Snake River Canyon National Cemetery

Snake River Canyon National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Buhl, Idaho. VA lists it as open for burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

Source: National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), retrieved May 2026

History of Snake River Canyon National Cemetery

Snake River Canyon National Cemetery is the first national cemetery in Idaho and is part of the VA National Cemetery Administration Rural Initiative to provide access to VA burial benefits for Veterans who reside in rural areas and who have not previously had reasonable access to a national or state Veterans cemetery.

The VA purchased the 8-acre parcel on September 30, 2016. The first phase of construction began in June of 2017 and was completed in March 2020. The cemetery is designed to accommodate 2,300 casketed gravesites, 2,070 in-ground cremation burial spaces and 2,170 columbaria niche spaces.

Directions

From Magic Valley Regional Airport, turn left onto E 3400 N and in approximately 5 miles, turn right onto US-93 N. Proceed on US-93 for approximately 5 miles and turn left to merge onto US-30 W. Stay on US-30 W for approximately 9 miles and turn right onto N 1600 E, and, turn left in an 1/2 mile on E 4150 N/E. Elm St. The cemetery entrance is on the right.

Flowers and grounds rules

Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.

Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted on graves between November 1 and March 1. As a general rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending five days before through five days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.

Who can be buried at Snake River Canyon National Cemetery?

VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.

What does burial here include at no cost?

• A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
• Opening and closing of the grave
• A government-provided burial liner
• A government-provided headstone or marker
• Perpetual care of the gravesite

Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.

How do you schedule a burial at Snake River Canyon National Cemetery?

1. Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
2. Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Snake River Canyon National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Snake River Canyon National Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Snake River Canyon National Cemetery directly at 208-732-7499.

Headstone, flag and burial allowance

• Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
• Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
• Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits

After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate

A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under Idaho law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Idaho and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.

Nearest cemeteries

The three veterans cemeteries closest to Snake River Canyon National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at Boise, Boise, ID: 110 mi, open for burials
• Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at Blackfoot, Blackfoot, ID: 129 mi, open for burials
• Elko National Cemetery, Elko, NV: 133 mi, status not listed