Immersed in the scenic beauty of Mesa Falls
- posted: 08 Apr. 2008
- scrollsports@byui.edu
Once the snow melts and the sun shines in Rexburg, some students unaccustomed to the good weather might find themselves at a loss for things to do around the city. Sometimes the best solution is to get out and into nature.
Rexburg is surrounded by many natural features that offer new experiences to those students who are used to huddling inside their apartments during the cold winter months. The Mesa Falls offer an experience that many students might not have had yet.
“I love the falls,” said Heather Mattson, a senior studying history. “They’re one of the prettiest places around here. And they’re not that far away.”
The falls are located 35 miles north of Rexburg. According to the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, Highway 47 east of Ashton has been designated the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.
The Mesa Falls are two separate waterfalls: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. According to www.idahobyways.gov, these are the only falls in Idaho not used for irrigation or hydroelectric projects.
Both falls provide different attractions for visitors. There is a campground at the Lower Falls and many trails for bikes and horses between the two. During the winter, these trails are used for snowmobiles and snowshoes.
“There are lots of places to go hiking,” Mattson said. “There’s a trail down by the lower falls that leads down to the river, and you can get right up to the falls.”
According to www.waterfalls-guide.com, the Upper Falls are 114 feet high. A small rainbow created by sunlight passing through the mist of the falls can be seen anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on a sunny day. There are walkways along the falls that provide safe viewing and are wheelchair accessible.
The Big Falls Inn was opened as an interpretive center in 2001 and features exhibits on the local geology and cultural history. It also provides maps of other parks and points of interest in the area.
The Lower Falls is a mile downstream, and its viewpoint can be found along a forest service road from the Upper Falls. According to www.fs.fed.us, there is a one-mile trail to the Lower Falls that can be found about 200 yards east of the Big Falls Inn.
“Every student should get the chance to go out to the falls,” Mattson said. “It’s great to just get away from it all.” 
