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Waterfalls in Idaho

64 waterfalls in Idaho with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Twin Falls County has the most (7). The darkest skies are at Copper Falls (Bortle 1).

Top waterfalls

Shoshone FallsWaterfall
Shoshone FallsTwin Falls County · 992 m
Upper Mesa FallsWaterfall
Upper Mesa FallsFremont County · 1,711 m
Twin FallsWaterfall
Twin FallsJerome County · 1,072 m
Lower Mesa FallsWaterfall
Lower Mesa FallsFremont County · 1,682 m
Pillar FallsWaterfall
Pillar FallsTwin Falls County · 956 m
Jump Creek FallsWaterfall
Jump Creek FallsOwyhee County · 819 m
Waterfall
Lower Salmon FallsGooding County · 810 m
Waterfall
Upper Salmon FallsTwin Falls County · 875 m
Waterfall
Caldron LinnTwin Falls County
Waterfall
Moyie FallsBoundary County
American FallsWaterfall
American FallsPower County
Waterfall
Albeni FallsBonner County · 628 m

Waterfalls by county

All waterfalls (64)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Shoshone FallsTwin Falls County992 mTwin Falls5
Upper Mesa FallsFremont County1,711 mAshton1
Twin FallsJerome County1,072 mKimberly4
Lower Mesa FallsFremont County1,682 mAshton1
Pillar FallsTwin Falls County956 mTwin Falls5
Jump Creek FallsOwyhee County819 mMarsing3
Lower Salmon FallsHagerman Fossil BedsGooding County810 mWendell2
Upper Salmon FallsHagerman Fossil BedsTwin Falls County875 mWendell2
Caldron LinnTwin Falls County—Hansen2
Moyie FallsBoundary County—Bonners Ferry1
American FallsPower County—American Falls4
Albeni FallsBonner County628 mNewport2
Auger FallsTwin Falls County922 mTwin Falls4
Baron Creek FallsBoise County2,312 mHailey1
Bear Creek FallsAdams County1,225 mMcCall1
Big DropsLincoln County1,214 mShoshone2
Big FallsBoise County1,062 mHidden Spring2
Bridal Veil FallsCuster County2,217 mHailey1
Bull Run Creek FallsClearwater County756 mOrofino2
Camel FallsOwyhee County1,661 mMountain Home1
Caribou FallsBoundary County1,050 mBonners Ferry1
Char FallsBonner County1,260 mPonderay2
Copper FallsBoundary County1,049 mBonners Ferry1
Crane Falls (historical)Elmore County749 mMountain Home2
Dagger FallsValley County1,730 mEmmett1
Deadman FallsElmore County886 mGlenns Ferry2
Devils Washboard FallsGooding County902 mBuhl3
Devlin FallsLemhi County2,069 mSalmon1
Elk Creek FallsClearwater County780 mOrofino2
Fall Creek FallsBonneville County1,605 mVictor2
The FallsCaribou County2,148 mAfton2
The FallsOwyhee County1,665 mMountain Home1
Fern FallsBoise County1,953 mHailey1
Fern FallsShoshone County984 mKellogg2
Goat FallsCuster County2,468 mHailey1
Grouse Creek FallsBonner County814 mPonderay2
Hazard FallsIdaho County1,465 mMcCall1
Lady Face FallsCuster County2,017 mHailey1
Little DropsLincoln County1,211 mShoshone2
Little FallsBoise County1,035 mHidden Spring2
Lost Creek FallsAdams County1,337 mMcCall1
Mallard Creek FallsIdaho County1,450 mLewiston Orchards1
McAbee FallsBonner County668 mPriest River2
Mission FallsBonner County708 mPriest River2
Moyie FallsBoundary County591 mBonners Ferry2
Napias Creek FallsLemhi County1,542 mSalmon1
Patsy Ann FallsIdaho County1,646 mHamilton1
Perrine Coulee FallsTwin Falls County1,089 mTwin Falls6
Phantom FallsCassia County1,943 mJackpot2
Rambiker FallsShoshone County1,905 mPlains1
Ross FallsTwin Falls County1,953 mHansen2
Rush FallsWashington County1,853 mMcCall1
Salmon FallsIdaho County816 mOrchard Homes1
Selway FallsIdaho County520 mKamiah1
Shadow FallsShoshone County1,021 mKellogg2
Sheep FallsFremont County1,801 mAshton1
Sheep FallsFremont County1,774 mAshton1
Shoestring FallsIdaho County583 mKamiah1
Smith FallsBoundary County581 mBonners Ferry1
Smith FallsBoise County2,151 mHailey1
Snow Creek FallsBoundary County694 mBonners Ferry2
Torrelle FallsBonner County697 mPriest River2
Upper Priest FallsBoundary County1,042 mBonners Ferry1
Wildhorse FallsAdams County851 mMcCall1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph waterfalls

Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.

  • Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
  • A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
  • Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
  • Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
  • Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.

Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.