I am starting a series of places to visit in Idaho.  Check out all the reviews in my categries under “Visit Idaho”

Black Magic Canyon of Big Wood River State Hwy 75, Shoshone, ID 83352 https://maps.app.goo.gl/KP5V9rjGLAafEP5p6

Black Magic Canyon has the Big Wood River flowing through it for most of the year but in late fall and winter it offers a different landscape altogether, a slot canyon carved out by water.

  We chose to go at the beginning of November on a sunny day.  It was perfect.  There was still a couple of spots with some frozen water in small pls here and there.  Once you start walking the river bank northwest from the parking lot heading westerly in the canyon, the banks start to narrow and get higher around you and the rock formations create the coolest designs and landscape.

The canyon goes on for a long ways so determine how far you want to go in the beginning.  We had multipe families with us with kids aged from 2 years old on up to the grandparents.  The small kids we just helped lift up or lower down on some bigger obstacles.

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The landscape is beautiful with sage brush and lava rocks and a view of the sawtooth mountains in the distance.

Directions

From Boise head to Mountain Home. Take the 2nd exit on Highway 20 toward Fairfield. You will be on this route for about 1 hour and 23 minutes till you get to a rest stop on your Right hand side at the junction of Highway 75 and Highway 20. Turn South (Right) onto Highway 75 and go 10.3 miles. You will go over a river, keep going it will be the next one small rocky canyon. Turn Right and parking will be up and to your right.

Heading home head South on Highway 75 to Shoshone Idaho. Turn Right on South Rail Street W (Highway 26). This takes you through Gooding to I-84 and on to Boise.