Mesa Falls

After reading about all of the special family events that we had going on during the week we were in Idaho, you can see that we were kept extremely busy. Behind each of those events, especially the wedding, there was lots of preparation. So our free time was very minimal. It was an amazing week and I wouldn't have changed anything about it, except maybe to lengthen our stay so we could have visited more extended family and friends, and had more time to see those that we did. 

The day after the wedding, we decided we wanted to visit Mesa Falls, which located in the Targhee National Forest, just a few miles up the road from Warm River. We didn't have enough time on our previous fish feeding adventure to make it all the way to the falls, so we set out again that evening. 

Brian and I had never been to Mesa Falls together. The last time I had been there was during my college years, and Brian said it had been even longer than that for him. It's so silly that when we lived in Idaho, close to many of these things, we never visited any of them, and now that we live across the country we wish we could visit them all the time. One of the things that we've really learned while living in New York, is to take advantage of the place you live, and go see the sights and be a tourist. It really gives you a better appreciation of where you live and its fun.

We enjoyed the drive on the winding roads up into the forested hills with our windows down. The cool, sweet Idaho air rushing in the windows across my face and blowing my hair back transported me to my childhood when we would take drives up through the dry farm and along the Fall River with my Mom and Dad. 

We stopped first at the overlook to the lower falls. Look how pretty all those trees are! If we were quiet, we could hear the rushing of the water faintly. From the informational signs we learned that the lower falls are 85 feet high. It also said that both the lower and upper falls are the only waterfalls in Idaho not used for irrigation or hydroelectric projects, and that is why they retain their natural look.

My parents are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area, so near other gorgeous country. 

We couldn't leave without first take a few family group shots. Tyler and Kelsey were there too, but for some reason I never got a picture of them. :(

Danny, Jamie and kids.

Proud grandparents with their grandkids.

From the lower falls overlook, we drove further up the road to the upper falls. This is my favorite because you can walk along the boardwalk and get right up close to the waterfall.

Dad and Sophie. He is such a softy with the grandkids.

As you get closer to the waterfall, the roar of water gets louder. I loved the rapids in the water just downstream from the falls.

The river flows through a canyon. The rock walls of the canyon were created through erosion by said river. I though they looked very cool. Looks like a few rock slides have happened here.

After a pleasant walk through the forest, we reached the Upper Mesa Falls. Isn't it so pretty. I love that when the sun is shining there is always a rainbow above and in front of it from the mist. It was mostly overcast when we were there, so no rainbow.

The upper falls are 110 feet tall.

Kelsey read the nearby informational plaque aloud, and it said that the amount of water that flows over the upper falls in one day is enough to supply the state of Idaho with fresh water for two weeks. That's a lot of water. Watching the amount of water rushing over the edge while we stood there, I can believe it.  

  

Walking back to the parking lot, Brian and I saw a chipmunk. I even was able to snap a picture of him. It was such a peaceful setting -- so quiet with only the sounds of the waterfall, the breeze through the trees, and the occasional bird call. Brian exclaimed that he really misses being in places like this. I do too.

We had fallen behind the main group, and once we caught up with them we found the kids playing with the drinking fountain. We actually heard the kids laughing and saw a geyser of water through the trees before we saw them. Carson was especially pleased that he could get it to shoot so high into the air.

After the falls, we headed back down to Warm River, where we stopped to feed the fish again. It was late on a Sunday evening though, which means the fish had been fed especially well all that day. Sundays are a big tourist day there. They weren't eating up the bread as quickly and energetically as before. I guess they were full.

It was a fun evening, and we had a really good time visiting Mesa Falls again. If you're ever in Fremont County, Idaho you should think about stopping by.