Evel Knievel's Snake River Jump Monument

Twin Falls, Idaho

In 1974, with much media fanfare, daredevil Evel Knievel tried and failed to leap the mile-wide chasm of the Snake River Canyon on his specially engineered rocket motorcycle. His drogue parachute accidentally malfunctioned and opened on take-off. Evel and his contraption floated to the bottom of the canyon, landing on the near shore (if he'd gone into the river, his safety harness probably would have drowned him).

It was a less-than-auspicious milestone for Evel and the city of Twin Falls, but Evel's fans loved him for at least trying.

At the city's visitors center, just south of the Perrine Bridge over the canyon, is a gravestone-like marker with a carved likeness of the rocket powered motorcycle. It's engraved, "Robert 'Evel' Knievel Explorer Motorcyclist and Daredevil. Attempted a mile long leap of the Snake River Canyon On September 8, 1974 Employing A Unique Skycycle. The large dirt ramp is visible appox. 2 miles east of this point on the south ridge of the canyon. Donated to the community by Sunset Memorial."

The actual jump site -- a big earthen lump -- is indeed visible in the distance from the marker. We would not advise visiting it. At last report the Twin Falls Police Department was using it as the backstop for their shooting range.

Knievel died in 2007.