Fun Farm Bridge
Saint Anthony, Idaho
| Address: | Saint Anthony, ID 83445, USA |
| GPS: |
43°58'59.2"N 111°37'29.3"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
Dive and Swim
The Fun Farm Bridge is a well-known bridge-jumping spot on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River just outside St. Anthony, in eastern Idaho, long popular with local teens and college students looking for a summer adrenaline rush. Also called the Funny Farm Bridge, it sits on the river northeast of town, where jumpers leap from the roadway or climb higher on the structure, and an old abandoned bridge next to the one in use offers deeper water and two distinct levels to jump from. It is genuinely popular, and it is also genuinely dangerous, which is the most important thing to understand before going anywhere near it.
Authorities warn strongly against swimming or jumping here. A diversion dam near the bridge creates powerful undercurrents in the river, and it is easy for swimmers to get caught in them; the water is considered especially dangerous before June, when spring runoff runs high, cold and fast. In 2019, a 23-year-old man drowned near the Fun Farm Bridge after jumping from it, and the Henry's Fork has claimed other lives in this area. This is not a gentle swimming hole; it is fast, cold, powerful water with a man-made hazard beneath the surface, and local officials discourage people from entering the water here at all.
We list the spot honestly rather than pretending it isn't used: people do jump here every summer. But anyone considering it should weigh the plain facts above first, understand that undercurrents from the diversion dam are invisible from the surface, never jump into water whose depth and hazards they haven't verified, and recognize that early-season conditions are the most lethal. Alcohol, cold shock and moving water are a deadly combination that has repeatedly turned tragic here.
For families and visitors simply wanting to cool off in the St. Anthony area, there are far safer options nearby, including the popular St. Anthony Sandbar in town, a mellow river swimming spot with amenities for a family picnic, and the swim beach at Egin Lakes out by the Sand Dunes. Choosing one of those over the Fun Farm Bridge is, bluntly, the difference that matters.
The setting itself is pretty, farm country along a classic Henry's Fork stretch of the Snake River Plain, and late summer brings the warmest, lowest water. But the honest bottom line is the one the authorities keep repeating: the diversion dam and its undercurrents make this a place to be extremely cautious about, and the safest way to enjoy the Henry's Fork here is from the bank.
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From Saint Anthony, Idaho
- Head west on E Main St toward S Bridge St (79 ft)
- Turn left at the 1st cross street onto S Bridge St (0.3 mi)
- Turn left to merge onto US-20 E toward Ashton/W Yellowstone (2.8 mi)
- Turn left onto N 2650 E (0.6 mi)
- Turn left onto Ext (371 ft)
Kate
11/20/22 6:31 amkatiemia
9/10/16 2:33 pmthueyfam
3/14/16 9:37 pmOther Swimming Holes and Diving Platforms Nearby
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