Mesa Falls

Definitely worth a stop if you are traveling along Hwy 47. My girlfriend and I did not even know about this until our hotel lady told us. She said the waterfall was 1 of a kind. I was a bit skeptical at first and wanted to get back on the road as soon as possible without anymore detours. That would have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Good thing I gave into my girlfriend and decided to check out Mesa Falls. Parking is free for the lower falls and they there is a sign saying you need to pay for parking in the ranger station at the upper falls, but if you go come early in the morning, you can park for free. There is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful waterfalls that I have ever seen. There are two parts to it: the lower falls and upper falls. The lower falls outlook is far away from it and some of the trees block your view of the falls, but it is still pretty nice. The upper falls outlook on the other hand puts you directly over the falls. If you love waterfalls and nature, you might just die from happiness overload. It is hard to describe the view from the upper falls and pictures do not really do it justice. This is something you just have to see for yourself to truly appreciate its beauty

They still call this Yellowstone territory, but it has a different twist. Heading south outside the National Park, if you take the lesser traveled Hwy 47, you will find yourself passing through a lovely alpine forest called Targhee National Forest. There are great campgrounds, hiking trails, hunting and fishing, less open spaces, and even less crowds.
Just passing through on our way to the nearby tiny town of Ashton, the best part for us was a stop at the showpiece, historical, post-​Victorian log inn that is now known as the Mesa Falls Visitors’ Center and the stunning falls close by.
From the Visitors’ Center it is a short walk to get right up to the large Upper Falls. For those with physical disabilities there is a smooth pathway that is walker/​wheelchair friendly that can get you pretty close. But if you want to get really close and personal, even feel the cool spray on your face, you must take the boardwalk and a cluster of easy stairs to get you there. It is not a strenuous walk by any means and the reward is magnificent, the deafening sound of water as it spills millions of gallons of mountain-​pure water over the embankment onto the blackish stones below, and especially the mist that creates a brilliant morning rainbow that you can almost reach out and touch. The view of the rugged stone wall on the opposite side also displays a mass of beautiful pines. There is also a long trail that leads down to the Lower Falls for the willing and able.
They have conveniently close chemical toilets, but they are very nicely maintained.
The Falls and Visitors’ Center are not to be missed, for kids and adults alike. After experiencing a tourist ridden visit to Yellowstone in late September, yes, even after most families had gone home, this was a welcoming retreat and excellent time for introspection.

Hidden gem.
The falls here are amazing. They have built paths right up to the edge of the lower Mesa Falls that are well worth the walk. Get up close and enjoy the spectacular view.

We found ourselves in Yellowstone territory highly disappointed because of the government shutdown. We tried to find as many things as possible to do while we were there and this was one of them. I never would have gone here if it wasn’t for the shutdown but if you are heading to the west side of Yellowstone anytime, it was worth a quick stop. It’s kind of hidden and it’s a very short walk to the actual fall. There are observation decks for both of them.
Upper Mesa Falls is a waterfall on the Henrys Fork in the Caribou-​Targhee National Forest. Upstream from Lower Mesa Falls, it is roughly 16 miles away from Ashton, Idaho. Mesa Falls Tuff, which is the rock over which Upper Mesa Falls cascades, was formed 1.3 million years ago. A cycle of rhyolitic volcanism from the Henrys Fork caldera deposited a thick layer of rock and ash across the area. This layer compressed and hardened over time. Between 200,000 and 600,000 years ago, the river eroded a wide canyon which was subsequently partly filled with basalt lava flows. The Henrys Fork of the Snake River then carved the channel through the basalt; which is the inner canyon seen today. Upper Mesa Falls is roughly 114 feet high and 200 feet wide.

Fantastic find! If you are anywhere in the area, I highly suggest making the time to stop by and see Mesa Falls… these are absolutely gorgeous waterfalls. The stairs and boardwalks at Upper Falls are really nice — you get right up to the waterfall. There is even a small store and visitor center.

Who would have thought that Idaho had more than potatoes to offer. Boy, was I amazed at the beauty and marvel of its natural landscapes. Mesa Falls are just one of the beautiful, and hopefully untouched, spots to see in the Targhee National Forest.
The convenient parking lot is located at the start of the short trail down to the Upper Falls, which fall 110 feet with a savage roar in the winter wonderland amongst snow-​clad pines and aspens. Looks like the set of ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Except it’s real: you can feel the mist on your face! Amazing!
Down the byway, about 7 miles, Lower Falls aren’t as impressive. The overlook is too far away from the actual water, but if you have a good enough zoom on your camera, it works as well.
If you come here in the winter, the byway will most likely be closed for traffic due to 300 inches of snow. However, Thanksgiving time is still ok, and if you have a four-​wheel-​drive pickup or an SUV, you are in good shape. If you have a snowmobile, the road is open to you all winter long.
Take a 47 from Hwy 20 in Ashton and drive the 30 miles of wonder through Warm River and to Mesa Falls!
Enjoy the great American outdoors! Adventures await the bold!