Your Guide to Exploring the Best Waterfalls in Idaho

Picture this: you’re hiking through towering pines, spruces, and firs, and as you round a corner you start to hear a rush of water. Your excitement level starts to build, and then out of nowhere, you see a waterfall gracefully cascading down a cliff. This memorable sight is the cherry on top of an excellent hike. Waterfalls in Idaho are more common than you would think, but that doesn’t mean that there are a few that you must see while you’re here in the wild and wonderful Gem State. Discover more ways to explore Central Idaho with our free Adventure Guide!

Explore These Mesmerizing Waterfalls in Idaho

Bridal Veil & Lady Face Falls | Stanley Lake Trailhead

Your hike starts at the trailhead next to Stanley Lake, where you will weave through wildflower-filled meadows and see spectacular views of McGown Peak. As you make your way along the path, the incline slowly rises before you reach Stanley Lake Creek. You’ll first come across Lady Face Falls, looking as if squeezed its way in between two large rocks before plummeting down into a pool of white water. Continue up the path is the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. Aptly named, this combination of small waterfalls looks like a very delicate and thin veil of water on the rocks with picturesque cliffs and spruces surrounding it.

Tip: The last portion of the hike has wet, loose rock covering it, making it potentially hazardous. Always use caution when hiking around waterfalls.

Goat Falls | Iron Creek Trailhead

If you’re looking for a moderately strenuous hike with a remarkable reward at the end, Iron Creek Trailhead is the perfect place to start your journey. The path hugs a mountainside all the way up to one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Idaho. Goat Falls, the largest in the Sawtooths, flows out of Goat Lake like a waterslide until it crashes down on its final plunge.

Tip: Parts of the path are worn down and not maintained or marked so make sure you map out your hike before hitting the trailhead.

Other Trails Leading to Smaller Waterfalls

Cramer Lake Trail | Redfish Inlet Trailhead

This moderately difficult hike takes you on a long journey past the lower, middle, and upper Cramer Lakes. Part of the trail may flood depending on when the snow melts early in the season. If you make it up to the middle lake, a stunning waterfall gushes from the upper lake as the snow melts.

Lily Pond and Waterfall Trail | Redfish Inlet Trailhead

This relatively short and easy hike takes you to a small lake that has plenty of lily pads covering its calm water during the summer. Once you soak in the views of Mount Heyburn looming over you, head up the trail where a short climb takes you along Redfish Lake Creek. Enjoy a perfect view of a small, but great alpine Idaho waterfall in a setting that will make your jaw drop.

Your Idaho Adventure Awaits