Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Side excursion to Mesa Falls
For a delightful short trip very close to the western edge of Yellowstone, visit Upper and Lower
Mesa Falls on Idaho Highway 47. These two beautiful waterfalls on Henrys Fork cascade over
the edge of lava that formed the eastern edge section of the Henrys Fork Caldera. The Henrys
Fork Caldera is just to the southwest of the Yellowstone Caldera and is smaller and twice as
old
[GEO.8].
(For more about these calderas, see the Geological History chapter.)
To reach Upper and Lower Mesa falls from the north, take Idaho 47, which intersects U.S.
20 about 36 miles south of West Yellowstone. Coming from southeastern Idaho, go east from
Ashton about 5 miles (8 km) and then north on Idaho 47.
Big Springs harbors islands of flowers.
The 114-foot (35 m)
Upper Mesa Falls
is about 12 miles (19 km) from the U.S. 20 turnoff.
Following the short trail leading to the falls, you stand above its exhilarating roar. The Big
Falls Inn, privately built by power company officials in 1916, was rarely used as an inn but is
now an interpretive center, with full access for wheelchairs. Major improvements to the inn
building, the trails and boardwalks, and the interpretive signs have necessitated an entrance
fee of $3 per car.
A short distance south of Upper Mesa Falls is the turnoff for the less spectacular 65-foot
(20 m)
Lower Mesa Falls,
with its attractive 1930s stonework.
