Perrine Bridge BASE Jump Viewing Area

The Snake River Canyon here is a deep gash cut into the volcanic Snake River Plain by the river and, long ago, by the catastrophic Ice Age Bonneville Flood, which tore through this country and scoured the canyon walls. Springs still pour from the basalt cliffs downstream.

The bridge that spans it is a truss arch, its roadway held high above the river, replacing an earlier crossing and giving Twin Falls its signature view. The walkways along its sides put the full depth of the canyon right under your feet.

For BASE jumpers, the Perrine is legendary precisely because it is legal and always open, no permit or lottery required, which draws jumpers from around the world to train and film here. From the rim you can watch them commit to the drop and open their canopies against the canyon walls.

Just east of the bridge, along the south rim, sits the earthen ramp from which the daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to rocket across the canyon on a steam-powered skycycle in 1974. The jump failed, but the ramp remains, a monument to one of the era's boldest stunts.

The paved canyon-rim trail from the visitor center offers long views over the gorge and the river far below, where you may spot waterfowl, herons, and raptors riding the updrafts along the cliffs.

The Snake River Canyon corridor is a green ribbon through otherwise dry farm country, and golf courses, springs, and trails string along its edges near town.

The bridge and rim are open all year, and there is always something to see, but spring through fall brings the most BASE-jumping activity and the most comfortable weather on the exposed rim.

Come on a clear, calm day for the best views and the most jumpers, and pair it with nearby Shoshone Falls when the river is running high.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Perrine Bridge BASE Jump Viewing Area, in Twin Falls in southern Idaho, overlooks the Perrine Memorial Bridge, a tall highway bridge spanning the dramatic Snake River Canyon that is famous as one of the few places in the country where BASE jumping is allowed year-round without a permit. From the viewing area and nearby trails, visitors can watch daredevil BASE jumpers leap from the bridge and parachute down into the canyon, an exciting spectacle, while also enjoying spectacular views of the canyon and river far below. With its thrilling BASE jumping and canyon scenery, the Perrine Bridge Viewing Area offers an exciting destination in Idaho.

Yes, the Perrine Bridge is famous as one of the few places in the country where BASE jumping is legal year-round without a permit, so on many days, especially in good weather, you can watch experienced BASE jumpers leap from the bridge and parachute down into the Snake River Canyon, an exciting and dramatic sight from the viewing area and canyon-rim trails. Jumping activity varies by day and weather and is never guaranteed, but the bridge is a popular jumping spot. Watching the jumpers, along with the canyon views, makes the Perrine Bridge a thrilling stop in Twin Falls, Idaho.

You can watch BASE jumpers leap from the bridge into the canyon, take in spectacular views of the Snake River Canyon and river far below, walk the nearby canyon-rim trails and paths, visit the adjacent visitor center, and photograph the dramatic scenery and the bridge. The BASE jumping spectacle and the canyon views are the highlights. It is an easy, exciting stop with a visitor center for information. With its thrilling jumps and stunning canyon scenery, the Perrine Bridge Viewing Area offers a memorable experience in Twin Falls, Idaho.

As a spectator, stay on the designated viewing areas, trails, and behind any railings along the canyon rim, keep back from the steep edges, and watch children closely, as the drops into the canyon are enormous and dangerous. BASE jumping itself is an extreme sport for trained, experienced jumpers only and should never be attempted casually. Enjoy the spectacle from the safe viewing spots. Staying behind barriers, keeping back from the canyon edges, and watching children ensure a safe visit to the Perrine Bridge Viewing Area in Idaho.

The Perrine Bridge BASE Jump Viewing Area is in Twin Falls in southern Idaho on the Snake River Canyon, near the Canyon Rim Trail, Perrine Coulee Waterfall, and Shoshone Falls, within reach of Balanced Rock and the Thousand Springs and Hagerman Fossil Beds areas. That makes the Perrine Bridge Viewing Area an exciting stop to combine with Shoshone Falls, the Canyon Rim Trail, and the other attractions of the Twin Falls area in southern Idaho on a visit to the state.