A 25-foot waterfall with a split-log footbridge allowing passage behind the cascade on an easy, accessible trail.
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Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Water stays cold year-round; a split-log footbridge crosses the creek below the falls, allowing access under/behind the waterfall.
Shadow Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on Trail #513 near Kingston, accessed via an easy hike through the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The defining feature is a split-log footbridge that crosses the creek below the falls, allowing visitors to walk under and behind the cascade.
The creek water stays cold year-round, maintaining the dramatic appearance of the cascade regardless of season. The easy trail difficulty makes this suitable for families, children, and visitors of varying fitness levels. There is no day-use fee required, and the U.S. Forest Service maintains the trail as a standard recreation route.
Shadow Falls is frequently visited in combination with Fern Falls, which lies along the same trail system just 0.2 miles away. The two waterfalls make an excellent pairing for a morning outing, offering variety in waterfall size and character while maintaining easy access. The unusual opportunity to pass behind the waterfall via the footbridge bridge makes Shadow Falls a memorable photo opportunity and a distinctive experience compared to traditional overlook-style waterfall viewing.
Year-round; water stays cold throughout all seasons.
Fern Falls is located along the same trail (Trail #513); visitors often combine the two waterfalls for a longer outing.
No fee or permit requirement was published on the managing agency's site when we last checked — confirm current conditions before you go, since these change.
The managing agency's page (linked below) has the current trailhead and route details — round-trip distance wasn't published when we checked.
We track 8 waterfalls in Idaho Panhandle.
There are 2 other waterfalls we track in Shoshone. All Idaho Panhandle waterfalls →
fs.usda.gov
U.S. Forest Service official Idaho Panhandle National Forests Trail #513 page, checked 2026-09-04, last updated 2025-06-18 with no closure notice. Visit Idaho's tourism page cites a slightly different height (24 ft); the USFS figure (25 ft) is used as primary.
Checked September 2026.