Mesa Falls Scenic Area
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (Highway 47)
Ashton, ID
Two thundering waterfalls on the Henrys Fork, among the last big falls in the region left completely undammed, with a 1907 log inn watching over the upper drop.
Mesa Falls is where the Henrys Fork, one of the great trout rivers of the West, throws itself off the edge of an ancient volcanic plateau in two big, unrestrained drops. Upper Mesa Falls plunges roughly 114 feet and spreads some 200 feet wide, and a boardwalk carries you right to the lip of it, close enough to feel the ground shake and the mist rise.
What makes these falls special is not just their size but their freedom. On a river system as heavily dammed and diverted as the Snake and its tributaries, Mesa Falls stands out as one of the last major waterfalls in the region left to run wild, exactly as it has for thousands of years.
What Guests Love
- The full force of Upper Mesa Falls seen up close from a boardwalk right beside the drop
- The historic Big Falls Inn, a 1907 log lodge that now tells the geologic and human story
- Two distinct falls, the powerful Upper and the more distant Lower, along one short byway
- A rare chance to see a major western river fall freely, undammed and undiverted
Worth Knowing
- The upper falls have a developed boardwalk and viewing area, while the lower falls are seen from an overlook a bit farther on
- The byway and viewing areas are a warm-season experience and access is limited by snow in winter
- Spring runoff makes the falls loudest and mistiest, so expect spray on the boardwalk
- It is a popular stop on the way to Yellowstone, so mornings are quieter
Details
Ashton, ID
Learn about Mesa Falls Scenic Area
A river off the edge of a volcano
The rock the falls pour over is Mesa Falls Tuff, laid down about 1.3 million years ago when the Henrys Fork caldera, part of the same Yellowstone hotspot system that still powers the geysers next door, erupted and blanketed the region in rhyolite ash that later hardened into stone.
Long after, over roughly the last few hundred thousand years, the river cut a canyon here, basalt lava flows partly filled it, and the Henrys Fork carved its channel again through the harder rock. The result is the ledge that creates the two falls, a direct expression of the volcanic forces that shaped this whole corner of Idaho.
The Big Falls Inn
Perched near the upper falls, the Big Falls Inn is a one-and-a-half-story log building raised in 1907 to serve travelers in the days when reaching this remote canyon was an adventure in itself.
Restored, it now works as the interpretive center for the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, with exhibits on the geology of the falls and canyon, the river's ecosystem, the plants and animals, and the long human history of the area from ancient times to the present.
The river and its wildlife
The Henrys Fork is legendary among fly anglers, and the water above and below the falls runs cold and clear through forest and canyon. Ospreys and bald eagles fish the river, and the surrounding Targhee forest holds elk, moose, and the occasional bear.
This is Greater Yellowstone country, so the wildlife can be genuinely wild. Keep your distance and store food carefully.
When to visit
Late spring brings the falls at their most powerful, fed by snowmelt, with spray drifting over the boardwalk. Summer is the easiest time to visit, and early fall pairs lower crowds with turning aspens.
Snow closes much of the byway in winter, so plan a warm-season trip and pair it with nearby Yellowstone or the Teton Valley.
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 Ashton
Upper Mesa Falls
At the scenic area
The main, most powerful drop, seen up close from a boardwalk and viewing platform beside the Big Falls Inn.
Harriman State Park
About 20 miles north
A former railroad-era ranch turned state park on the Henrys Fork, famous for trumpeter swans, moose, and blue-ribbon fly fishing.
West Yellowstone
About 45 miles north
The Montana gateway town at the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park.