Perrine Coulee Falls

Perrine Coulee Falls drops nearly 200 feet off the rim of the Snake River Canyon in a single free-falling stream that plunges into a rocky alcove below. What makes this waterfall extraordinary is the trail that passes directly behind the curtain of water — you walk through a shallow cave carved into the canyon wall while the falls pour past inches from your face, the sound amplified to a roar inside the rocky chamber. The view outward through the falling water toward the canyon and the Perrine Bridge is surreal.

The trail is a short 0.6-mile round trip from the parking area on Canyon Springs Road, descending via switchbacks to the base of the falls and the walk-behind passage. The path is moderately steep but short, with the behind-the-falls section requiring careful footing on wet rock. You will get wet — embrace it on a hot day or bring a rain jacket.

Perrine Coulee flows year-round, fed by agricultural irrigation that seeps through the porous canyon rim. This unusual water source means the falls actually run stronger in summer irrigation season than during spring snowmelt. The Perrine Bridge, visible from the trail, is a popular BASE jumping launch point — look up and you might see parachutes.