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Writer's pictureEmily Hacken

Paddleboarding/Kayaking - Blue Heart Springs/Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho (Full Ininterary) 6/22/24

Updated: Jul 25


UPDATE: Quagga Mussel Larvae found near Shoshone Falls. Upriver of Pillar Falls closed to both private people and tours. AWOL tour owner tried to get a permit but as of time of trip not acquired. We spoke with manager of this mussel project at Southern Idaho Water District and he expected the larvae testing would continue for months. We will try again early summer mid-end of May 2025. You can kayak from the docks to Pillar Falls and back, which is what we did this trip.


Sample Itinerary:

Friday

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 1000 Springs Campground (can check in as early as 1:00 pm)

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.


1000 Springs Pool and Hot Springs at our campsite. Think 1970s with tub-spring private rooms. Closes 8:30 pm. No cell service. Not kept up well but convenient.


Saturday

Saturday

7:00 am - Drive to Centennial Park

 8:00 am - Hike Perrine Falls

 8:45 am - Centennial Park AWOL Trailer for check in

9:00 am - Rent kayaks from AWOL at Centennial Park.  (changed our reservations from boat tour to just 4 hr kayak rental).                   

10:30 am -  Pillar Falls. explore, jump in water, eat.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm paddle back to Centennial Park. 

1:30 pm - Twin Falls Visitor Center to change clothes/bathroom/buy souvenirs. 

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

2:00 pm - lunch in Twin Falls

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm - head home


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


Directions: Centennial Waterfront Park, Idaho


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 - See Trip Report


Kayak Shoshone Falls - See Trip Report


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 pack: brown bag lunch for Friday. Breakfast for Sat. Friday dinner @ restaurant or on own. 8 milers pack own lunch Sat. Boat Tour lunch for Sat. can grab some fast food before or after your tour or bring own. Sat. dinner on own.


Food Itinerary:

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)


Saturday

Breakfast - bring own

Lunch - 8 milers - bring own.

Boat Tours have time to eat out in Twin Falls before or after the kayak.


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


Dinner - buy on the road

Recommend:

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:

(recommend sit on top tandem if doing advanced route)


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 $5 Dock Fee, plus tax. (One member of the group will need to pay $10 for a shuttle fee)


Kayaking Shoshone Falls

4 milers - *AWOL Boat Ride & Kayak Tour : $80/person plus tax, boat ride back and forth and shorter kayak (boat 1/2 of route kayak 1/2 of route) strongly recommend to most abilities.

8 milers - AWOL Tandem Kayak 8 milers: $30/person plus tax, kayaking full length of the route on your own power. (great for fit, experienced kayakers) or can bring own kayak but strongly recommend a tandem sit in side


Camping - 1000 Springs Resort: $3/person


Food, gas carpool chip in on own





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