The best waterfalls near Boise, Idaho are Jump Creek Falls, Big Falls, Lady Face Falls and 3 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Jump Creek Falls, about 37 miles west of Boise.
For more waterfalls around Boise, browse the nearest towns: Idaho City, Marsing, Murphy, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Cascade, Glenns Ferry, Council, McCall. You can also see every waterfall on the Idaho waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 6 publicly accessible Idaho waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Boise that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Jump Creek Falls
37 miles west of Boise. Our top pick near the city 4.7 out of 5 from 392 reviews.
Owyhee County, ID 83639 (GPS 43.4768, -116.9254)
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Jump Creek Falls is about 37 miles west of Boise, near Marsing. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 392 Google reviews, and 83% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention family hike, canyon, and walk to falls.
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2. Big Falls
39 miles northeast of Boise. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Boise County, ID 83622 (GPS 44.0663, -115.7232)
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Big Falls is about 39 miles northeast of Boise, near Idaho City. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 6 Google reviews.
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3. Lady Face Falls
70 miles northeast of Boise. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Custer County, ID 83637 (GPS 44.2316, -115.0959)
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Lady Face Falls is about 70 miles northeast of Boise, near Idaho City. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 5 Google reviews. Reviews most often mention hike. Older records also call it Lake Face Falls.
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4. Dagger Falls
78 miles northeast of Boise. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 12 reviews.
Valley County, ID 83278 (GPS 44.5296, -115.2859)
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Dagger Falls is about 78 miles northeast of Boise, near Cascade. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 12 Google reviews.
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5. Lower Salmon Falls
84 miles southeast of Boise. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
Gooding County, ID 83332 (GPS 42.8430, -114.9042)
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Lower Salmon Falls is about 84 miles southeast of Boise, near Wendell. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 13 Google reviews. Older records also call it Fishing Falls and Salmon Falls.
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6. Deadman Falls
66 miles southeast of Boise. Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 15 reviews.
Elmore County, ID 83633 (GPS 42.8891, -115.3517)
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Deadman Falls is about 66 miles southeast of Boise, near Glenns Ferry. Visitors rate it 3.4 stars across 15 Google reviews. Older records also call it Deadman Falls Dam.
Waterfall Day Trips From Boise
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jump Creek Falls | 37 mi west | Marsing | 4.7 |
| Big Falls | 39 mi northeast | Idaho City | 4.5 |
| Deadman Falls | 66 mi southeast | Glenns Ferry | 3.4 |
| Lady Face Falls | 70 mi northeast | Idaho City | 4.6 |
| Dagger Falls | 78 mi northeast | Cascade | 4.7 |
| Lower Salmon Falls | 84 mi southeast | Wendell | 4.5 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Boise. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Boise?
Jump Creek Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 37 miles west of Boise and rated 4.7 stars from 392 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Boise?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Jump Creek Falls is the closest, about 37 straight-line miles west of the city, near Marsing.
How many waterfalls are near Boise?
We track 6 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Idaho within 100 miles of Boise, 2 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Idaho waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 6 publicly accessible Idaho waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Boise that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Why is Shoshone Falls lower in late summer?
Water from the Snake River is diverted upstream for irrigation during the growing season, so the falls carry much less water by mid to late summer. Spring, before diversions peak, is the best time to see it at full force.
Summary
Jump Creek Falls is our top waterfall pick near Boise, rated 4.7 out of 5 and about 37 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Snowmelt makes late spring the peak season across Idaho. In the Snake River Canyon, Shoshone Falls usually runs fullest from about April into early June; later in summer, upstream diversions for irrigation can reduce it to a fraction of its spring volume. Mesa Falls and the Panhandle falls generally peak in May and June as mountain snow melts. Central Idaho's higher-elevation falls may not be reachable until roads and trails clear of snow, often in late June or July, and flows remain decent through midsummer. Late summer and early fall bring lower water, smoke from wildfires in some years, and fall color in the northern forests. Winter is quiet; some canyon falls form ice, but many mountain roads are closed or unplowed.
For more Idaho waterfalls, see the full Idaho waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Idaho, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Idaho and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Idaho.