Thousand Springs State Park

Thousand Springs State Park
Idaho State Park
Country  United States
State  Idaho
County Gooding
Location Hagerman
 - elevation 2,800 ft (853 m)
 - coordinates 42°51′28″N 114°52′35″W / 42.85778°N 114.87639°W / 42.85778; -114.87639Coordinates: 42°51′28″N 114°52′35″W / 42.85778°N 114.87639°W / 42.85778; -114.87639
Area 1,500 acres (607 ha)
Founded 2005
Management Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
IUCN category V - Protected Landscape/Seascape
Location of Thousand Springs State Park in Idaho

Thousand Springs State Park is a state park of Idaho, USA, comprising 5 units in the Hagerman Valley. In 2005 as part of a master planning process, it was decided to combine 4 existing state parks under a single new entity.[1] A fifth unit has since been added. The units as they currently stand are Billingsley Creek, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Malad Gorge, Niagara Springs, and Ritter Island.[2]

Billingsley Creek

This former ranch was purchased by the state in 2001.[2] One feature is the homesite of western author Vardis Fisher.[1] Billingsley Creek Unit totals 286 acres (116 ha).[3]

Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve

This 350-acre (140 ha) box canyon has 250-foot-high (76 m) walls. At its head is the eleventh-largest spring in North America, gushing 180,000 US gallons (680,000 L) per minute.[3] There is a 20-foot (6.1 m) waterfall.[2] This 350-acre (140 ha) property is in development and is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.[4]

Malad Gorge on the Snake River

Malad Gorge

Malad Gorge is a 250-foot-deep (76 m) canyon formed by the Malad River, downstream from a 60-foot (18 m) waterfall. This 652-acre (264 ha) day-use-only unit is just off Interstate 84 and offers hiking and picnicking. A section of the Oregon Trail is visible.[2] Rock pigeons, red-tailed hawks and golden eagles nest in the canyon. Yellow-bellied marmots are found on the canyon floor.

Niagara Springs

Proclaimed a National Natural Landmark, this area borders the Snake River and features sheer basalt cliffs 350 feet (110 m) high.[3] There are 179 acres (72 ha) in two parcels, acquired in 1971 and 1976.[3]

Ritter Island

This unit lies along the Snake River between two large springs.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (August 2006). "Thousand Springs State Park Master Plan, Chapter 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2001-03-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. "Thousand Springs State Park". Retrieved 2001-03-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (August 2006). "Thousand Springs State Park Master Plan, Chapter 3" (PDF). Retrieved 2001-03-04.
  4. Idaho Division of Tourism Development. "Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve". Retrieved 2011-03-04.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, February 25, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.