Tips For Driving the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway and Exploring Upper Mesa Falls
CONSIDERING A VISIT TO MESA FALLS SCENIC BYWAY?
You’ve landed on the right page! We live in Idaho and love to spend time exploring our home state. Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is a beautiful stretch of Idaho that you really shouldn’t miss.
This guide will cover the logistical details of the byway, the history of the falls as well as some recommendations and helpful tips to make your visit there as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
About the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is a jaunt off Interstate 20, just north of Idaho Falls. You can access the byway (Hwy 47) at Ashton, Idaho and it runs northeast into the Targhee National Forest. It is about 30 miles long, ending near Island Park. Along the byway, there are great opportunities for camping and two of the biggest waterfalls in the western part of the United States.
It’s a great detour on the way to Yellowstone or the Jackson Hole area if you are driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. It won’t add much driving time to your trip and will take you through beautiful country with fantastic views like the ones at Upper Mesa Falls. This is one of the great scenic byways in Idaho.
How old is Upper Mesa Falls?
The rock forming the Upper Mesa Falls cascade was created about 1.3 million years ago. The river eroded between 200,000 and 600,000 years ago to create the wide canyon that you can see today.
How do you get to Mesa Falls in Idaho?
The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is a quick detour on the I-15 North in Eastern Idaho. If you are driving from West Yellowstone to the Boise or Salt Lake area it will be right along your drive.
Island Park to Mesa Falls: 25 minutes (21.3 miles)
Rexburg Mesa Falls: 49 minutes (43.5 miles)
Idaho Falls to Mesa Falls: 1 hour 12 minutes (69 miles)
Parking along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
There are a number of pullouts and parking lots along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. Along the road there are larger parking lots if you need to upload ATVs or if you have a trailer. There are paved parking lots near the Upper Mesa Falls, overlooks, and more.
How much does Mesa Falls in Idaho Cost?
The daily fee for parking is $5 to walk to the Upper Mesa Falls lookout. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, there is no additional charge. If you’re continuing onto the national parks in the area like Yellowstone or the Tetons, the America the Beautiful Pass is a great way to save some money on the entrance fees.
Things to Know about the mesa falls scenic byway
- Mileage: 26 miles
- Driving Time: 35 minutes
- Roadway: Idaho Highway 47
The drive time of 35 minutes is the total driving time without stopping. With stops, you should plan on spending about an hour on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.
Idaho 47 is closed in the winter and is used for snowmobile trails. You can access the road by car in the spring through fall.
Can you drive to Mesa Falls?
You cannot drive to see Mesa Falls in Idaho. There is an overlook where you can see the falls from a distance. There is a short and easy hike to a platform just above the Lower Falls.
Things to Do Along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
As you are driving the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, keep an eye out for scenic overlooks and enjoy the spectacular views!
Scenic Overlooks on the mesa falls scenic byway
There are several scenic overlooks along the way. One of our favorites was the Teton Overlook. The views of the Grand Tetons are so pretty!
The Grand View Overlook is about a mile south of the Interpretive Center. From this overlook, there is a scenic view the Lower Mesa Falls. From the parking lot, there is about a 2-minute walk to the Lower Mesa Falls Overlook.
Here you can view the Snake River drop 65 feet through columns of basalt. It is beautiful. There are also educational signs about Lower Mesa Falls and restrooms in the parking lot.
Warm River Bridge
This is a great place to stop to stretch your legs and observe the wildlife in the river. It is common to see bald eagles and otters.
Upper Mesa Falls
Your first stop at the Upper Mesa Falls should be at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is in the historic Big Falls Inn. The inn was built in 1915 and served as a hotel, café, and dance hall. It is even listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, it has exhibits on local geology, plants, and wildlife. Rowen and Raven loved looking at all the different animals displayed. In the summer, the Visitor Center is open 9:30 am-5:30 pm with limited winter hours on selected weekends.
Trail to Upper Falls
There are well-maintained boardwalks you use to access the falls. They are easy enough that Rowen and Raven walked most of the way. To get the best views, you do have to go down the stairs so don’t bother with a stroller.
Upper Mesa Falls is a sight that you won’t forget. It is as tall as a 10-story building. The waterfall runs over remnants of an ancient volcano super-eruption that covered much of the United States. Upper Mesa Falls is 114 feet tall.
The viewing platforms will give you the best views of the rich forest, stunning river, and the roaring waterfall.
Lower Mesa Falls
If you want to see Lower Mesa Falls closer than the Grandview Overlook you will need to hike. There is a paved 1-mile trail that connects Upper Mesa Falls and Lower Mesa Falls.
- Length: 2.0 miles
- Elevation Gain: 91 feet
- Route Type: Out & Back
- Difficulty: Easy
The trail starts at the Upper Mesa Falls parking lot and is the best way to see Lower Mesa Falls. Once you reach the falls, there is a trail from that plateau that goes down to the Lower Falls.
Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park is about 22 minutes north of Upper Mesa Falls. It is a wildlife refuge made up of 16,000 acres. It has 24 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Views along the trails are of beautiful meadows, riverbanks, and wildlife.
If you are visiting on a weekend in the summer you can participate in tours of the historic railroad ranch buildings and nature programs.
Note: This state park is a waterfowl refuge so dogs are not allowed outside of the parking area.
There is a $7 entrance fee per vehicle.
Mesa Falls Campgrounds
Whether you are camping in Island Park or in the surrounding area, there are lots of campgrounds and RV parks nearby. The closest campground to the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is the Warm River Forest Campground.
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30-Day Free TrialWarm River Forest Service Campground
The drive from the Warm River Campground to Upper Mesa Falls is about 15 minutes. The campground is a popular place for fishing, hiking, and floating the river. These trails can be used for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
In the campground, there are vault toilets, water, and garbage services. The host also sells firewood if needed.
You can make your reservations online at recreation.gov for this Mesa Falls campground and you have to make your reservations four days ahead of time. There are 13 single sites, 2 double sites, and 13 tent sites.
Where to go from the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway?
If you are driving east from Mesa Falls in Idaho on a road trip, you can continue on to Yellowstone National Park or Tetons National Park. There are lots of great hiking trails and fun things to do in both national parks.
Yellowstone Resources:
The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
21 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
12 Best Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park
17 Best RV Parks Close to Yellowstone National Park
Follow US-20 east to Yellowstone National Park or south to the Tetons Scenic Byway.
If you are driving west from Mesa Falls in Idaho, there are lots of fun things to do in western Idaho or Utah. Another beautiful scenic byway between Mesa Falls and Boise is Craters of the Moon.
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