Fee To Visit Thousand Springs State Park?

There is a $7 entrance fee to Thousand Springs State Park. The fee covers all of the units for one whole day. If you are an Idaho resident, you can purchase an Idaho State Parks Passport for only $10 which will cover admission to all Idaho state parks for the entire year.

Where Is The Best Place To Stay And Visit Thousand Springs State Park?

The best place to base yourself to visit Thousand Springs State Park is Hagerman. Hagerman is close to all of the units that make up Thousand Springs and has two great campgrounds; the Hagerman RV Village, and Rustic Edge RV Park & Cabins. Both are walking distance to cafes and restaurants in town.

Other campgrounds we recommend include Banbury Hot Springs and Miracle Hot Springs Campground who offer tent camping, glamping, and cabins.

For hotel accommodations you should stay in Jerome or Twin Falls. It is a longer drive from Twin Falls, however this city offers plenty of great dining options and so much to see and do in addition to visiting Thousand Springs State Park.

Tips For Visiting Thousand Springs State Park:

Don’t forget to pack your swimwear and towels if you plan on swimming.
Bring a reef-safe sunscreen so as not to pollute the natural spring water.
For the evening you may want to use this DEET free eucalyptus mosquito repellent.
Bring a packed lunch or snacks as there is limited service in the area.
Summers are hot in Southern Idaho! Bring plenty of water!!!
Be sure to map out which parks you would like to visit because the drive involves zig-zagging across back farm roads.

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Thousand Springs State Park: Impressive Canyons, Ice Blue Waterfalls, and Surging Springs