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I lived in the Idaho Falls area for nearly seven years and somehow never heard of Wolverine Canyon. On a recent move back to the area after 24 years with my dog Lucky, I finally discovered this scenic stretch of the Blackfoot River—and immediately wondered how I had missed it all these years.
I recently visited Wolverine Canyon for the first time, and I’ll admit something that surprised me: I had never even heard of it until returning to Southeast Idaho just a few weeks ago. That may not seem unusual, except that I lived in the Idaho Falls area from about 1995 to 2002. During those years, I thought I knew the region fairly well. I knew the parks, the neighborhoods, and many of the popular places people talked about. Yet somehow, Wolverine Canyon never crossed my radar. So when I learned about it recently, I knew I had to see it for myself.
Lucky and I spent about 45 minutes exploring the overlooks and taking in the views. One of my favorite moments came while watching him investigate the area. He seemed completely comfortable with the surroundings, while I was a little more cautious. At one point, Lucky wandered onto a rocky overlook above the canyon. The view was incredible, but I found myself keeping a close eye on him near the edge. Thankfully, he seemed much more interested in exploring scents and watching the landscape than getting too close to the drop-offs.
From several viewpoints, the Blackfoot River could be seen winding through the bottom of the canyon below. The combination of green vegetation along the river and the surrounding rock formations created a landscape that felt very different from what most people picture when they think about Southeast Idaho.
As a first-time visitor, one of the biggest challenges was simply figuring out where to access the canyon. I noticed several Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signs throughout the area, but there weren’t always obvious trailheads or access points. At one location, I came across a ladder built over a short barbed-wire fence. I assumed it was there to help visitors cross, and since I didn’t see any no trespassing signs, that’s exactly what I did. Once I got farther into the area, the effort was worth it. The views quickly opened up, revealing the canyon, the Blackfoot River below, and scenery I never expected to find so close to Idaho Falls.
To be honest, we didn’t see much wildlife during our visit. Other than Lucky, the only animal I spotted was a rabbit hopping through the brush. We did come across some old animal bones, which was a little unexpected. For most of the hike, though, it was just us, the canyon, and the sound of the river below. Sometimes that’s all you need.
What surprised me most about Wolverine Canyon wasn't just the scenery. It was the realization that I had lived in the Idaho Falls area for years without ever knowing it existed. Sometimes we assume we've seen everything our community has to offer. We become familiar with the places everyone talks about and stop looking for new discoveries.
Wolverine Canyon reminded me that there are still places hiding in plain sight. Even though Lucky and I spent less than an hour there, it was enough time to appreciate the beauty of the canyon and understand why locals recommend it.
How did I live here for seven years and never visit Wolverine Canyon? I still don't have an answer. What I do know is that I'll be back.And if you've lived in Southeast Idaho for years and have never visited Wolverine Canyon yourself, you might be surprised by what you've been missing.