Thousand Springs State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thousand Springs State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Cliff with springs along the Snake River
at Ritter Island |
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 Thousand Springs State Park
Location in Idaho
Thousand Springs State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gooding County, Idaho, United States |
| Nearest city | Hagerman, Idaho |
| Area | 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,800 ft (850 m) |
| Designation | Idaho state park |
| Established | 2005 |
| Administrator | Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Thousand Springs State Park |
Thousand Springs State Park is a super cool place in Gooding County, Idaho, where you can explore nature and have fun! It's not just one big area, but actually several different parts. These parts include Billingsley Creek, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Malad Gorge, Niagara Springs, and Ritter Island. Each unit has its own special features and things to see.
Contents
Discover the Park's Amazing Units
This big state park was created in 2005. Back then, four smaller state parks in the Hagerman Valley joined together to form one large park. Later, another cool spot was added to the park complex, making it even bigger and more exciting to explore!
Billingsley Creek Unit
Billingsley Creek used to be a ranch. The state bought this land in 2001. It's a great place to visit, covering about 286 acres. You can even see the old home of a famous western author named Vardis Fisher here!
Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve
This amazing place is a box canyon with really tall walls, about 250 feet high. It covers about 350 acres. At one end of the canyon, you'll find one of the biggest springs in North America! It gushes out a huge amount of water, about 180,000 gallons every minute. There's even a beautiful 20-foot waterfall to see. This area was first bought by a group called The Nature Conservancy in 1999. They helped protect it before it became part of the state park in 2016.
Malad Gorge Unit
Malad Gorge is a deep canyon carved out by the Malad River. It's about 250 feet deep! Before the river reaches the gorge, it tumbles over a 60-foot waterfall. This unit is great for a day trip and covers about 652 acres. You can find it right off Interstate 84. It's a perfect spot for hiking and having a picnic. You can even see a part of the historic Oregon Trail here!
Wildlife at Malad Gorge
Many cool animals live in Malad Gorge. You might spot rock pigeons, red-tailed hawks, and golden eagles nesting in the canyon walls. On the canyon floor, look out for yellow-bellied marmots. It's a great place for nature watching!
Niagara Springs Unit
Niagara Springs is a very special place, so special that it's been named a National Natural Landmark. This area is right next to the Snake River. It features amazing, steep cliffs made of basalt rock that are about 350 feet high. This unit covers about 179 acres and was added to the park in two parts, in 1971 and 1976.
Ritter Island Unit
Ritter Island is another cool part of the park. It's located along the Snake River and is special because it sits between two very large springs. It's a unique spot to explore the natural beauty of the area.
