Guided Half-Day Scenic Tour - Off The Beaten Path

Your tour begins in the awe-inspiring Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve. Take a short walk to the overlook and peer hundreds of feet down to see natural springs that flow year round through this arresting canyon where lush vegetation and desert animals thrive in our corner of the Great Basin Desert.

Drive the Thousand Springs Scenic byway on your way to one of the most breathtaking panoramic views Magic Valley has to offer overlooking three miles of America's first superhighway, The Oregon Trail. Along the way, take in the majestic Snake River, roadside natural hot springs, beautiful creeks and waterfalls for photo opportunities and stunning sights.

Travel to Malad Gorge State Park where a 60 ft. receding cataract known as Devil's Washbowl once plunged over the edge of this 250 ft. deep gorge into the Snake River 2 1/2 miles from where it falls today. Take in magnificent views of Malad Gorge, its volcanic features and wildlife.

Next, stop at the Thousand Springs State Park, Hagerman Fossilbed National Monument Vistor Center. See exhibits and fossils from the largest find during the Pliocene Epoch dating back 3.5 million years including the famed Hagerman horse, mastodon, ground sloth and more.

Sit back and relax while you enjoy the beautiful countryside of Castleford, Idaho, on your way to Balanced Rock, one of Idaho's most famous sights. This unique rock formation was created when wind carved this natural wonder standing 48 feet tall, weighing 40 tons and balancing on a base just under four feet long. Just before you return to town, you'll make a brief stop in Balanced Rock County Park located just a mile down the highway from Balanced Rock. There you will get an up-close experience with the massive rhyolite volcanic formations creating a spectacular slot canyon where Little Salmon Creek flows quietly through. Keep an eye out for beaver, yellow-belly marmots and "mud swallows", who make their nests on the canyon walls.

Known for its fishing, hot springs and quaint country-style town, Hagerman, ID, is located in the Hagerman Valley along the Snake River. You can enjoy rafting, kayaking, pontoon boat rides and more as you view "1,000 Springs and Waterfalls" along the Scenic Byway.

Set atop one of the most breathtaking panoramic views Magic Valley has to offer and overlooking three miles of the Oregon Trail, the deep wagon wheel ruts are an historic reminder of the determination of America's pioneers of the 1800's who risked it all to realize dreams of a new life in the west.

Spanning 1,500 feet across the Snake River Canyon, the I. B. Perrine Memorial Bridge is at a height 486 feet above the Snake River. It is the only bridge in the United States where B.A.S.E. jumping is legal without a permit every day of the year, attracting jumpers from all over the world to its rails.

On September 8th, 1976, the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel, attempted to jump across the Snake River on his final jump. Though the jump was not successful (Evel landed in the bottom of the Snake River Canyon and was safely rescued), his jump ramp is still visible from the I.B. Perrine Memorial Bridge and accessible via a paved walking path along the Snake River Canyon Rim or by vehicle down a dirt road that takes you right up to the jump sight.

Inside the center, you’ll find everything you need for your trip in Southern Idaho. Discover historic photos, watch informative videos, and learn more about the four national park properties in our area. Talk to staff for maps, travel guides, lodging deals and locals-only recommendations. The Center’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the Snake River Canyon, the 486-feet-tall Perrine Bridge, and the historic Evel Knievel jump site.