Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls Snake River Canyon is a large canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. Perrine Bridge crosses the canyon immediately north of Twin Falls. In places, the canyon is 500 feet (166 meters) deep and 0.25 miles (0.41 kilometers) wide. Shoshone Falls is located approximately 5 miles (8.33 kilometers) east of Perrine Bridge in the canyon. [That's our next stop on this journey.] The Snake River is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At 1,078 miles (1,735 km) long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Snake has been called the lifeline of southern Idaho and the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry in that part of the state. Hydropower dams and irrigation facilities were developed simultaneously along the Snake, as pumping facilities were powered by electricity and communities developed around the farm settlements. The Snake River Plain is a geologic feature located primarily within the state of Idaho. It stretches about 400 miles (640 km) westward from northwest of the State of Wyoming to the Idaho-Oregon border. The plain is a wide flat bow-shaped depression and covers about a quarter of Idaho. Three major buttes dot the plain east of Arco, Idaho, the largest being Big Southern Butte - one of the largest volcanic domes on earth. The Snake River Plain can be divided into three sections: western, central, and eastern. The western Snake River Plain (this photo is part of the western section) is a large tectonic graben or rift valley filled with several km of lacustrine (lake) sediments; the sediments are underlain by rhyolite and basalt, and overlain by basalt. Many of Idaho's major cities are in the Snake River Plain, as is much of its agricultural land. Also located within Snake River Plain is the Idaho National Laboratory.

Canyon Springs Golf Course in Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls Canyon Springs is one of the finest public courses in Southern Idaho. Located in the majestic Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho, Canyon Springs challenges players of all skill levels in a setting that rivals the best resort courses of the West.

Canyon Springs Golf Course in Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Canyon Springs Golf Course in Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Canyon Springs Golf Course in Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls [D]

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls Canyon Springs Golf Course in Snake River Canyon [far right]

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls The I. B. Perrine Bridge at Twin Falls, Idaho, United States is a truss arch four-lane bridge carrying U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake River Canyon. Perrine Bridge is approximately 1,500 feet (457 m) long and 486 feet (148 m) above the Snake River. This beautiful 1500-foot span runs north and southbound on Route 93 and is the main connector between Twin Falls County and Jerome County. Originally named the Twin Falls-Jerome Intercounty Bridge, a steel cantilever bridge was opened to traffic in September 1927, and at the time, was the highest bridge in the world. The privately financed $650,000 structure was originally a toll bridge, but the tolls were eliminated in 1940 after the bridge was purchased by the state of Idaho. By the early 1970s, the original bridge was outdated and unable to handle heavy loads and required replacement. Construction on the current bridge was completed in July, 1976 at a cost of $9,700,000. The original bridge was demolished. The bridge is named for I. B. Perrine, who spearheaded the early 20th Century irrigation projects in Idaho's Magic Valley region and is largely credited as the main founder of Twin Falls. Perrine Bridge is the only man-made structure in the United States where BASE jumping is allowed year-round without a permit.

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls

Perrine Coulee Falls - Twin Falls [D] Perrine Coulee Falls is a 197 foot high single drop waterfall that tumbles into the Snake River Canyon along Perrine Coulee Creek located one half mile west of the Perrine Bridge [photos to follow] on U.S. Highway 93 between Jerome, Idaho and the town of Twin Falls, Idaho. Both the bridge [photos to follow] and waterfall where named for I.B. Perrine who founded the City of Twin Falls, Idaho in 1904. The waterfall is actually a coulee (a dry stream valley, especially a long steep-sided gorge or ravine that once carried melt water from a glacier) that was used as part of the Twin Falls canal system after the 1905 Milner Dam was built about 40 miles upstream from where the Perrine Coulee falls into the canyon.The coulee always had mountain runoff water, but after 1905, it flowed much more with irrigation water.There is a road down into the canyon that originally was an Indian trail that ran behind the waterfall. Mr. I. B. Perrine widened the road in the late 1890s and ran a stage line from his home in the canyon up both sides of the canyon. Now the road goes in front of the waterfall and is wide enough for a two-car road.There is a park, golf course, and water treatment plant in the canyon.

Perrine Coulee Falls - Twin Falls

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls Girders underneath the Perrine Bridge

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls Girder underneath the Perrine Bridge

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls [D]

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls Girders underneath the Perrine Bridge

Perrine Bridge - Twin Falls Girders underneath the Perrine Bridge

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls

Snake River Canyon - Twin Falls