Southern Idaho: Malad Gorge, Perrine Bridge and Shoshone Falls

After leaving Bend Oregon bright and early, we continued east to Salt Lake City.   

If you missed the earlier posts, I was on a road trip from Salt Lake City to Oregon, driving down a good portion of the coast before heading back to Utah, making a few stops in Idaho.  We were driving Thatcher's Toyota Venza and staying at pet-friendly Motel 6's as we made our way along. 

It was going to be a long day of driving through eastern Oregon, across southern Idaho and then into Utah to Salt Lake City.  It was at the end of our trip that we were wishing we had used an RV Rental, instead of touring the Venza through the Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.  Check out Outdoorsy.com for local camper vans and RVs in the area.  

While the drive was long, I was pretty excited for a few stops in Idaho.  I have become oddly obsessed with Idaho lately.... it is a little weird right?  I guess my obsession stems from realizing there was more in the state besides potatoes.  

Shoshone Falls

There are mountains, and streams, waterfalls, and caves???  Yes, I was that ignorant.  Growing up on the East Coast, no one talks about the flyover states, or any of the states in the middle of the country really.  Sure Denver gets some attention, but that is about it. 

During my trip last month to Bear Lake sitting on the Idaho/Utah border, I picked up a Idaho travel magazine and was blown away by what I saw.  There on the cover was a gigantic waterfall, and throughout the pages were pristine rivers, lakes, and peaks  I knew my time was running out (more on that tomorrow) for all the things I want to do here, but I swore to see the beautiful Shoshone Falls before I left the West (spoiler!). 

Bear Lake and Scenic Byways

Sometimes life can be stressful.  Whether its work, relationships, family or friends, sometimes you just need to get away.  I had been toying with the idea of a few different trips, Portland, Nevada, and Idaho, and last minute decided to do a day trip to the closest one, Idaho.  Sometimes all the stress piles up and I get a feeling of crushing anxiety in this little apartment in the city.  So when life (and a few days of bad weather) has you feeling down, a road trip to somewhere new is in order. 

If you know me, you know I have a love for the water.  And here in Utah, the second most arid state in the country whose landscape involves a lot of desert (and mountains of course), water is hard to come by.  I spend a lot of time googling Utah's lakes and rivers. I have to admit I have seen many of them and they leave a lot to be desired (This New England native loves a good coastline and sandy beach). Let's just say I set my expectations high.