Hitchin' To Go: Twin Falls, Idaho

Originally I planned to go to Twin Falls because I wanted to see Shoshone Falls. I had read that it is considered the Niagara Falls of the west. Then we added in the wonderful treat of meeting up with our friends Lucy and Ray. We hadn’t seen them since our New Orleans stop back in early April of this year. (They just finished up a trip to Alaska in their motorhome.) And then, after just a bit of research, I found out how much there really is to see in southern Idaho. We met up with them at Anderson Camp RV Park near Twin Falls and spent two days playing tourist in the area.

Our first stop was to Minidoka Relocation Center which was used during World War II as an internment camp for the Japanese. That visit weighed very heavy on our hearts as we read the history of Minidoka and the people who lived there. It was heart wrenching. If you want to read about it, a very good novel that I read recently is Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. It is a wonderful, bitter sweet story which really helped me to understand that bit of history.

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Minidoka Relocation Center

There was not much to take pictures there but this building that is still standing was used to store cold items. The places where the people lived were much worse.

Then it was on to Shoshone Falls! This little water fall was on the side of the road. This was a very dry year for Idaho so I would imagine that in a wet year this would really have been roaring.

I couldn’t believe it when we got to Shoshone – almost no water. Like I said – a dry year. But the views were magnificent and we enjoyed imagining the water.

This is the Snake River at the bottom of the falls

Shoshone Falls with almost no water flowing.

Just up from the falls was a small lake where we found this young man learning to fish. He was so proud of his catch.

And the guys didn’t mind sitting in the sun and waiting for us to wander around taking pictures.

I didn’t want to miss the Perrine Bridge that crosses the Snake River right on the edge of Twin Falls. What a wonderful view! We have continued to cross the Snake River over and over. We have camped on its banks too! Definitely my favorite river!

The Snake River as viewed from Perrine Bridge

The next day we headed out again to explore. We visited Malad Gorge State Park and drove all over marveling at the gorge that seemed to be almost hiding in the brush.

Lucy and Kirby at Malad Gorge State Park

We also were able to visit a State Fish Hatchery. I wish they had given tours or at least had some information available. There were tanks and tanks of fish with nothing to tell us about them. I am wondering if these fish are Golden Trout. If you know, please leave me a comment!