Mesa Falls
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, Ashton, ID
Henrys Fork, ID
A wide, thundering curtain of water dropping over a basalt cliff on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, kicking up mist and rainbows in a forest canyon on the road toward Yellowstone.
In the forested high country of eastern Idaho, the Henrys Fork of the Snake River pours over a wide basalt ledge and drops in a thundering curtain nearly a hundred feet to the canyon below. This is Upper Mesa Falls, and it holds a special distinction: it is one of the last large waterfalls in the region left completely undisturbed, with no dam, no diversion, and no development crowding its brink, just the full river falling as it always has.
That wildness is what makes it worth the trip. A short walk on boardwalks leads right to the edge of the falls, close enough to feel the mist and, on a sunny afternoon, to watch rainbows form in the spray. A little downstream, Lower Mesa Falls adds a second drop, and the whole scene sits along a quiet scenic byway that makes a beautiful back way toward the west side of Yellowstone.
What Guests Love
- A big, powerful waterfall you can walk right up to on boardwalks
- Rainbows in the mist on a sunny day
- The quiet forest canyon of the Henrys Fork
- A historic lodge-turned-visitor-center at the upper falls
Worth Knowing
- Boardwalks and viewing decks lead close to the upper falls, so it is an easy visit for most people
- The mist can make the decks damp and cool, so bring a layer even in summer
- There are two falls, Upper and Lower Mesa, with the upper being the larger and more accessible
- It sits on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, a scenic loop off the main highway near Ashton
Details
Henrys Fork, ID
Learn about Mesa Falls
An undammed river falling free
Upper Mesa Falls drops around 100 feet and spans the full width of the Henrys Fork, sending up a constant cloud of mist. What sets it apart from so many western waterfalls is that it was never harnessed: the river here runs wild and undiverted, so the falls carry their full natural force. That makes Mesa Falls a rare thing, a big waterfall on a major river that looks today much as it did long before the region was settled.
Boardwalks and viewing platforms built into the canyon wall let visitors walk right out toward the falls and look down into the churning pool at its base. On a bright day the mist throws rainbows across the gorge, and the sound of the water fills the whole canyon.
A historic lodge and a scenic byway
At the upper falls stands the Big Falls Inn, a historic early-twentieth-century lodge that has been restored and now serves as a visitor center, a reminder of the days when reaching this spot was a real journey. From its decks the view of the falls is superb, and the building anchors an easy, well-maintained visit.
Mesa Falls lies on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, a paved loop that leaves the main highway near Ashton and winds through lodgepole pine forest along the Henrys Fork. The drive is a destination in its own right, and it makes a scenic and uncrowded approach toward the western gateways of Yellowstone, just to the north.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Henrys Fork
Lower Mesa Falls
About 1 mile
A second waterfall on the Henrys Fork just downstream, seen from a canyon-rim overlook along the scenic byway.
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
The road it sits on
A paved forest loop along the Henrys Fork near Ashton, a scenic back way toward the west side of Yellowstone.
Harriman State Park
About 15 miles north
A wildlife-rich refuge along the Henrys Fork, famous for its trout waters, trumpeter swans, and quiet meadows.