Shoshone Falls: fees, season and can you swim

Shoshone Falls charges $5 per vehicle from April through fall and runs free the rest of the year, but the number that matters most to most visitors is timing: this waterfall's volume depends heavily on upstream irrigation demand, and it looks dramatically different in April than in August. At 212 feet, it's taller than Niagara Falls and the largest waterfall by volume in Idaho. It's the anchor of our waterfalls in Idaho guide, alongside the rest of the Snake River Canyon cluster near Twin Falls.

1 reviewed pick with directions and access notes

Fact box

Field	Detail
Coordinates	42.595°N, 114.401°W, Twin Falls County, per USGS/City of Twin Falls
Height	212 ft, taller than Niagara Falls, per the City of Twin Falls
Flow	Heavily dependent on upstream irrigation diversion; fullest in spring, often a fraction of that volume by late summer
Access	Short walk from parking inside Shoshone Falls Park
Fee	$5 per vehicle, seasonal ticket booth (spring through fall); free off-season; season pass $25
Legal status	Public, City of Twin Falls park
Season	Ticket booth reopened April 1, 2026; charges through fall, per city alert

Fees and hours

The City of Twin Falls operates a seasonal ticket booth at the entrance to Shoshone Falls Park, charging $5 per vehicle from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the season; outside those hours and outside the season, entry is free (City of Twin Falls civic alert, 2026). The booth reopened for the 2026 season on April 1. Frequent visitors can buy a $25 season pass at the booth or at the Twin Falls Parks and Recreation Department office, which also covers admission to nearby Dierkes Lake within the same park.

Season and flow

Flow at Shoshone Falls tracks irrigation season more than rainfall. Spring, typically April through early June, brings the fullest falls, before much of the Snake River above the falls gets diverted upstream for agriculture through the growing season. By late summer, the falls often run at a fraction of their spring volume, sometimes reduced to a narrower band of water across the same wide basalt rim. Anyone planning a trip specifically to see the falls at full volume should aim for spring rather than a summer visit.

How this guide was researched

This page was compiled from the City of Twin Falls' official park and fee information, and regional news coverage of Snake River Canyon safety incidents. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees and season dates change annually; verify current details with the City of Twin Falls before you go. Last checked August 2026.

Before you go

Shoshone Falls Park itself is set up for viewing rather than swimming: the falls drop over a sheer basalt rim into the canyon below, with no safe access to the water at the base from the park. Dierkes Lake, part of the same park and covered by the same admission, is the designated swim area nearby, with a sandy beach and no current to speak of, a completely different setting from the falls themselves.

The wider Snake River Canyon around Twin Falls, including areas near Auger Falls and Centennial Waterfront Park downstream, has seen fatal drownings in past years tied to strong currents and cold water at unofficial swimming spots along the river (KMVT, 2024). Read our waterfall safety guide before you go, and keep swimming to designated areas like Dierkes Lake rather than the river itself near any of the canyon's falls. The rest of the canyon cluster, and falls well beyond Idaho, are on our waterfalls near me map.

FAQ

How much does it cost to visit Shoshone Falls?

$5 per vehicle during the seasonal ticket booth hours, roughly April through fall, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's free outside those hours and the off-season. A $25 season pass is available.

Can you swim at Shoshone Falls?

No, not at the falls themselves; there's no safe water access from the park. Dierkes Lake, part of the same park, is the designated swim area nearby.

When does Shoshone Falls have the most water?

Spring, typically April through early June, before irrigation diversion upstream reduces the flow through summer and fall.

How tall is Shoshone Falls?

212 feet, taller than Niagara Falls, and the largest waterfall by volume in Idaho.

Is Shoshone Falls open year-round?

Yes, the park itself is open year-round; only the vehicle admission fee is seasonal, charged roughly April through fall when the ticket booth operates.

We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.