15+ Things to Do in Twin Falls Idaho

I grew up most of my life in a little town in Southern Idaho called Twin Falls. It’s situated about 2 hours south of Boise and about an hour away from Sun Valley, Idaho.

Twin Falls is a typical Idaho town with a population of about 50,000 people. It’s mainly popular because of its vicinity to the Snake River Canyon and the famous Shoshone Falls. Many people also drive through Twin Falls on their way to Yellowstone National Park, Boise or Salt Lake City. The town itself is surrounded by the Snake River Canyon, lots and lots of farmland and cattle, and smaller farm towns like Filer, Jerome, and Kimberly.

Since I now live in Boise and get to live closer to Twin Falls, I decided to put together a little list of things to do in Twin Falls. Hopefully, this will be helpful if you’re visiting Idaho or ever find yourself driving through the town and looking for some fun things to do in Twin Falls.

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15+ Things to Do in Twin Falls Idaho

1 – Visit the Stunning Shoshone Falls Park

Shoshone Falls are actually some of the most amazing falls I’ve ever seen in the United States, and I grew up right next to them! What’s even cooler is they are 212 feet higher than Niagara Falls. People actually call them the “Niagara of the West”! You can drive right up to them, and from the lookout, you can feel the spray of the falls. The view is pretty mesmerizing, and there’s also a large park next to the falls, Shoshone Falls Park, so you can bring a picnic and hang out here. Next door to Shoshone Falls is Dierkes Lake and Bass Lake (mentioned below), so you really can make a whole day out of hanging out in that area.

2 – Paddle the Snake River to Shoshone Falls or Pillar Falls

If you’d rather get a bit more adventurous, I recommend kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding the Snake River to Shoshone Falls. You’ll go under the Perrine Bridge and get spectacular canyon views. The entire route is a 7.5-mile round trip and took me about 5.5 hours, and that’s with stopping for snacks, photos, and portaging across Pillar Falls, which can take a while.

If you’d rather go to the Perrine Bridge and back, it will be about a mile. You can rent your gear at AWOL Adventure Sports in Centennial Waterfront Park. My kayak rental was $25 for the day. Check out my full guide to kayaking to Shoshone Falls here.

3 – Walk along the Perrine Bridge

The Perrine Bridge has become famous because it is a popular spot for BASE jumping and base jumpers. People from all over the world come here to jump off of it! It’s one of the tallest bridges in the USA and is the main connector to get into Twin Falls if you’re coming from Boise or one of the farming towns like Jerome.

When you drive across the bridge to get into Twin Falls, you’ll see the newly remodeled Twin Falls Visitors Center. I recommend parking in their lot and then walking over to the Snake River Canyon Rim Trail along the canyon. These will be some of the best canyon views you’ll see in Twin Falls! You can also walk across the bridge if you’d like!

4 – Go to Perrine Coulee Falls

Not far from the Perrine Bridge is the Perrine Coulee Falls. You can either view it from the top of the canyon, drive to it, or hike to it. I like to drive down to it via the Centennial Falls Canyon entrance. When you see the large curve in the road with parking spots alongside the left of the road, you’ll be able to see a small opening to walk down to Perrine Coulee Falls. You can even walk behind the falls! 

5 – Adventure Down into the Snake River Canyon

One of my favorite things about Twin Falls is probably the Snake River Canyon. There are a ton of great hikes, places to go boating, and areas for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, golfing, and canoeing. Some people rock climb, and others BASE jump off the bridge. Dierkes Lake and Bass Lake are the most popular lakes in the canyon and the perfect places to swim and fish in the summer.

Bass Lake is part of the Blue Lakes Country Club, so you technically need to be a member to go, but Dierkes Lake is open to the public and a little larger. These are both great places to hang out and swim.

6 – Eat or Grab Drinks on the Canyon Rim

Quite a few new hot spots are popping up in Twin Falls for food and drinks, but if you’re visiting for the first time, you must grab drinks or dinner on the canyon rim!  I recommend going to happy hour at Elevation 486 for the view! Come here on a warm summer evening to watch the sunset and enjoy an Idaho Lemonade or a Corona Rita. Happy Hour is from 2-5 pm every day! Then, you can head to Red Hawk Gastropub for dinner! 

7 – Visit the Herrett Center for Arts and Science and the Faulkner Planetarium

I grew up going to shows at the Herrett Center’s Faulkner Planetarium and just loved them. It’s a great activity for the entire family and the shows they put on are amazing. Another fun activity, especially on a rainy day, is visiting the Herrett Center’s museum. These are all owned by the College of Southern Idaho and are fun for the whole family. 

(via Visit Idaho)

8 – Get breakfast at the Buffalo Cafe

If you want to have a down-home Idaho breakfast, then head over to the Buffalo Cafe. It’s usually pretty crowded on the weekends, but so worth it. Make sure you get the home fries…you are in Idaho after all!

9- Visit downtown Twin Falls for shops, food, and drink

When I grew up in Twin Falls, the downtown was a bit run-down. Nowadays, it’s the place to be! With new breweries and restaurants popping up all, over it’s a great mix of new with the old.

Best Food in Twin Falls, Idaho

Twin Falls Sandwich Company – This is a great lunch spot with awesome fresh sandwiches and soups.

Slice – A hip pizza spot with great pies and slice options.

Yellow Brick Cafe – Come here for healthier farm-to-table grub and amazing coffee.

The Cookie Basket – This cookie shop has been here since I was a little girl. I love their selection, and it just reminds me of a Grandma’s cookie shop.

Glanbia Cheese Marketplace – Go here and try the many different cheeses they offer. Glanbia makes many cheeses you can try, and most are made locally!

Milner’s Gate – This is inside an old ballroom building and is so cool. They do drinks and a great brunch but also serve lunch and dinner as well.

2nd South Market – This isn’t downtown, but it’s a popular food hall, perfect for a group!

Best Drinks in Twin Falls, Idaho

O’Dunken’s- This is a classic Irish pub that’s been around for a long time. It’s super fun on St. Patrick’s Day, or any day for that matter!

Koto Brewing – This is one of the only breweries in Twin Falls and is really neat! Go here for great pub food and beer.

Anchor Cafe – This isn’t actually located downtown and on one of the busiest streets in town, but is a fun bar and restaurant that I had to add!

Magic Valley Brewing on Main – They first opened in Buhl and now have a spot in downtown Twin Falls!

10 – Zipline in the canyon

This zipline was added a few years after I moved away from Twin Falls. Zip the Snake allows you to zipline in the canyon. It doesn’t take you clear from one side of the canyon to the other, but it still has to be a thrill. Next time I’m in town I have it on my list to try!

(via)

11 – Walk or bike along the Snake River Canyon Trail

The Snake River Canyon Rim Trail goes on for twelve miles along the canyon edge! It even takes you under Perrine Bridge. It’s a great spot for a stroll or a jog with amazing views. You can actually start the trail at the Shoshone Falls State Park and end it at the Perrine Bridge! Along the way, you’ll pass by Perrine Coulee Falls, and if you continue on, you’ll be able to reach some of the restaurants along the canyon rim!

12 – Go Golfing

If you want a unique golfing experience—golfing in the Snake River Canyon might be for you. The popular golf course,  Canyon Springs Golf Course is located in the canyon and you’ll get beautiful views!

13 – Take a dip at Dierkes Lake

If you’re visiting Twin Falls in the summer, Dierkes Lake is the place to be. It’s a lake in the Snake River Canyon that you can swim in, complete with a grassy lawn and beach. It’s not far from Shoshone Falls Park, so you can easily do both within the same excursion. This area can get busy in the summer with people swimming and picnicking! 

In the lake is a floating dock where people swim to and jump off. This is definitely a great spot to cool off in the hotter months!

14 – Take a day trip from Twin Falls, Idaho

All of these places are really close to Twin Falls and fun for an overnight or just a day trip! I grew up going to all of them and miss living so close to all of them. You could even make a Southern trip out of it. Here are some great stops to make along the way!

• Shoshone Ice Caves
• Hagerman Fossil Beds
• Miracle Hot Springs
• City of Rocks
• Craters of the Moon
• Bruneau Sand Dunes
• Thousand Springs State Park
• Blue Heart Springs
• Vinyard Lake hike (a true local secret)
• Sawtooth National Forest (near Stanley, ID)
• Pomerelle Ski Resort
• Balanced Rock and Buhl, Idaho

I also have a list of my favorite places to visit in Idaho here.

15 – Attend a Twin Falls event

There are some fun events that happen in Twin Falls all year long. Here are a few notable ones:

• Western Days
• Twin Falls County Fair
• Twin Falls Farmer’s Market
• St. Patty’s Day Festival

When is Western Days In Twin Falls, Idaho?

Western Days is a fun, family-friendly event every June in Twin Falls at Twin Falls City Park. There are food and craft vendors in the park, concerts, kids activities, and the main event, the Western Days Parade. Check here to see when the upcoming dates are! 

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