Magic Valley Scenic Tour: Unexplored Historic Attractions

Discover Magic Valley’s hidden gems on a scenic tour. Explore historic attractions, capture stunning views, and enjoy easy walks. Perfect for all travelers.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Box Canyon Springs Preserve - Your tour begins in the awe-inspiring Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve. Take a short walk to the overlook and peer hundreds of feet down to see natural springs that flow year round through this arresting canyon where lush vegetation and desert animals thrive in our corner of the Great Basin Desert.

  • Thousand Springs Scenic Highway - Drive the Thousand Springs Scenic byway on your way to one of the most breathtaking panoramic views Magic Valley has to offer overlooking three miles of America’s first superhighway, The Oregon Trail. Along the way, take in the majestic Snake River, roadside natural hot springs, beautiful creeks and waterfalls for photo opportunities and stunning sights.

  • Malad Gorge State Park - Travel to Malad Gorge State Park where a 60 ft. receding cataract known as Devil’s Washbowl once plunged over the edge of this 250 ft. deep gorge into the Snake River 2 1/2 miles from where it falls today. Take in magnificent views of Malad Gorge, its volcanic features and wildlife.

  • Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument - Next, stop at the Thousand Springs State Park, Hagerman Fossilbed National Monument Vistor Center. See exhibits and fossils from the largest find during the Pliocene Epoch dating back 3.5 million years including the famed Hagerman horse, mastodon, ground sloth and more.

  • Balanced Rock Road - Sit back and relax while you enjoy the beautiful countryside of Castleford, Idaho, on your way to Balanced Rock, one of Idaho’s most famous sights. This unique rock formation was created when wind carved this natural wonder standing 48 feet tall, weighing 40 tons and balancing on a base just under four feet long.

Just before you return to town, you’ll make a brief stop in Balanced Rock County Park located just a mile down the highway from Balanced Rock. There you will get an up-close experience with the massive rhyolite volcanic formations creating a spectacular slot canyon where Little Salmon Creek flows quietly through. Keep an eye out for beaver, yellow-belly marmots and “mud swallows”, who make their nests on the canyon walls.

  • Hagerman - Known for its fishing, hot springs and quaint country-style town, Hagerman, ID, is located in the Hagerman Valley along the Snake River. You can enjoy rafting, kayaking, pontoon boat rides and more as you view “1,000 Springs and Waterfalls” along the Scenic Byway.
  • Oregon Trail Overlook (Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument) - Set atop one of the most breathtaking panoramic views Magic Valley has to offer and overlooking three miles of the Oregon Trail, the deep wagon wheel ruts are an historic reminder of the determination of America’s pioneers of the 1800’s who risked it all to realize dreams of a new life in the west.
  • Perrine Bridge - Spanning 1,500 feet across the Snake River Canyon, the I. B. Perrine Memorial Bridge is at a height 486 feet above the Snake River. It is the only bridge in the United States where B.A.S.E. jumping is legal without a permit every day of the year, attracting jumpers from all over the world to its rails.
  • Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump Site - On September 8th, 1976, the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel, attempted to jump across the Snake River on his final jump. Though the jump was not successful (Evel landed in the bottom of the Snake River Canyon and was safely rescued), his jump ramp is still visible from the I.B. Perrine Memorial Bridge and accessible via a paved walking path along the Snake River Canyon Rim or by vehicle down a dirt road that takes you right up to the jump sight.
  • Buzz Langdon Visitor Center - Inside the center, you’ll find everything you need for your trip in Southern Idaho. Discover historic photos, watch informative videos, and learn more about the four national park properties in our area. Talk to staff for maps, travel guides, lodging deals and locals-only recommendations.

The Center’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the Snake River Canyon, the 486-feet-tall Perrine Bridge, and the historic Evel Knievel jump site.

What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
  • Snacks
  • On-board restrooms
Additional Information

This relaxed road trip provides an ‘off the beaten track’ voyage to five of Magic Valley’s lesser-known yet popular attractions. Each site has been chosen thoughtfully to provide the explorers with a uniquely appealing and historically rich experience, which appeals to all travellers.

Visitors will enjoy brief, effortless strolls at each locale. Don’t forget your cameras and binoculars, as this is the sole tour of its nature available in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(22 Ratings)
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N9517kklauried
Jul 29, 2024
Best Experience Ever!!! - We had two tours scheduled, and enjoyed ourselves soooo much, we booked a third tour with Big Green Adventure Tours. Other than Craters of the Moon, we also did the Guided Half day tour to Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls, and the Guided half day Scenic Tour - Off the Beaten Path. We have done tours all over the world and I believe this might have been our best experience with a tour and guide. Our guide was entertaining, as well as, informative. Got to visit places I don't think we would have found on our own. Middle of a corn field - BOOM - a fantastic gorge, or the best was stopping at the Hagerman Fossil Beds Visitor Center. When a young ranger was told he had some fossil lovers he volunteered to run in the back and get a few fossils and give us a personal presentation out on the patio. Patio Paleo at it's finest! Would not have had that experience without this tour... Highly recommend this experience. She even gave us suggestions of places to visit on our days that we did not have tours booked. We really enjoyed ourselves and had no idea Idaho had so much to offer!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theresa_d
Jul 15, 2024
Off the beaten path tour - all the beautiful places we visited and all the information our guide shared with us were the highlights of our tour. She was very active with entertaining our 9 year old also.
Review provided by Viator
Vicki_b
May 20, 2024
Great excursion! - Loved the small group size, knowledge of our guide, and all the places she took us! One of the best excursions I have ever been on.
Review provided by Viator
Lucretia
Mar 19, 2024
Simply the best! - Amazing day highly recommend this is a must do while in twin falls! We had so much fun and learned so much about the area! Thank you for a terrific morning!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Judybe4548xf
Mar 19, 2024
Big Green Adventure Tours - Absolutely wonderful tour. Our guide was on time and so knowledgeable about everything! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. So many sights to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M6078jwanal
Mar 12, 2024
Absolutely amazing!! - We had a great time! Me and my 13 year old daughter really enjoyed our tour. We loved Gabrielle so much, she was a great tour guide. I really loved her great hospitality. She was funny,and friendly, she was everything you would want in a tour guide. We learned a lot. We got great photos as well. I definitely recommend this tour. 😃
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharonsl7464ey
Nov 13, 2023
Multiple sites--all in one tour! - This tour was amazing--so many sights to take in! Our Tour Guide, Gabrielle, provided so much interesting information throughout the tour and at each stop. She made sure each person on the tour was comfortable and stopped multiple times for us to enjoy each site and take pictures. This multi-attraction tour was well planned and proved to be very enjoyable way to see some beautiful areas of Idaho.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A3847xumarcusg
Oct 30, 2023
Very detailed and perfectly managed. - Very detailed and well thought out tours! I’ve lived here for 10 years and learned a bunch of new stuff about Twin Falls, different towns surrounding Twin Falls, and even went to some places I had never been or known about! The tour is very well scheduled, and you can tell that a ton of time and effort has been put into her work! If you have a question, she’ll have an answer!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K2170fystevew
Oct 30, 2023
A very pleasurable experience!! - I was invited by Gabrielle on a welcome tour through our Kiwanis club. She offered her tours to the membership as an end of the season, welcoming experience. I chose the Southern Idaho area of Buhl, Hagerman and Castleford. Stopping at Box canyon, Ritter Island, the national park museum, Balanced Rock and the park area on the Little Salmon Creek. Living in this area for 38 years. I have seen these areas many times but going with Gabrielle was a real treat. She fun and very knowledgeable about the area and I would recommend going on this tour. I would do it again as I had an enjoyable time!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jsktucson
Jul 24, 2024
Good tour of the area. - Great little half-day tour to see a lot of the area and hear some of its history. Gabrielle is very personable and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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