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American Falls Reservoir is formed by American Falls Dam, which is a major facility on the Mindoka Project. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, Bingham County; and the city of American Falls, this 87 square mile (56,000-acre) reservoir offers 100 miles of shoreline. Built primarily as a water storge reservoir for irrigation, it also provides electric power and flood control protection. When completely full, the reservoir is the largest reservoir on the Snake River and in Idaho. Boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, picnicking, jet boats, water skiing, wildlife viewing, and windsurfing are the major recreation activities at American Falls Reservoir, located in Southeastern Idaho. American Fall's fish species include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, crappie, yellow perch, white fish, bullhead and channel catfish. Season open year-round, however the fishery is dependent upon the availability of water to maintain the minimum pool necessary to carry over fish from year to year. Reservoir acre feet and total reservoir capacity and cubic feet/second release rates for rivers below Upper Snake River Basin reservoirs and select river locations are updated daily and graphically provided. Site offers restrooms, three boat ramps at the southwest end of the reservoir and one north of the dam, campground, picnic tables, swimming, and a visitor center. The visitor center features displays about various aspects of Shoshone and Bannock Indian prehistoric, historic, and contemporary culture. Other displays exhibit memorabilia associated with the construction of Ameircan Falls dam. Boat ramp elevations. Located near American Falls, adjacent to Interestate 86, the reservoir is easy to find. Numerous access sites, complete with ramps and docks, make it easy to use for boaters as well as shore anglers. Rainbow trout are by far the most popular fish in American Falls Reservoir. Fish weighing 5-6 pounds are not uncommon.
Effective immediately, Reclamation will require all boats launching at Lake Berryessa to participate in a seal program to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. All vessels wishing to launch at Lake Berryessa will be inspected. A red quarantine seal will be applied for 30 days during, which the vessel will not be permitted to launch. Vessels that have finished the 30-day quarantine may return to the lake and have the seal removed by authorized staff and will be allowed to launch. For more information on this updated protocol, please view the press release here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5031.
Directions: Located north of the town of American Falls, with good access via Interstate 86 and State Route 39. State Route 39 rides the top of the reservoir's 9-story-high dam for over half a mile.