Labor Day 2009

BOX CANYON We didn't plan a "waterfall" theme when we left the house on Labor Day, it just ended up that way. Sam had heard about a place called Box Canyon that had a biking/walking trail along a canyon rim with hiking to a waterfall. We packed a lunch and our bikes and drove to the Wendell/Buhl, Idaho area near Twin Falls.

The Canyon was amazing. It was so deep with crystal clear water running below. As we hiked down to the waterfall (this is the only waterfall I've ever hiked 'down' to), I had to hold Ryen because there was a lot of poison ivy. We knew this before hand and came prepared by wearing pants but he was just the perfect height to brush up against it. The waterfall wasn't visable from the trail because we came up from behind it (we heard it though). The trail ended at this wooden look-out deck and all of a sudden the waterfall appeared. It was much bigger than I expected. The deck was close enough to feel the spray of the water as it rushed over the rocks. It was breath taking.

THOUSAND SPRINGS STATE PARK (below)

I read in the newspaper recently that because of the lack of state funding and budget cuts that many of Idaho's state parks, like this one, will have to be closed. What a shame! We enjoyed our lunch in the beautiful, quiet surroundings here.

MALAD GORGE (below)

We have crossed over Malad Gorge countless times while traveling on the I-84 freeway. We made it a point to stop on the way home this time so the kids could see the waterfall that you can't see from the road. It happens to be directly under the freeway and unless you stop, you would never see it. We also followed the trail further down and saw a view much like what we saw at Box Canyon; a deep canyon with water running in the bottom. If it wasn't for Ryen insisting he get a closer look by trying to walk off the edge, it would have been more relaxing.