Tag: shoshone falls

This May, see Idaho in a new light at Shoshone Falls After Dark

See the falls in a new light.

What’s loud, colorful, and only happens in Twin Falls, Idaho, during May? It’s Shoshone Falls After Dark, an event showcasing what boosters like to call the “Niagara of the West.” This spectacular waterfall on the Snake River is 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide. It’s a good deal taller than Niagara’s highest falls (Horseshoe Falls at about 180 feet high).

For the fourth year running, people can enjoy light shows at the falls Thursday through Sunday during the month of May. Midnight Production Studios choreographs the lights to a recorded soundtrack by Idaho DJ Eric Rhodes. The display is a partnership between Southern Idaho Tourism, the City of Twin Falls, the Idaho Central Credit Union, and Idaho Power. Seems like a good time to have the power company on your side.

Multicolor lights on Shoshone Falls waterfall in Idaho at night.
Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism

Waterfall lovers come from all over the country to see the lit-up falls. “Shoshone Falls After Dark has quickly become one of the region’s most popular events, and we’re thrilled to expand it so even more people can experience this breathtaking spectacle,” Haley Evans, Southern Idaho Tourism marketing and event coordinator, said in a statement. “Shoshone Falls is one of Idaho’s most iconic and beloved landmarks, and showering this magnificent high-desert landscape with a symphony of lights and music under the stars is truly magical and mesmerizing.”

Three shadowy figures against a waterfall lit up red at Twin Falls, Idaho's Shoshone Falls After Dark light show.
Photo by Brayden Weeks, courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism

Tickets are sold at $20 per vehicle, with timed entries between 9:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. to avoid overcrowding. The show lasts about 10 minutes and the passes are for 15-minute slots. Evans says that the event usually sells out, so buy your ticket ahead. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the falls will light up rain or shine.

A waterfall lit up blue at night.
Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism

“The vibrant music and light show illuminating the falls at night takes it to a next-level magical experience,” Michael Watson, chief marketing officer at Idaho Central Credit Union, said in a statement. “If you haven’t had a chance to check this out yet, now is the time.”

Shoshone Falls After Dark, a waterfall lit up pink and blue at night.
Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism

While Shoshone Falls is the area’s best-loved attraction, there’s lots of other outdoorsy stuff to do in Twin Falls. You can bike the Canyon Rim Trail, zipline across the Snake River, rock climb, or rent a kayak in Centennial Waterfront Park to watch BASE jumpers throw themselves off I.B. Perrine Bridge.

Shoshone Falls, a waterfall in Idaho.
Shoshone Falls shines even without lights. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

See why Shoshone Falls is called the Niagara of the West

Prepare for roaring waters.

A waterfall has to be pretty spectacular for it to merit comparisons to Niagara Falls. After all, Niagara is an international tourist attraction famous for its roaring waters. So, what makes Idaho’s Shoshone Falls, aka the “Niagara of the West,” worthy of its moniker? Here’s what potential visitors need to know.

As one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States, Shoshone Falls stretches up to 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide. That’s 32 feet taller than Niagara’s American Falls, which reached a height of 180 feet.

Want to experience Shoshone Falls for yourself? Potential tourists can check waterfall conditions with this handy webcam that monitors the area. Find even more stunning views of the falls in the gallery below, and discover the best waterfall in every state here.