How to Kayak to Fall Creek Falls in Swan Valley, Idaho
One of our favorite little adventures we had in Eastern Idaho was visiting Palisades, Idaho and riding dirtbike trails, floating the Snake River (twice!), and stumbling on hidden gems like Fall Creek Falls.
The first time we floated the Snake river, we took our friends Blake and Rachel’s jet boat, spotted a moose, and had a total blast… even though we might have gotten the boat stuck for a bit (oops!). The second time around, we floated it in our kayaks with Jake’s brother Braxton, which was such a fun experience!
But did you also know that you can drive right up to Fall Creek Falls? It’s a stunning 60-foot, multi-tiered waterfall that flows right into the river near Swan Valley, with mossy rocks and little pools that make it feel like something out of a fairy tale.
In this post, we’re sharing how to get to Fall Creek Falls, what to expect when you’re there, and why this spot should definitely be on your Idaho bucket list!
Where is Fall Creek Idaho? It’s located just an hour from Jackson Hole, WY outside of the town of Swan Valley, ID in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Fall Creek Falls Idaho Directions
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How to Get to Falls Creek Falls
The cool thing about Fall Creek Falls is that you can experience it two totally different ways! You can either get to it by driving right up to it for a quick and easy visit or by floating the Snake River for a much more adventurous approach (which was our favorite!).
Driving to Falls Creek Falls
If you’re short on time or just want a super easy way to check out the waterfall, you can actually drive right to a viewpoint above it.
From Swan Valley, head west on Highway 26 for about 6 miles. Then turn left onto Snake River-Palisades Dam Road (also called Fall Creek Road on some maps). Stay on this road for about 4.5 miles, and the road is dirt but usually well-maintained and doable for most vehicles in good weather.
You’ll cross over a little bridge, and not long after that, you’ll see an open area to park. There isn’t a big marked sign for the falls, but you’ll hear the roar of the water and find a short path that leads you down to a viewpoint looking over the waterfall and the river.
The view from above is beautiful, but just a heads up, the area can get pretty muddy if it’s recently rained, and the path down to the viewpoint is a little rough and uneven, so bring good shoes if you plan to walk down.
Getting To The Falls Via the Snake River
The beautiful Snake River is a 77-mile long navigable riverway that allows boat access. We visited this waterfall twice, once by jetboat and the second time on our kayaks.
If you decide to view the falls via the Snake River, make sure you have a good understanding of the location of the falls, since there are so many channels you could pass by the falls without realizing it!
To Get to Fall Creek Falls by Boat:
The first time we visited Fall Creek Idaho Falls was on our friend’s jetboat (and it was epic). If you plan to take a motorized boat to the falls, You can launch boats at the dam. Here are the GPS coordinates of where we launched the jetboat.
Most of the beautiful river was lush with marshy river banks. It was prime moose territory, and we saw a big moose when we took the jet boat on the river. We also saw so many bald eagles we lost count.
There were many other boats on the river and we were expecting it to be busy. But when we arrived, there were only a few other visitors. We parked the boat and got an excellent viewing spot. Then we walked all around the different layers of the falls.
⚠️ A quick note: Always check the current river conditions before you go! The Snake River is dam-controlled, so water levels can change, and it’s important to know what you’re getting into, especially if you’re kayaking or rafting it yourself.
To Get to Fall Creek Waterfall by Kayak:
This will require a bit more planning as you will want to have a vehicle waiting for you at the pick-up location past the falls at the boat ramp near the snake river bridge called spring creek boat ramp.
Before we floated down the river, our group shuttled an extra vehicle down the dirt road to the boat launch just after the waterfall, and then put our kayaks in right from camp!
The river was moving at a good speed and we calculated it was going about 5 mph because of the amount of water being released by the dam. We were able to make it to the waterfall in just a couple of hours.
We barely had to paddle! Even though our hard-sided kayaks aren’t really meant for rivers, they did really good and we made it to the falls, paddled around the base of the falls for a while, then floated down to the pick-up location at spring creek boat ramp.
Here’s some photos of our journey to Fall creek falls snake river Idaho:
Fall Creek Idaho Fishing
I can’t think of a better way to spend your time than fishing on one of these great rivers. The Snake River and its tributaries offer an endless supply for anyone who loves the sport.
With the abundance of rainbows, browns, cutthroats – it’s no wonder this area attracts many outdoorsmen each year!
Is Fall Creek Falls Free?
Completely Free! There is no fee to see this waterfall.
What to Bring
- Water shoes
- Life vest (if you plan to visit on a watercraft)
- Water + Snacks
- Sunscreen + Hat
- Swimsuit (if you plan on enjoying the swimming hole)
- Camera or GoPro
- Dry Bag
Dispersed Camping: There is an accessible camping spot about 1/4 mile from fall creek falls. And, because this is located in a National Forest, camping is free. Mixed growth cottonwood trees provide partial shade and grassy meadows. Since this is dispersed camping, there are no picnic tables or campfire rings.
Other campgrounds in the area: Falls Campground, Bear Creek Campground, Indian Creek Campground, and Pine Creek Campground.
Visit Idahos Fall Creek Falls Waterfall
Fall Creek Falls Idaho is the best waterfall in Eastern Idaho! Whether you visit as a family adventure, with friends, or as couples on a romantic getaway, there are endless ways to experience this natural wonder.
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