"Mesa Falls/Targhee National Forest" Ashton by GuthrieColin

Ashton Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 26 photos

At just an hour and a half drive from West Yellowstone, this area is well within reach of visitors to Yellowstone National Park. In the winter the snow pack can be very deep beyond mile 12 (19 km)from Ashton. My trip was in mid march and the unplowed section of Hwy 47 was about 2.5 feet (76 cm) deep of snow. I did not have a snowmobile or snowshoes so I walked on the packed snowmobile tracks for 5 miles (8 km) each way to the falls and back. I would not recommend this insanity to anyone without a snowmobile in the winter. The above picture is following the highway. Just beside that sign will be a paved highway in the summer.

Mesa Falls Links:
www.mymaps.com
www.idt.idaho.gov
www.fs.fed.us
www.nationalgeographic.com
www.gowaterfalling.com

Last visit to Ashton: Mar 2007
Intro Updated Apr 5, 2007
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Reviews (4)

Upper Mesa Falls Other Info Things to Do (3)

The rock that the falls are constantly eroding is rhyolitic bedrock which in non-geology terms equals packed volcanic... more travel advice

Upper Mesa Falls Information Things to Do (3)

Upper Mesa Falls also known as “big falls” is one of the most picturesque waterfalls I’ve ever seen. The winter view of... more travel advice

Henrys Fork Off The Beaten Path (1)

Henrys Fork-also called the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River-is a beautiful and scenic river that winds through the... more travel advice

Lower Mesa Falls Things to Do (3)

Lower Mesa Falls are viewed from a viewpoint nicknamed "grandview" that is on the ridge some 400 feet (181 m) above the... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Apr 5, 2007

2 photos

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.

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Comments (2)

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willy_wonka Aug 11, 2009 at 12:25 AM

you are tapped man! 8km hike in the snow? eeks!
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kazander Apr 5, 2007 at 1:16 PM

It's so different here in the winter! What an adventure to get here, you have quite a lot of determination! It really is a gorgeous spot:) Did you see my summer pix?