Horizontal orientation.
Box Canyon Springs Preserve is part of the Thousand Springs State Park system in Gooding County, Idaho. It is one of the most popular attractions in the Magic Valley, with pure turquoise colored water that flows from a natural spring, the 11th largest in North America. The first time that I visited, I was astounded that my GPS was directing me past dairy farms in the middle of the desert, with no indication of a canyon anywhere. Only after entering the park and nearing the viewing area did I realize that an enormous and magnificent canyon opens out of nowhere, with water flowing right out of basalt rock at a rate of thousands of gallons per minute, creating a crystal-clear river flowing down to the Snake. The water is a beautiful turquoise color, and partway down it flows over a 20-foot waterfall that is as picturesque as the springs at the source. The trail leading down into the canyon is a little hard to find, and a bit sketchy to climb down. Even when I was in my best physical condition, the hike back up required several stops to catch my breath. But the falls, the river, and the canyon itself are all breathtaking, and well worth hiking in and out.
Horizontal orientation.
Box Canyon Springs Preserve is part of the Thousand Springs State Park system in Gooding County, Idaho. It is one of the most popular attractions in the Magic Valley, with pure turquoise colored water that flows from a natural spring, the 11th largest in North America. The first time that I visited, I was astounded that my GPS was directing me past dairy farms in the middle of the desert, with no indication of a canyon anywhere. Only after entering the park and nearing the viewing area did I realize that an enormous and magnificent canyon opens out of nowhere, with water flowing right out of basalt rock at a rate of thousands of gallons per minute, creating a crystal-clear river flowing down to the Snake. The water is a beautiful turquoise color, and partway down it flows over a 20-foot waterfall that is as picturesque as the springs at the source. The trail leading down into the canyon is a little hard to find, and a bit sketchy to climb down. Even when I was in my best physical condition, the hike back up required several stops to catch my breath. But the falls, the river, and the canyon itself are all breathtaking, and well worth hiking in and out.
