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Mesa Falls. This destination? It’s a mesmerizing natural gem, truly. 

Heading to Yellowstone National Forest this summer? If traveling through Idaho to get there, consider adding Lower and Upper Mesa Falls to your travel plans. 

Just one hour south (50 miles) of the West Yellowstone entrance, you’ll find this gorgeous stop. It’s great for hiking, picnicking (carry-out what you carry-in), or just a relaxing opportunity to soak in scenery unlike just about anywhere else.

Just off I-20, and in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, you’ll drive through the well-marked roadways to the first stop at Lower Mesa Falls. You’ll see spectacular views of volcanic rock, rushing water below, and forest, with all its natural beauty imaginable. Great photo opps. 

Then, continue the drive a few miles farther to Upper Mesa Falls. Park the car, walk the marked Mesa Nature Trail, stop in the Mesa Falls Visitor Center to see their exhibits, and then meander through the beautifully maintained walkway to the Upper Falls. The incredible, thunderous waterfall awaits. We think you’ll be mystified by the mesmerizing display. Truly. 

According to the USDA, “At Upper Mesa Falls, a thunderous curtain of water as tall as a 10-story building pours over remnants of an ancient volcanic super-eruption that spewed ash over much of the current US… the river continually chisels away at the solidified ash and lava. Some layers are more than a million years old. Today, Upper and Lower Mesa Falls are the last prominent waterfalls on the Snake River to resist human control.”

Yes, at Mesa Falls Mother Nature rules over one of her finest, untouched masterpieces.    

Words (nor photos) truly can capture Mesa Falls’ essence of power, beauty and untouched nature. So, see it for yourself; add it to your bucket list. We think you’ll be pleased.