Mile 0.0 - Kuna Visitor Center

Staffed by the Kuna Chamber of Commerce and volunteers, the Kuna Visitor Center contains interpretive displays and information about raptors and recreation in the NCA, as well as information on Kuna history and available services.

Mile 3.0 - Barker Road

Barker Road marks the northern boundary of the NCA. Northern harriers and prairie falcons frequent this area, while red-tailed and Swainson's hawks sometimes perch on telephone and power poles. Paiute ground squirrels and black-tailed jackrabbits take cover in the sagebrush.

Kuna Butte, on the west side of the road, burned in 1996. The furrows you may see resulted from rangeland drill seedings of bunchgrasses. Prior to the fire, this butte and the surrounding area was covered with sagebrush and bunchgrasses.

Mile 4.5 - Kuna Cave Road

This area burned several years in a row in the late 1990s. Prairie falcons and Northern harriers frequent this area.

Mile 8.0 - Initial Point

In a sense, Idaho begins at Initial Point. The prominent lava butte to the east was the starting point for the official land survey of Idaho, begun in 1867. All legal descriptions throughout the state refer to this specific reference point. A short walk up the rocky, steep access trail brings visitors to an observation deck and survey marker at the summit of the butte.

Look for raptors perching and hunting on the volcanic rock outcroppings to the south. The Owyhee Mountains are visible to the southwest.

Mile 10.2 - Pacific Power & Light (PP&L) 500kV Powerline

Some birds of prey enjoy roosting or nesting on the steel towers that support this powerline. Special nesting platforms have been placed on some of the towers to encourage raptors to nest below the electrical lines. Large powerlines do not usually electrocute birds. The greatest number of electrocutions occur on much smaller powerlines where the wires are closer together, allowing a wingspan to cross two lines.

Mile 11.5 - Idaho Power Company Double-pole Powerline

The cross-arms of this powerline provide nice hunting perches. West of Swan Falls Road is a good stand of winterfat. This low, silvery shrub, provides excellent food and cover for Paiute ground squirrels (a prime food for both raptors and badgers), and helps hide the abundant badger holes. Because of the abundant ground squirrel populations, the NCA contains one of the densest badger populations in the world.

Coyote Butte is east of the road and Trio Butte is to the southeast.

Mile 12.0 - Intersection with Victory Lane

To the south and west are privately owned ranch land. Look for "extra insulators" on the powerline cross-beams and extra tall fence posts. Prairie falcons and red-tailed hawks use these perches as vantage points for hunting the adjacent fields. Directly south lies Sinker Butte, an extinct volcano. Travelers on the South Alternate of the Oregon Trail passed around the south side of this butte.

Mile 15.5 - Dedication Point

Dedication Point overlook provides an outstanding view of the Snake River Canyon. During the spring, this is a good place to spot birds of prey in flight. The surrounding winterfat and scattered patches of sagebrush provide habitat for Paiute ground squirrels. For raptors with hungry nestlings in the canyon cliffs, a food supply this close to the canyon rim makes for a quick turnaround.

Interpretive signs along the one-quarter mile trail describe the plants, wildlife, and geology of the NCA and aid with bird identification.

Mile 16.5 - Adjacent to winterfat stand

This stand of winterfat mixed with patches of sagebrush provides important habitat for the Paiute ground squirrel. A food supply this close to the canyon rim makes for a quick turn around for a prairie falcon feeding many hungry nestlings.

Mile 17.7 - Three-Pole Pullout

Before descending into the canyon, this stop offers a great view of Swan Falls Dam and the Snake River Canyon. Look for prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. Sinker Butte is directly across the river canyon.

Mile 18.5 - Top of Swan Falls Grade

A steep grade into the Snake River canyon begins just around the corner. The pullout at the top provides another good spot to look for seeing prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. This vantage point also provides great views both upstream and downstream.

Mile 18.8 - Adjacent to canyon cliff

Notice the layer of sedimentary rock that becomes visible between layers of volcanic basalt rock as you drive into the canyon. This sedimentary layer is visible up and down the canyon for many miles. The uneven weathering of the different layers helps to create the cavities that are used by the prairie falcons for nest sites.

Three pullouts are located along the road as you descend into the canyon. These pullouts provide scenic vistas of the canyon cliff nesting habitat and prey habitat.

Mile 19.5 - Talus slope

The basalt cliff walls consist of many cracks and crevasses. When water gets into these, the natural process of freezing and thawing slowly forces the rocks apart and causes them to fall to the base of the cliffs. Notice the sharp, angular edges of these boulders. Similar boulders found along the Snake River are talus slope boulders but they have smooth, rounded edges. This difference was caused by the effects of a massive flood which occurred in the canyon about 15,000 years ago.

Mile 20.0 - Swan Falls Dam and Historic Exhibit

Swan Falls Dam was built in 1901 (the first hydroelectric dam on the Snake River). Originally, the dam supplied power to gold and silver mines in the Owyhee mountains. Eventually, it provided electricity for settlement and agriculture on the Snake River Plateau. The dam, operated by Idaho Power Company, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

In 1995, a new powerhouse was completed and the old historic powerhouses were renovated into a visitor/interpretive center. The center provides a history of the Swan Falls Dam and hydro-electricity, plus information about the natural and cultural resources of the NCA. Call Idaho Power Company at (208) 388-6962 for tours and visiting hours. The facilities include restrooms, drinking water, a public telephone, and picnic area.

** This ends the portion of the loop tour on Swan Falls Road. The next stop on the Loop Tour is Celebration Park. (The access map will show the route to Celebration Park.) To continue the loop tour, retrace Swan Falls Road 8 miles north to Victory Lane. Turn west on Victory Lane for 3 miles and then turn north on McDermott Road for 1 mile. A left on Warren Spur Road for about 2 miles will bring you to the intersection with CanAda Road. Turn left (south) on Canada Road and go 1 mile to Victory Lane where you will take a right (west). Follow Victory Land into the canyon to Celebration Park.

Mile 39.0 - Celebration Park

Canyon County's Celebration Park is Idaho's only archaeological park. Park staff interpret the Snake River Canyon's fascinating archaeological and cultural history through tours and presentations. A short hiking trail leads visitors past petroglyphs carved on boulders by Native Americans and early settlers.

A non-motorized trail along the north bank of the Snake River provides access upstream to Halverson Lake, a small pond nestled along the canyon wall. Other non-motorized trails lead through the Bonneville Flood boulders scattered across Halverson Bar. These trails converge into one trail and can be followed upstream approximately 10 miles toward Swan Falls Dam. This trail opens to motorized use about halfway to the dam.

Guffey Bridge, located at the downstream edge of Celebration Park, provides one of the few crossings over the Snake River. The one-time railroad bridge, built in 1897, has been restored for non-motorized use and provides access to primitive trails on the south side of the river. The park's facilities include vehicle parking, an interpretive center, restrooms, picnic area, boat launch and Idaho's only atlatl range.

Refer to the access map to reach the nearby town of Melba or return to Kuna to complete the loop tour.

Four Rivers Field Office  |  3948 Development Avenue  |  Boise, ID 83705
208-384-3300  |  Fax: 208-384-3493  |  Office hours: 7:45am - 4:30pm, M-F