Idaho Falls area
Around Idaho Falls area
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Greater area · Idaho · 292k people
Idaho Falls area
Locals say Idaho Falls · “The Falls”, “Gateway to Yellowstone”
Where the Snake River winds through the high desert
Snake River BlueChukars RedTemple Gold
Welcome to Idaho Falls, where the Snake River runs through town and the mountains are just a short drive away. Whether you're here for the baseball, the hiking, or just a good huckleberry shake, you'll find a friendly community ready to share its favorite spots.
Clubs for Idaho Falls area
No clubs for Idaho Falls area yet.
The room
Idaho Falls area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Idaho Falls's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Idaho Falls. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Idaho Falls area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Snake River Greenbelt Scenic riverside walkway through downtown.
- Craters of the Moon National Monument Volcanic landscape about 90 minutes west.
- Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park Small family-friendly zoo.
- Museum of Idaho Regional history and science exhibits.
- Tautphaus Park Large community park with playgrounds and picnic areas.
- Melaleuca Field Home of the Idaho Falls Chukars.
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Craters of the Moon
- Outdoors Fish for trout in the Snake River
- With kids Visit the Idaho Falls Zoo
- With kids Explore the Museum of Idaho
- Evenings Live music at the Civic Auditorium
- Evenings Downtown bars
- Locals love Greenbelt trails
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- Idaho Falls Farmers Market Saturdays, summer Local produce and crafts every Saturday in summer.
- War Bonnet Roundup July PRCA rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing.
- Idaho Falls Chukars season Summer Minor league baseball at Melaleuca Field.
- Riverfest June Community festival with live music and fireworks.
- Idaho Falls Marathon June Road race through the city and along the Greenbelt.
Semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “the Falls”
- Idaho Falls
- “the Greenbelt”
- The riverside trail
- “spuds”
- Potatoes
- “huckleberry”
- A local berry, often in shakes or pies
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Idaho Falls Chukars Pioneer League (MiLB)
Also rooting for Boise State Broncos, Idaho Vandals, Utah Jazz
Eat and drink
- Idaho baked potato Potato is the state staple, often served loaded with butter, sour cream, and chives
- Fry sauce A local condiment made of ketchup and mayonnaise, common across the region
- Huckleberry shake Sweet wild berry shakes, popular in nearby mountain towns
- Potato soup Creamy, hearty soup made from Idaho potatoes
Where people go
- Snake River Greenbelt A scenic riverfront park with walking paths and waterfalls
- Idaho Falls Temple
- Craters of the Moon National Monument A vast volcanic landscape with lava fields and cinder cones, about an hour away
- Potato farms The surrounding countryside is dotted with potato fields, a defining image of the region
Heritage and traditions
Idaho Falls is proud of its pioneer and agricultural heritage, its scenic Snake River and falls, and its role in nuclear energy, all wrapped in a friendly, family-oriented community.
This time of year in Idaho Falls area
- Potato harvest Fall Fall brings the harvest, with fields of potatoes being dug and trucks hauling spuds.
- Fall colors on the Greenbelt Fall Cottonwoods and maples turn golden along the river.
Say it like a local: “You betcha” — A friendly affirmation, meaning 'yes' or 'certainly'.
Festivals
- Idaho Falls Temple Visitors' Center Christmas Display December A festive light display and nativity scenes during the holiday season.
- Idaho Falls Farmers Market Summer Weekly market featuring local produce, huckleberries, and crafts.
- Riverfest July A riverside festival with live music, food vendors, and fireworks.
- War Bonnet Roundup July A professional rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and a parade.
- Art in the Park August An outdoor art fair at Tautphaus Park with local artists and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- EBR-I (Experimental Breeder Reactor I) The first nuclear reactor to generate electricity, now a museum near Arco.
- Bonneville County Courthouse A stately 1930s building in the downtown historic district.
- Colonial Theater A restored 1920s movie palace hosting concerts and performances.
- Idaho Falls Historic District Downtown blocks with early 20th-century commercial buildings and the Eagle Rock bridge.
- Idaho Falls Temple An iconic LDS temple with a golden angel Moroni statue, visible from the Greenbelt.
Food traditions
- Funeral potatoes A cheesy potato casserole served at LDS potlucks, funerals, and family gatherings.
- Dutch oven cooking Pioneer-style stews and cobblers cooked over coals, often at family reunions.
- Spudnuts Doughnuts made with potato flour, a local treat at bakeries and fairs.
- Huckleberry pie Wild huckleberries are picked in the mountains and baked into pies and jams.
- Fresh trout dinners Anglers cook their catch from the Snake River, often over a campfire.
Music and arts
- Idaho Falls Symphony A professional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts at the Civic Auditorium.
- Idaho Falls Arts Council Promotes local arts with gallery shows, classes, and the Broadway series.
- Colonial Theater performances The restored theater hosts plays, concerts, and community events.
A little history
- 1864 Founded as Eagle Rock, a stagecoach stop and ferry crossing.
- 1891 Renamed Idaho Falls after the falls on the Snake River.
- 1911 The Idaho Falls Dam was built, creating the falls and hydroelectric power.
- 1951 EBR-I produced the first electricity from nuclear power, a milestone in atomic energy.
- 1920s-1950s The potato industry boomed with irrigation and the development of the Russet Burbank variety.
Rivalries
- Idaho Falls vs Pocatello Friendly competition between the two cities.
- Boise State vs Idaho College football rivalry.
- Chukars vs Ogden Raptors Pioneer League baseball rivalry.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Idaho Falls Chukars baseball
- Outdoors Watch the sunset at the falls
- Outdoors Stargaze at Craters of the Moon
- With kids Feed the ducks at the Greenbelt
- With kids Ride the carousel at Tautphaus Park
Locals speak with a mild Western accent, often using phrases influenced by the LDS culture (like 'Oh my heck') and agricultural vocabulary. They say 'pop' for soda and refer to the city's riverfront as 'the Greenbelt'.
Only here
- The Idaho Falls Temple is one of the first LDS temples in the region, with a distinctive gold angel.
- The city's name comes from the falls on the Snake River, which are illuminated at night.
- Arco, part of the metro, is nicknamed the 'Atomic City' due to the nearby nuclear reactor.
- The War Bonnet Roundup is one of the largest rodeos in the Pacific Northwest.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers; dress in layers and stay hydrated.
- Learn about the LDS culture—many neighbors are members, but all faiths are welcome; be respectful of Sunday traditions.
- Try fry sauce with your fries—it's a local staple.
- Walk the Greenbelt along the Snake River to get oriented and see the falls.
- Visit the Idaho Falls Temple grounds; the visitors' center is open to all.
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Areas in Idaho Falls area
Nearby
Every areaPocatelloIdahoA friendly gateway to Idaho's outdoors.Montpelier–Soda SpringsIdahoWhere the water fizzes and the berries are sweet.JacksonWyomingWhere the Tetons touch the skyBurleyIdahoWhere the potatoes are as big as the sky and the people are as warm as the harvest sun.HaileyIdahoMountain air, small-town heart.LoganUtahMountain views, Aggie prideDillon–EnnisMontanaWhere the rivers run clear and the mountains meet the sky.Twin FallsIdahoCanyon country with a big heart.
Idaho Falls-Rexburg-Blackfoot, ID CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.