Massacre Rocks State Park

Massacre Rocks State Park is a state-managed recreation area in southern Idaho that preserves a dramatic section of basalt rock formations along the Snake River and a segment of the historic Oregon Trail.

Outdoor recreation opportunities include camping, river access for boating and fishing, picnic areas and short trails among the boulder formations. Interpretive signage and trails point out historic emigrant route features and provide context about travel along the Oregon Trail through this constricted river passage. The boulders and cliff-lined river corridor are the visual and geological highlight.

The stretch of river and boulder fields was noted by 19th-century emigrants on the Oregon Trail; the park name reflects reports and local tradition tied to conflicts during westward migration, and the area later became a designated state park to preserve both natural and historical features. Over time facilities for public recreation and interpretation were added.

The park sits along the Snake River in southern Idaho near the community of American Falls and is accessible from regional roadways that follow the river corridor in the intermountain plain.

• Geological and historical interest: The park protects a dramatic stretch of basalt boulders and cliffs that narrow the Snake River channel - a feature noted by emigrants on the historic Oregon Trail.

What to See #

• Campgrounds and boat launches: A network of day-use areas, campgrounds and boat ramps along the Snake River that provide access for fishing, kayaking and river recreation.
• Interpretive trails and rock formations: An interpretive area and trails that highlight the basalt rock formations and the historic Oregon Trail corridor that passes through the park.