Thousand Springs of Hagerman Idaho June 5, 2007. We are staying at High Adventure River Tours RV-Park/Store & Dutch Oven Cafe located on the southeast corner of exit 147 near Hagerman, Idaho. It is a nice RV-Park with shade and long pull-through sites. PPA with tax ran $16 for FHU. For those of you that are not familiar with PPA (Pass Port America) it is an organization you can join for less than $50 per-year. Campgrounds that belong to PPA offer 1/2 price discounts. That kind of savings can quickly add up. While participating PPA parks generally have some restrictions on dates the PPA offer is valid, or possibly days of the week the discount is valid, or perhaps the number of days that the PPA discount will be honored the discount is genuine. Many times PPA campgrounds are new campgrounds that need help in getting established. Other times PPA campgrounds may be on the outskirts of town instead of in the "prime" location thus they need to provide an incentive for campers to stay with them. Whatever the reason PPA campgrounds generally provide a much cheaper option. PPA is the only campground organization that I think is worth the cost. PPA does not have a gimic. What you see is what you get. Once you join they send you a directory listing all participating campgrounds. The PPA directory is the FIRST directory we check when trying to locate a place to spend the night. You can join PPA by calling 228-452-9972. If you decide to join PPA, it would be nice if you gave them my number "R-0156251" as the PPA member that told you about PPA. In return PPA will give me a years membership free. I will thank you in advance for that kindness. Thank you.
One of the THOUSAND SPRINGS in the Hagerman Valley
Clean, cold water gushing from the thousand springs provides ideal conditions for fish hatcheries and commercial fish farms.
More of the THOUSAND SPRINGS of Hagerman Valley
More of the THOUSAND SPRINGS in the Hagerman Valley
Some of the Thousand Springs of Hagerman Valley
Do you remember the Snake River Aquifer we discussed in travelogue #62 that flowed through "pillow basalt", well you are about to see water springing out of lava rock in an area along the Snake River called 1,000 Springs. Melting snow and rain water feed this aquifer from a large basin 35,000 square miles in size. Following permeable layers of basalt, water flows in a southwestern direction until it reaches the Snake River Canyon, where it emerges as springs. The Thousand Springs area near Hagerman, Idaho contains 11 of the 65 largest cold springs found in the United States.
More of the Thousand Springs in the Hagerman Valley
These are some of the Thousand Springs that emerge from a layer of pillow basalt midway up the canyon wall here in the Hagerman Valley.
Note the talus slope located above the springs in the picture on the right..
Some of the Thousand Springs in the Hagerman Valley
We are totally amazed at the pressure water is flowing out of the spring on the right. Folks there is an amazing volume of water welling out of these springs. Part of the Thousand Springs of the Hagerman Valley flowing into the Snake River
As you drive along the basalt canyon wall in the Hagerman Valley it is easy to spot many of the Thousand Springs emerging from the layer of pillow basalt. Many springs flow into either fish hatcheries or into trout ponds that raise trout for the commercial market. Note the talus slope above the springs and at the bottom of the basalt cliff.
Thousand springs waterfall in the Hagerman Valley
This spring in the Hagerman Valley created an immediate waterfall.
That is hard basalt that the spring water is flowing out of. Actually, these springs are flowing out of cracks in that hard basalt. Take time to spot the talus slope at the bottom of this cliff.
More of the Thousand Springs in the Hagerman Valley
Part of the Thousand Springs system of springs.
I don't know if there are a thousand different springs but there certainly could be. They are everywhere we look.
How many of the Thousand Springs are gushing out of this part of the Hagerman Valley hillside?
Much of the water flowing out of these springs originated in Yellowstone National Park. As snow slowly perculates through hard layers of basalt it reaches a layer of pillow basalt that is cracked or fractured. Water can flow through the cracks and fisures once it percolates to that level. Pillow basalt is created when molten lava flows into water and is quickly cooled. While I am not a geologist I am guessing that the pillow basalt this spring water is flowing out of was an old riverbed that flowed from the around Yellowstone National Park. Since molten lava is a liquid it will flow down hill thus the early molten lava ended up in an existing river where the molten lava formed pillow basalt. Today underground water is probably flowing in that ancient river bed.
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Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
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