We'd spent the morning driving across southern Idaho's high desert, where miles of open country stretch beneath an endless sky. Sagebrush rolled past the windows in muted shades of green and silver, and the horizon seemed to breathe in slow motion.

Part of the Thousand Springs area, this little-known gem is a burst of color in the desert-like surroundings. From above, the spring looks like a perfect sapphire heart, shimmering against the earthy tones of the canyon walls.

Sometimes the best stories happen when the wind is in your face and the river carries you home.