By Thereasa Rasmussen
A few years ago, as my husband and I noticed our children were getting older and would soon be leaving the nest, we had a discussion on family vacations. We wanted to take our children places to see things, learn, and just experience them, but at the time the economy was not in our favor and the dream of being world travelers seemed unreachable. We decided we would start right here in our very own state, Idaho. We soon realized that we had both basically grown up here in this beautiful state, but had not seen the bulk of it. So we began a list of adventures to take right here.
I invite you to come along as I share some of the wonders Idaho has to offer. My hope is that in sharing these places it will encourage you and your family to set out and explore this amazing state we all call home. I will show you places near
and far that my family explored, from waterfalls to small quirky towns, and help you get to know what a unique and wondrous place we live in. Our first stop on Idaho Travels is Jump Creek.
Let’s just get this out of the way, I am a water junkie. I could spend days just staring at a waterfall, watching the ocean wave, or a stream trickle down a mountain. Who ever invented the Zodiac signs might never get my horoscope correct, but they nailed it when they assigned Aquarius as my symbol. So when I heard there was a local waterfall I was all in for an afternoon drive.
Jump Creek Falls is located about ten miles outside of Marsing. After negotiating through a few private properties my husband and I found ourselves at the mouth of Jump Creek Canyon where the falls are located. I have to admit at first I was not too impressed. I mean it is the Owyhee desert and as you can imagine, everything looked dry and dusty, but the parking area was large and there was a picnic table as well as a public restroom which boded well that people enjoy this site.
Since we had never been to Jump Creek we were not sure which path to take, so we chose a higher trail that ran along the ridge line of the canyon. It did not take long before nature started showing itself in all its beauty. Large canyon walls stretched towards the sky as we made our way along the slope of the canyon. Large rock formations stood
like times forgotten castles. Green began to intertwine itself with the caramel and rust colors of the canyon walls. When we arrived at the end of the trail we were able to see the falls, but not reach them. We back tracked until we could climb down to the lower trail.
Just a short quarter-mile hike on the lower path and our reward was a fifty foot, narrow silver band of water falling to a small pool perfect for soaking in on a hot summer’s day. When we visited it was a bit busy, but you could still see and enjoy everything the falls had to offer. Children were laughing and splashing in the pool and some where weaving in and out of the key holes made my large boulders. Others were up on the wall line checking out small caves, crevices, and rock structures.
This little gem of a waterfall and natural pool will delight anyone who sees it. It was a fun day trip that let us get out and stretch our legs. Jump Creek offers even the smallest of adventurers’ things to do, from exploring small caves to skipping across rocks to get over the creek. However it is not stroller or wheel chair friendly. Jump Creek is open year round to the public and is closed from dusk to dawn. I loved that Jump Creek was this hidden beauty tucked away in a vast dry and desert area. So pack a lunch and take a day to go explore Idaho!
