Malad Gorge reputedly got its name when a party of French trappers became ill from eating beavers on the river’s shores in the early 19th century, calling the gorge a “malade,” meaning “sick”. The Malad River, one of shortest rivers in the US, is formed at the confluence of the Big and Little Wood rivers a few miles west of Gooding, Idaho and empties into the Snake River.
Stop 1: Devil’s Washbowl Overlook N 42° 52.041 W 114° 51.252
Here, you can read about Kelton Road and the Native Americans in this area. You can also view the Devil’s Washbowl and waterfall on the nearby foot bridge.
Volcanic activity and erosion formed the canyon and washbowl. Periodic lava flows over millions of years repeatedly changed the landscape. Gooding Butte, near the town of Gooding, Idaho contributed to the basalt that makes up the walls of the canyon.
Following the numerous lava flows, alpine glacial snowmelt from the north began flowing towards the Snake River. As the water reached this area, it began to widen weak joints in the basalt, eroding them to greater widths and depths. This widening began at the edge of the Snake River Canyon as a raging waterfall. Over time, the waters retreated 2.5 miles (the current length of the gorge) to the present waterfall at Devil’s Washbowl.
The Devil’s Washbowl is formed by a contrast in erosion (the bottom of the canyon erodes faster than the top). The 60 foot waterfall at the Devil’s Washbowl is an active example of a retreating cataract. A retreating cataract is a waterfall that moves upstream due to erosion. Other examples of retreating cataracts within the park can be found along the Northrim/Alcove Loop Trail and at Woody’s Cove. Niagara Falls in New York State is another example of a retreating cataract.
Scientists predict that the Lake Bonneville Flood (see illustration in gallery), which played a big role in the formation of Malad Gorge, occurred 15,000 years ago. The flood, which occurred over a period of a few months, drained about 600 cubic miles of water from Lake Bonneville. The flood filled Snake River Canyon in a catastrophic torrent that overflowed the canyon’s rims. Overflowing water presumably returned to the main flood channel in the Snake River Canyon through side canyons, including Malad Gorge, where torrents shredded away volcanic deposits left by the plain’s shield volcanoes.
Stop 2: Block Faulting N 42° 51.684 W 114° 52.619
The coordinates will lead you to an overlook where you can see examples of block faulting. Prior to the lava flows of Gooding Butte, this area was inundated (underwater) by an ancient lake bed that layed down sedimentary rock currently under the ancient lava flows. As Malad Gorge was eroded, the waters of the Malad River were undercutting the soft sediment layers under the basalt lava flows. As the soft sediments eroded, larger sections of the heavier basalt rock walls of the canyon slowly slumped towards the canyon floor over time. This process is called block faulting. Just beyond where you stand is the beginning of a block slump. Some of the crevasses are over 100 feet deep. On the other side of the canyon, you will see two Idaho Power Generators on the river, which supply energy to neighboring cities.
Stop 3: Woody’s Cove N 42° 51.277 W 114° 52.864
The coordinates lead you to an overlook along a very short and easy trail. Here, you can view Woody’s Cove and Hagerman Valley in the distance. You will find an informational plaque here which you will need to answer the questions.
Woody’s Cove is another example of a retreating cataract. It is like a mini Malad Gorge. However, the river that supplied the waterfall here was diverted over time, which is why it never became bigger. The whitish coloring on the basalt rock walls is caused by calcium and phosphate leaching out of the water. This cove is more susceptible to erosion than Malad Gorge because of its position to the sun.
If you pick up a brochure at the entrance, your experience will be more educational. Also, you should spend lunch here, because it is a truly, beautiful place. If you bring young children, they must be supervised at all times, as the canyon walls are steep (250 foot drop) and not fenced off.
Logging requirements:
Send me a message (preferred) or an email with answers to the following questions (according to the sign at Woody’s Cove).
1. How many millions of years ago did the volcanoes in this area erupt?
2. How many years ago did this canyon form (happened between lava flows and Lake Bonneville Flood)?
3. The length and width of the Hagerman Valley.
4. Please post a picture of yourself or your signature item at Woody’s Cove, but don’t include the sign in it.
Please Note:
1. You must answer all the questions in your email to me and post all picture(s) with your log.
2. Your logging this cache and sending me the email should happen at around the same time.
3. Begin your email with the name and geocaching code of this Earthcache, your name(s), and the number of people in your group.
Failure to comply with the above will result in your log being deleted!
The above information was compiled from the following sources:
1. Idaho Mountain Express and Guide, mtexpress.com, 2001
2. Malad Gorge State Park Self-Guided Tour Brochure, 2009
3. BYU Department of Geological Sciences, 2007