Lower Mesa Falls, Waterfall in Fremont County, Idaho.
Lower Mesa Falls plunges over volcanic rock layers, forming a series of cascades along a river in the region's volcanic landscape. The falls feature dark vertical cliffs with scattered boulders at its base.
The falls formed around one million years ago from a supervolcano eruption that left layers of rhyolite tuff and basalt lava. These volcanic rocks still shape the falls' appearance today.
The waterfall flows over dark rocks that remain largely untouched because local people rejected plans to build a dam here. When you visit, you sense this place has kept its natural character.
A short, level path leads to viewing platforms accessible by ramp, offering good sightlines of the water. The route is easy to walk and clearly marked for all visitors.
The water flows along a river that moves through volcanic terrain, which gives the falls their distinctive character in this landscape. The site visibly demonstrates how volcanic forces shape terrain over time.
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