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Paddleboarding - Blue Heart Springs, ID 6/6/25

Updated: Aug 27

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Sample Itinerary:

Day 1

8:00 am - Carpool

12:30 pm - Lunch at Dierkes Park (bring your own brown bag lunch. swim and see Shoshone Falls from above) $5 Per Vehicle to enter. Card or cash.

2:30 pm - Drive to Blue Heart Springs

3:30 pm - Kayak/Paddleboard Blue Heart (typically 90 min round trip to complete) $5 Dock Fee (included if renting from them. Card or cash, Sign Waiver).

5:30 pm - Leave for Miracle Hot Springs Campground

6:30 pm - Set up camp then Dinner in Hagerman Snake Creek Grille or bring dinner on own.


Optional Evening Activities:

10 min drive south of 1000 Springs Resort. Paid springs and pool, more upscale than 1000 Springs. Closes at 11 pm. No cell service. $14/person.

NOTE - We are staying at Miracle Hot Springs facility instead of 1000 spring resort because the bathrooms, showers and man made springs at 1000 are straight up scary. Foot fungus, pipe for a shower, murder scene kind of scary. However, the views from the shores of 1000 Springs are outstanding. You can see many waterfalls from their docks and these docks are open to the public so if you want some waterfall pics, on your way to dinner or coming back, worth parking at 1000, walk down to the water and get your pics, just don’t pee there :).

Tip: if you think you want to do the pools and hot spring pools after dinner, go pay $14 at the Miracle Hot Springs check in window before you head out to Blue Heart Springs. The reason we recommend this is after 5 PM admission to the pools and Hot Springs goes up to $19 per person.


We stay at Tent Site 1, Tent Site 2, Beach Group site.

  • 1 tent at tent site 1

  • 1 tent at tent site 2

  • 3-5 tents at Beach Group Site

  • Beach site can fit 3-5 tents - parking for 3-5 cars

  • Tent Site 1 can fit 1 tent - parking for 1 car

  • Tent site 2 can fit 1 tent - parking for 1 car That is 7 tents with several people in each. 

  • Check in is 1 pm

  • Check out 11 am

  • Restrooms include showers

  • Camp sites each have fire pits. 


Day 2

7:00 am - Drive to Centennial Park

 8:00 am - Hike Perrine Falls

Optional - Kayak Shoshone Falls - see Trip Report


Great view of Perrine Bridge, base jumpers, souvenir shop and nice bathrooms.


Directions: 


Activities:

Swimming at Dierkes Park - Dierkes Park is located above Shoshone Falls and is a great public area for swimming and cliff jumping. Shallow areas and grassy beach. Public bathrooms for changing. Can just sit on grass and eat your lunch. Next level, swim around a bit. You will probably want to once you see this place. Great beginner and intermediate cliff jumping places right next to where we will eat lunch.


Kayaking/Paddleboarding to Blue Heart Springs - Rent from Blue Heart Kayaking or bring your own paddleboard or kayak and launch from thier dock for $10. Maps are available at thier rental shop. Paddleboard/Kayak downriver about 1 miles one way. Takes about 45 min. Cove is on the right and water turns clear tourquise blue surrounded by a rocky cove. No concerns about Quagga Mussels at Blue Heart Springs. $20 kayak or Paddleboard. $35 tandem kayak. Quality SUPS and kayaks. Not big, about the size of a cul de sac in a neighborhood. It will probably be crowded. Just embrace and have fun. Paddle back was harder against the current but doable for most anyone. If you have paddling concerns, share a tandem kayak with a friend. NOTE: If you are bringing your own there is a $7 dollars to the Stare of Idaho for your Idaho invasive species sticker. Waiver


Tips:

  • Water is cold, so swimming will be a quick dip. 

  • Keep on life jackets, especially for the way back and forth.

  • Biggest concern, missing the turn off into the alcove and going past  it. Just have Jade make it super clear to you where to go and repeat it back to him/verify where you are pointing is correct for the pull out. You can see it with him from the dock.  I will ask Kristen in our group to do this also. She has been before and will be our in water navigator.

  • Best pics - 2 spots -

    • 1) group shot - One person scales up the volcanic rock 20 ft or soat the middle of the alcove shore (wear water shoes with a strap) . Have paddleboarders line up in the spring, take group pic from above.

    • 2) individaul shots - Have people get 5-10 ft from shore on their SUP the middle of the alcove's south shore. Photographer take pic while on their own SUP with the visual being the person and then the shore. Shoot with your phone lense closer to the water, can get super gatorade blue pics this way.

  • It is harder to paddle back since going against the wind but doable for all


Bathrooms - Portapotties at dock

Cell Reception - patchy


Hike Perinne Falls - Perfect kid hike! You will be glad to know about this place for your next trip north. It is very slippery with a steep downhill at the beginning. Bad knees, you can see it all from the trailhead. Just chill and watch. Everyone else head down, trail goes to flat dirt 40-50 ft down. Can go behind waterfall. May get misted on.


Tip: Good to reserve boat tours/kayaks few months in advance.


Bathrooms: At all locations

Cell Service: Not at campground nor actual kayaking in canyon to Shoshone Falls.


Gear: swimsuit, sunscreen, long sleeve synthetic shirt, water shoes, kayak and/or paddleboard (can rent), tent, sleeping bag, pad, change of clothes, change of swimsuit/water gear for next day, sunglasses, pillow. If taking a shower (kinda dumpy showers fyi): towel, shampoo & conditioner, lotion, wear watershoes in shower. Waterproof phone case (optional), Dry bag or small pack to attach to kayak. 2L water for Boat Tour people, 3L water for 8 miles. Sunscreen!


Food Ideas:

Friday

Lunch: Bring own to eat at the park.

Dinner: Snake Creek Grill in Hagerman or bring own dinner. Campground has charcoal briquette grills. Closes at 9:00 PM (has cell service/Wifi). Snake Creek Grill Review (try frog legs; pie)


Recommendations in Twin Falls:

Scooter's Chillin' & Grillin’ Burger Joint - Get garlic Parmesean spiral fries. Open 11 am - 11 pm

Emma's Cafe & Market - Excellent skewered meats and flat breads. Opens at 11 AM


Guppies Hot Rod Grill just south of Twin Falls in Kimberly.Burger Joint with classic car vibe. Sit in the truck bed. https://guppieshotrodgrille.com/  or anything along your route.


Rentals:


Cost:

Dierkes Park

$5/car to enter Dierkes Park to see Shoshone from above


Paddleboarding/Kayaking Blue Heart

Rentals: $20 Single Kayak, $35 Tandem Kayak, $20 Paddleboards/ 2 hrs (enough time to do route), plus tax. Blue Heart Kayaking

If using own gear $10 Dock Fee, plus tax. (One member of the group will need to pay $10 for a shuttle fee)


Camping - 1000 Springs Resort: $3/person




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