This fall, neither waterfall on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is open to visitors. In May, the Forest Service said the Lower Falls would stay open as a backup while the Upper Falls closed for repairs. That changed in September, when the Caribou-Targhee National Forest announced that closures at both Upper and Lower Mesa Falls "remain in place due to multiple ongoing construction projects." For anyone planning to take visiting family up Highway 47 this week, the nearest open stop is Harriman State Park. This weekend, Harriman also has the season's biggest family event in the Island Park area.
The plan everyone heard in May no longer holds
The closure was announced early so people could plan for it. On May 26, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest announced that the entire Upper Mesa Falls area would close on Aug. 10 for a renovation that included road repairs and chip sealing. The project was scheduled to continue into winter. The same release said visitors could still explore Lower Mesa Falls, just under a mile south on the byway, with its hiking trails and scenic overlooks. In early August, East Idaho News also reported that Lower Mesa Falls would stay open while the Upper Falls closed.
Here is how the official guidance changed over the season:
| Date | Forest Service guidance | Upper Mesa Falls | Lower Mesa Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2026 | Closure announced ahead of time | Closing Aug. 10 | Listed as the open alternative |
| Aug. 10, 2026 | Construction begins | Closed | Expected to stay open |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | Mesa Falls Visitor Center page updated | Visitor center closed for the rest of the 2026 season | Not addressed; May guidance had not been revised |
| Sept. 16, 2026 | Public safety reminder | Closed | Closed |
The Sept. 16 Forest Service update is the most recent one, and it is stricter than the May plan. It says the asphalt trails at both sites are "unsafe and inaccessible due to significant trail surface disruption." If you last checked in May or August, Lower Mesa Falls is probably still on your list. It shouldn't be.
Four contracts are working on the same few acres
The closure has spread because it is no longer a single repaving job. The September update describes four active contracts across the Mesa Falls recreation sites, each at a different stage:
- Lower Mesa Falls Grandview parking lot resurfacing. Complete as of Sept. 16.
- Upper Mesa Falls road repair and chip seal. Expected to finish "within the next couple of weeks" of that update.
- Trail paving at both sites. Still underway, which is why both trail systems are off-limits.
- Replacement of the Upper Mesa Falls boardwalk. Expected to begin "as early as this fall."
The boardwalk is the part most visitors will notice. A new walkway at Upper Mesa Falls changes how the next visit will look, and starting it in fall is part of a timeline the Forest Service planned on purpose. In the May release, Forest Engineer Steve Jenkins said the schedule "was chosen to minimize the impact to the public while still offering environmental conditions needed for success of the project." In September, the agency set its goal as completing "as much work as possible before winter so that the facilities can fully reopen to visitors in the spring."
The barricades are also being enforced. The Forest Service says it keeps finding visitors inside the restricted construction zones, including people on foot. Workers have reported several incidents a day, including stepping out of the way of vehicles that drove past the closures. Law enforcement patrols have increased, and citations are being issued. The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District can answer questions about current conditions at 208-652-7442.
Snow on Highway 47 makes "spring" mean late spring
The byway has a seasonal closure of its own on top of the construction. The Forest Service's Mesa Falls Scenic Highway page says Highway 47 closes at Bear Gulch after the first plowable snowfall each fall and generally isn't plowed open again until mid-May, depending on conditions.
Put those together and a "spring" reopening for the falls depends on the snow. If the facilities are ready before the road is clear, most drivers still won't get there until the plows reach the falls. The next time a car can park at Grandview and walk the new paths will most likely be in late spring.
Harriman State Park says the road is groomed for snowmobiles in winter, and that the falls can be reached by snowmobile or cross-country skis from Bear Gulch. Fremont County Parks and Recreation is now hiring seasonal groomer operators for the 2026–27 snowmobile trail season. The jobs are based in Island Park, and the season runs roughly December through mid-March. Whether the construction zones at the falls themselves will be open by snow has not been announced, so check with the ranger district before heading out from Bear Gulch.
This weekend, the drive ends at Harriman
With both falls closed, a fall drive through Island Park needs a different stop, and Harriman State Park has one this weekend. Haunts of Harriman returns on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24. Idaho Parks and Recreation lists it on the park's update page for both nights. The Island Park Area Chamber of Commerce event listing describes it as "two nights of not-too-scary Halloween fun."
The listed activities include:
- Trick-or-treating
- Carnival games and hay rides
- A Spook Alley
- Indoor movies and face painting
- A visit to the park's fortune teller
- Hot cocoa and cookies
The event is free. The Chamber suggests a $10 donation per family at the entrance and is collecting canned goods for the local food bank, so a few cans in the trunk will be put to use. Idaho Parks' own event page also calls it free, with $10 donations encouraged. The park's regular $7 per-vehicle entrance fee still applies.
The listings don't agree on times. The Chamber calendar shows Friday at 5 p.m. through Saturday at 9 p.m. A separate Idaho Parks event entry lists only Saturday at 5 p.m. If you can only make Friday, check the Chamber page or the Harriman State Park of Idaho Facebook page before you leave. The park uses that page for alerts and event updates.
The Chamber is also looking for volunteers to staff the face painting booth, direct traffic, and collect donations. To sign up, call 208-558-7368.
A few things to know before you go. The park has had construction since about Labor Day, which is expected to wrap up around Halloween. Expect signage, cones, and barriers in some areas, and stay on official trails. According to the Harriman State Park page, pets are allowed only in parking lots next to vehicles, on a six-foot leash, with no access to trails or roads. That matters if the family dog was planning to come. The Boys House in the historic district is open as a family gathering space with complimentary refreshments, seasonal crafts, and board games. The Honeymoon Hotel serves as the base for Junior Ranger activities.
After Halloween, Harriman becomes a winter park
Harriman stays open after the falls close and keeps going through winter. Idaho Parks lists 24 miles of groomed winter trails for classic cross-country skiing, skate skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking. Winter access costs $6 a day, or you can buy a season pass: $50 for an individual, $75 for a couple, or $100 for a family. The vehicle entrance fee is charged on top of either. The park also runs educational programs on winter Saturdays, plus self-guided Junior Ranger and Jr. Snow Explorer activities every day. No grooming start date for 2026–27 has been posted. The schedule linked on the park's page is from 2022, so watch the park's Facebook page for opening-day trail conditions.
The overnight options change with the season too. Becker Yurt, which Idaho Parks recommends for hearing the Harriman elk bugle in fall, closed for the year on Oct. 15. The Cygnet, Ermine, and Wyethia yurts are available year-round. Several historic ranch buildings can also be rented, including the Dormitory & Dining Hall and the newly renovated Ranch Office. Reservations are available at 1-888-922-6743.
Before the snow settles in, Havilands Old West Adventures, the park's new horseback riding operator, offers one- and two-hour rides for riders 8 and older. Book directly at 208-613-9974.
Mesa Falls is expected to reopen in the spring with new trails, a resurfaced Grandview lot, and a rebuilt boardwalk at the Upper Falls. Until then, Harriman is the open stop on that drive, and the best time to visit is this Friday or Saturday evening.
Highway 47's winter closure and Harriman's ski season are two of the seasonal facts that shape life near Island Park. If you're thinking about how year-round access, winter recreation, or a seasonal property fits into your next move, Abigail Martin is glad to talk it through, and you can start with a free home valuation.
