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Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho}

July 2 By Renée 15 Comments

Whether you’ve got days to explore or are just passing through Twin Falls on your way to Somewhere Else, plan to stop for these two stunning destinations on your way – Shonshone Falls and Perrine Bridge!

Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls, Idaho = Travel Information | The Good Hearted Woman

You’ve heard of fly-over states, right? Well, if Idaho is a flyover state, then Twin Falls is a drive-thru town. Travelers tend to stop for gas, a bite to eat, and a short stroll to stretch their legs, but they don’t always stick around to enjoy the sights. However, just like those flyover states, if you take the time to explore instead of rushing on through, Twin Falls has some memorable things to offer.

Whether you’ve got days to explore or are just passing through Twin Falls on your way to Somewhere Else, plan to stop for these two stunning destinations on your way – Shonshone Falls and Perrine Bridge. They are totally worth your time!a

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.ll Travel]

Shoshone Falls – The Niagara of the West

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Did you know that you can visit a waterfall in Twin Falls, Idaho that’s higher than Niagara Falls? It’s true! At 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide, Shoshone Falls – known as the Niagara of the West – is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States. 

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

 
Located at the northern edge of Twin Falls along the Snake River, Shoshone Falls makes an impressive stop. The park at Shoshone Falls is a great place to relax and shake off the road dust. There is a lovely shaded picnic area and a view of the falls, perfect for lunch or a quick afternoon power nap before you get back on the road. 

 
Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

There are paved trails and several observation platforms and areas from which to view the Falls. The park is ADA accessible, and there are multiple places from which to view the Falls without having to go up or down any stairs.

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Other recreational opportunities at Shoshone Falls include a children’s playground, hiking trails, a boat ramp, and a swimming area.

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Did you know that you can visit a waterfall in Twin Falls, Idaho that’s higher than Niagara Falls? It’s true! Tweet & Share!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ➞ SHOSHONE FALLS

  • Entry Fees: The vehicle fee at Shoshone Falls Park is $5.00 per car. The fee is in effect from March 1st through September 30th. Season passes are available for purchase at the Parks and Recreation office and at the ticket booth.
  • Hours: Shoshone Falls is open year round with the exceptions of temporary closures due to poor road conditions. The park hours are from dawn to dusk.
  • RVers: Park has five pull through RV spots that can accommodate most RV’s and Tour buses. No overnight camping.
  • Pets: Leashed Dogs are welcome in Shoshone Falls Park. The only exception is that dogs are not allowed in the grassy area of nearby Dierkes Lake.
  • Directions: If possible, use GPS to find the entrance to the Falls park, as the signage is not always obvious. Set the address to: 4155 Shoshone Falls Grade Road, Twin Falls, ID 833301.] Click here for a map.
  • Additional Facilities: There are restrooms and a small souvenir and snack shop on site.
  • Click here for more information about Shoshone Falls. 

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Perrine Bridge

We stopped at Perrine Bridge just in time to enjoy the sunset, which I highly recommend if you can time it right. 

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Perrine Bridge is an approximately 1,500 feet long truss arch bridge that spans the Snake River Canyon on the northern edge of Twin Falls, Idaho. The bridge deck sets 486 feet above the Snake River, making it the eighth highest bridge in the United States, and the 4th highest arch bridge in North America.

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Time your visit to #PerrineBridge so that you can watch the sun set - the views of the bridge and #SnakeRiver Canyon at sunset can be stunning. Tweet & Share!

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The pedestrian walkways across and around the bridge offer visitors access to majestic panoramas, with expansive views of the river, canyon cliffs, the Blue Lakes, and waterfalls, a park, and two golf courses.

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At sunset, the view from the bridge was simply breathtaking. For a few brief moments, the Snake River looked like molten copper. 

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Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho} - Idaho Travel Info | The Good Hearted Woman

Perrine Bridge was named for I.B. Perrine [1961–1943] is credited as being the primary founder of Twin Falls. A statue of him can be found near the Visitor’s Center at the south end of the bridge.

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Today, Perrine Bridge is not only the most famous bridge in Idaho, but it has become a BASE jumping mecca as well: jumpers use it year-round as a launch point for parachuting to the canyon floor. At this time, Perrine Bridge is the only bridge in the U.S. where BASE jumping is legal year round without a permit.

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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ➞ PERRINE BRIDGE

  • Parking: Located on the south end of the bridge next to the Twin Falls Visitors Center. You will find a small park and access to the canyon rim trails there as well.
  • Walking: The current 4-lane structure has two 7-foot wide sidewalks on either side of the bridge, as well as walking paths under the approach spans.
  • Click here for more information about Perrine Bridge. 

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One of the things we love about traveling is the chance it give us to appreciate the beauty of our world, and both Shoshone Falls and Perrine Bridge more than delivered! If you are traveling through Twin Falls, take the time and give them a chance to dazzle you, too. 

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Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho} - Idaho Travel Info | The Good Hearted Woman   Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho} - Idaho Travel Info | The Good Hearted Woman   Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho} - Idaho Travel Info | The Good Hearted Woman   Shoshone Falls & Perrine Bridge {Twin Falls, Idaho} - Idaho Travel Info | The Good Hearted Woman

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

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Filed Under: Idaho, Travel Tagged With: road trip

Moon Walking in Idaho {Craters of the Moon}

April 24 By Renée 32 Comments

The next time you find yourself in eastern Idaho looking to do something out of this world, check out the Craters of the Moon {National Monument & Preserve}.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

On a recent trip to eastern Idaho, we decided to get away from the freeway and take the “scenic route.” One of our primary objectives in doing this was to visit the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, a collection of more that 60 lava flows that combine to cover 620 square miles of the Snake River Plain.

Formed during eight major eruptive periods between 15,000 and 2000 years ago, Craters of the Moon is a “vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.” However, to simply say that Craters of the Moon is an interesting and massive geologic anomaly is to severely diminish both the vastness and the profound other-worldliness of its stark and eerie landscape. 

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Visitor’s Center

We started at the Craters of the Moon Visitors Center, where we learned about the local geology, flora, and fauna of the region.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

The ‘Valley of the Moon’ lies in a region literally combed with underground caves and passages, bewildering in their immensity, mystifying in their variety of strange formations, where there are natural bridges as yet unknown to geographers, where bear tracks hundreds of years old may be traced for miles across cinder flats. Here are craters of dormant volcanoes half a mile wide and seemingly bottomless, huge cups in which the five-story Owyhee hotel might be placed to resemble a lone sugar loaf in a huge bowl. Here are strange ice caves with stalactites and ice-encrusted walls, caves that contain as much ice in the middle of August as they do in the winter.

~ Robert W. Limbert, 1924 (Explorer, Author, Visionary)

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

The Visitors Center also gave us a glimpse into the human history of the area.

Native Americans

The first archaeological record of humans inhabiting the Snake River Basin date back to the end of the last Ice Age, some 12,000- 14,000 years ago. Archaeological records indicate early members of the Shoshone and Bannock tribes and their ancestors spent considerable time at Craters of the Moon; the park museum collection holds over 5,000 worked stone artifacts from this era, including bifaces, projectile points, manos and metates, and 85 potsherds.

Oregon Trail

Between 1840 and 1870, tens of thousands of emigrants passed through southern Idaho on their way to greener pastures in the fertile west. They endured great hardships in their trek, and some never made it. The Oregon Trail followed the course of the Snake River, about 100 miles south of what is now the Craters of the Moon Monument. In 1862 an emigrant party asked guide Tim Goodale to lead them west from Fort Hall on a cutoff pioneered by ferryman John Jeffrey in 1852.  Goodale succeeded in leading the group of 1,095 people, 338 wagons, and 2,900 head of stock safely from Fort Hall to Boise. By 1863 and for nearly five decades following, until the railroad and automobiles led to the demise of the wagon route, seven out of every ten wagons en route from Fort Hall to Boise took Goodale’s Cutoff instead of the main Oregon Trail.

Visit the Craters of the Moon Visitor’s Center to learn more about the geological and anthropological history of the area. 

Hiking at Craters of the Moon

Although many of the Craters of the Moon trails were still snowed under at the time of our visit in early April, we did get to take two short hikes.

North Crater Flow Trail

{A very short, easy third-mile introduction to the Craters of the Moon.}

This trail takes you onto the North Crater Flow, a relatively recent flow that formed approximately 2500 years ago.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

As we walked the trail, we became more and more amazed at the vastness of the lava fields.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

I was fascinated with these rippling “Pahoehoe” lava flows. (Pahoehoe means “ropy” in Hawaiian.) Pahoehoe is the most common type of lava flow found at Craters of the Moon.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

The Triple Twisted Tree, pictured here, is one of the iconic symbols of the Craters of the Moon. A core sample showed it to be at least 1,350 years old. In grand scheme of history, that means that is was a seedling about the time that the Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza was being built.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Cinder cone fragments pose with Mr B & Em on the North Crater Flow Trail.

The North Crater Flow Trail is a very easy walk, and there are benches along the way for resting, taking in the scenery, or strangling hugging your mother.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

It is amazing that life can persist in such a desolate world, but it does.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

 

Devil’s Orchard Trail

{An easy half-mile, wheel-chair accessible hike.}

This fully paved trail snakes through an area of cinder beds scattered with pieces of the North Crater wall. Exhibits along the trail describe the challenges the National Park Service faces in trying to protect this fragile volcanic environment.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Fun along the trail. (If you look closely, you can see the snowball that Em threw just hitting Mr B’s back.)

This area of the preserve was so named when, a hundred years ago, a visiting minister declared “this jumble of rocks, shrubs, and trees to be a garden fit for the devil himself.”

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

And yet sometimes, even in the middle of the Devil’s Orchard, if you look hard enough, you just might find a fleeting ray of sunshine and a few signs of life. (←That’s a metaphor.) (←That’s a baseball bat.)

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Awkward Family Photo FTW!

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Because there was so much snow still on the ground, we only got to see a small portion of the Craters of the Moon. We hope to return when everything has thawed out to explore the cave trails, which sound amazing.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

 

Getting There

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is located in eastern Idaho, about half way between Arco and Carey, on US Highway 20/26/93.  The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The physical address for the visitor center is 1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, Idaho.

The turnoff to Craters of the Moon is clearly marked and we had absolutely no trouble finding it. However, the Craters of the Moon website cautions would-be visitors: Please do not rely upon GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Craters of the Moon. Please note that the Visitor Center… is not accessed via any unpaved roads.

For maps and further information, please visit the Craters of the Moon website.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho | The Good Hearted Woman

Filed Under: Idaho

California Quinoa Salad {with Piña Colada Dressing}

April 18 By Renée 35 Comments

California Quinoa Salad is bright, light, amazingly healthy combo served with a delicious tropical piña colada dressing. 

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Finding a lunch spot that sources locally grown products and serves up fresh, healthy (and affordable) plates in Portland is usually no harder than walking around the next corner. In fact, when it comes to finding a great place to eat in our town, we are downright spoiled.

Idaho Falls, Idaho, on the other hand, is a town heavy with steak houses, chain restaurants (Chuck-o-rama, anyone?), and fast food drive-thrus.

Finding something locally sourced, unique, and delicious in Idaho Falls takes a little more work, and going vegetarian takes a whole ‘nother level of dedication.

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

So imagine our delight (yes, delight!) when, while on a recent trip to the Potato State to see one of our daughters graduate from college, we Yelped our way into the bright, airy Arugula Deli, tucked modestly into the side of what looks to be an old brick school building on the north side of town.

The food was, in a word, Fresh. Wonderfully, deliciously fresh, in every sense of the word. We sipped on our lemon and cucumber infused waters while we perused the globally-inspired menu, which has options for all eating styles, from vegan to steak lover.

My lunch choice – the California Quinoa Salad – turned out to be our table favorite; a clean, light, grain-based salad full of interesting textures and bright flavors that filled me up and kept me going all day. (And it was a very long day, let me tell you.)

DID YOU KNOW? Quinoa is an ancient grain related to spinach, beets, and chard. Not only is quinoa considered a super-food, but it is also a complete protein: it contains all nine of the essential amino acids (the ones the body cannot produce on its own). 
Chef Marcel's California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing at the Arugula Deli | The Good Hearted Woman

My inspiration: Chef Marcel’s California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing at the Arugula Deli

The element that put this salad over the top for me – and inspired me to practically run home to recreate it – was the amazing “secret recipe” piña colada dressing that was served along side.

I loved the salad dressing so much that I asked if I could get the recipe, to which our waitress laughed and told me that the chef was so cagey about its composition that he made it behind closed doors. The staff didn’t even know what was in it.

Aha! A challenge!

Our waitress did offer to sell us a bottle of the dressing, which of course I accepted. I also took a few minutes to chat with the enigmatic chef himself. Marcel Gutierrez, who owns the Arugula Deli with his wife Mindy, is responsible for the deli’s amazing menu.

Chef Marcel is an affable and engaging man who is passionate about his work. Were it not that we had places to go and things to do, I would have loved to have had time to visit with him more. As it was, we had commencement exercises to attend, and then the long drive back home to Oregon.

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

Once home, the salad itself was easy to make: I just had to take all the ingredients listed on the menu and throw them together in the right proportions. For my recipe, I chose to go with tri-colored quinoa instead of single-grain, mostly because I like the extra color, but also because I personally think it has a little more crunch. The trade-off is that the other ingredients don’t visually stand out quite as much in the finished quinoa salad. If you make it at home, the choice is yours – any kind of quinoa will one will work.

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

California Quinoa Salad (with Piña Colada Dressing)

A bright, light, amazingly healthy quinoa salad served with a delicious tropical dressing.
Prep Time30 mins
Total Time30 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Dish, Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 344kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

Quinoa Salad

  • 4 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup chopped mango
  • 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
  • 1/2 cup shelled edamame
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup Craisins
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Juice of two limes
  • 1/2 cup sweetened coconut toasted

Piña Colado Salad Dressing

  • 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 tablespoons pina colada mix
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • Salt to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Quinoa Salad

  • Combine all ingredients except toasted coconut.
    Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Garnish with toasted coconut.
    Drizzle with Piña Colada Dressing just before serving.
    Serve with additional dressing on the side.

Piña Colada Dressing

  • Whisk together all ingredients.
    Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Inspired by the Arugula Cafe, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

The real challenge came in creating the dressing. I took a couple of wrong turns before I finally got it, and I want to send out a big thank you to our son-in-law Mason for his invaluable input.

I am nearly certain that the ingredient list for my condensed-milk-based dressing below is not even remotely close to Chef Marcel’s recipe (which I believe is mayonnaise based), but the end result tastes spot on.

PRO TIP: Hollowed out lime halves are the perfect vessel for serving salad dressing! 

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

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More Delicious Homemade Salad Dressings from GHW

Making your own salad dressing is fast, easy, economical; and best of all, you’ll be able to identify and pronounce all the ingredients! 

  • Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
  • Original Taco House Fiesta Dressing (Taco Salad Dressing)
  • Authentic Thousand Island Dressing

Wavy Line

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

As you may have noticed, I totally copied Chef Marcel’s presentation, too: it makes for a far more interesting plate than just throwing the salad on top of a bed of greens.

While you can buy all sorts of cool kitchen forms to create this effect, a clean tin can with both ends cut out works just as well.

Watch the video ⬆️ above the salad recipe card to see how this process works. (Just be careful of sharp can edges when you do it!)

California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing | The Good Hearted Woman

The next time you are in Idaho Falls, I encourage you to stop by the Arugula Deli for a meal – and be sure to say hello to Chef Marcel for me!

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California Quinoa Salad        California Quinoa Salad iWavy Line

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Gluten-free, Idaho, Main Dishes, Recipes, Salads, Sauces, Dressings & Dips, Vegetarian

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