Pillar Falls

The Trail

This moderate trail is only 0.8 miles one way when starting from the parking area, however it does pack about a 400 ft elevation change, nearly all of which is in a half mile portion of the trail. At the time we hiked this, construction workers were busy grading and renovating the trail to pave it. We were probably about the last if not the last hikers to hike this unpaved. It is pretty steep, which made it a bit slick in places, and I don't know how the paving of the trail will affect this aspect. The trail leads to a nice viewpoint of Pillar Falls. If you are up for a bit longer hike, there is also a trail to another waterfall (shown in green below) that will add an additional 0.2 miles to your hike (0.1 miles one way) and about 100 ft more in elevation change.

Topographical Map (red = Pillar Falls, green = other falls)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

It is difficult to start this trail at the actual trailhead as there is no parking there. For this reason, most people start at the parking lot at the intersection up the road, and then walk along the road to reach the trail. This adds 0.3 miles to the hike; otherwise it would only be half a mile to the falls. The trailhead is marked by a sign warning people that only foot traffic is permitted on the trail.

Trailhead

From there the trail descends steeply toward the river below.

Much of the trail was soft dirt like
this when we hiked

When you reach the split, go right to reach the viewpoint to see Pillar Falls in the distance. Unfortunately, my nice pictures from my camera were accidentally lost, so I am just left with a few taken from a phone instead.

Looking out toward Pillar Falls

 

If you are up for a bit more hiking, turn right on your way back onto the other trail and make your way down to the other falls found this direction. There are also some fantastic views here of the bridge and Snake River. From here you can return the way you came, climbing back up the canyon.

Other waterfall

Directions

If you are coming from south of Twin Fall, take Exit 182 off of I-84 and turn left onto State Route 50. Next, turn right onto 3900 N/Addison Rd. Continue 6 miles and then turn right onto 3200 E/Hankins Rd. Next turn left onto 4000 N/Falls Ave, then right onto 3100 E/Airport Rd. As this road turns left, turn right onto Pole Line Rd. and park in the lot to the right. From here walk to the trailhead about 0.3 miles down Pole Line Rd.

If you are coming from the north, take Exit 173 off I-84 and merge onto US-93. Turn left onto Bridgeview Blvd. and from there turn left onto 4100 N. Continue to Pole Line Rd. and turn left, then turn right into the parking lot.

GPS Coordinates for the parking lot: N42° 35.517' W114° 26.407'

GPS Coordinate for the trail: N42° 35.528' W114° 26.090'