May 14…. Niagara Falls. Almost.

Today was a moving day, and on our way, we took a side detour to see Shoshone Falls. Described as the Niagara of the West, it didn’t quite live up to my memory of Niagara Falls, but it was absolutely worth the visit.

The Snake River Canyon comes out of northern Utah and runs across the southern part of Idaho. Once upon a time, there was a body of water called Lake Bonneville, in the same area as The Great Salt Lake (which isn’t all that great anymore, btw), but Bonneville was 6-8 times larger than the Salt Lake even in its historic size.

Something cracked, and boom! the water from Bonneville emptied out and started tearing across the land, and carved the Snake River canyon, crossing a huge stone cliff near Twin Falls Idaho and forming Shoshone Falls.

Also, btw, the folks here had to correct me…. I’ve always thought it was pronounced Sho-sho-nee (the falls and the Indian tribe) but apparently there’s no “ee” sound at the end and it’s just Sho-shone. Live and learn.

Anyway, the falls was only at about half level, compared to pictures I’ve seen, but even so it’s beautiful. At 212 feet tall, it’s 45 feet taller than Niagara, but at the moment, it doesn’t have as much water flow. I’d like to come back when it’s at full flow, that would be awe inspiring. Also to differentiate it from Niagara, the area around Shoshone Falls is mostly beautiful park land on both sides of the river. The area around Niagara is fully developed city on both sides of the border.

Worth the visit! (Both of them)