Idaho is home to a number of unexpected treasures: secret canyons that appear and disappear just as suddenly, lost rivers, and even alpine lakes that no human soul has ever seen up close. Is it really any surprise that Idaho would also be home to multiple natural spring pools, tucked away in a hidden desert oasis?
While the most famous of Idaho’s spring-fed pools are of the hot, steamy, thermal type, others are refreshing and perfect for warm weather dips. But only one place in Idaho is home to a jewel-toned spring that is truly remarkable: Box Canyon Springs State Park in the Magic Valley, a part of the Thousands Springs State Park complex.
And it. Is. Breathtaking.
Seemingly in the middle of nowhere on the north side of the Snake River Canyon, tucked away between Buhl, Hagerman, and Gooding, a small, hidden canyon is a precious local secret.
From the unassuming trail, you won't even know this unexpected treasure exists until you're right on top of it. Instead, you'll feel miles away from civilization and fully immersed in the crunchy, grassy desert splendor of Southern Idaho. In fact, the Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Spring area is known for its short yet challenging walking trails and scenic overlooks - although you wouldn't know it from the stripped skeletons of sagebrush that reach up from the dust.
Just a few hundred feet away from the dry, grassy rim of the canyon, wide green leaves and , ivy-wrapped rock walls mark the outskirts of a phenomenal oasis. Here, 180,000 gallons of water per minute pour into the Snake River. Lush green water plants sway beneath the current of a 20-foot waterfall, shaded by large trees.
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The prismatic, green-blue spring is a captivating - an unexpected - sight that can only truly be appreciated in person.
A five-mile loop leads across the open farmland to the Box Canyon rim, less than a mile from the parking lot, where you can look down the 200-foot sheer wall and see the frigid water bubbling up from the aquifer.
Natural springs are a true geologic wonder all on their own: clear, fresh, naturally purified water bubbles up from openings in the earth and pours down hillsides to form dazzling displays and pristine pools of crisp, earth-recharged water. It sounds positively enchanting, doesn't it? But these natural wonders also create their own miniature ecosystems. Box Canyon is no exception.
One of the best parts? Seeing how the seasons, weather, and sunlight can change the color of the water from bright aquamarine to deep emerald.
Amre/Flickr
Only for those willing to brave the grueling hike, though. Are you up for the challenge?
