Steves new version of paddling the payette is an excellent guidebook for paddlers looking to explore scenic class iii water, play boaters looking for primo play spots and everything in between. Drainage in the watershed flows primarily from east to west, with the cumulative stream length to the head of the north fork payette river being 180 miles 290 km. The book has 20 day trips for sup paddlers, a complete guide to payette river play and surf spots, 10 whitewater day trips, 10 flatwater day trips, and five class 12 day trips. Dont forget to enjoy the incredible scenery, steep granite walls and ponderosa forest. Payette river rafting bear valley rafting on idahos legendary payette river the payette river is known worldwide for its pristine snowmelt waters running clear and cool through the rugged remote canyons of southwest idaho. This is the biggestbaddest river section we have to offer. The main payette is the proving grounds for many types of watercraft. Bear valley rafting is the ideal place to fulfill your true idaho whitewater river rafting experience. This trip requires some serious coordinated paddling as you plunge through rapids like bronco billy and slalom. Payette river rafting near boise idaho orange torpedo. Outflow from the lake is regulated for irrigation purposes by a small dam completed in 1943. Idahos premiere whitewater kayak school on the payette river. Its headwaters originate in the sawtooth and salmon river mountains at elevations over 10,000 feet 3,000 m. The class v portion of the north fork of the payette is known as.
North fork cabarton full day photos from the full day family trip on the north fork cabarton. But when it comes to narrowing down the choices, river guides definitely have their favorites. Fun playspots, easy logistics, great rapids, and proximity to boise make this a classic run for rafts and kayaks. The canyon section has atleast 16 class iiiiv rapids and a portage around a waterfall. Idaho whitewater rafting trips for families of all ages from 599 years old. The lowwater run in little falls courtesy payette river co. Notice the usgs water resources mission areas priority is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our communities, including providing critical situational awareness in times of flooding in all 50 u. Bear valley rafting on idahos legendary payette river. Class v whitewater rafting on the north fork payette river creaturecraft guide school. Utah, colorado and idaho since 1966, holiday expeditions has provided trips to the most spectacular landscapes on earth. Payette river company idaho rafting trips on the s. The small town of banks, about 66 miles south of mccall on hwy 55, is where the north and south forks of the river converge to form the main part of the river, which is 62 miles long. Cascade raft and kayak whitewater rafting trips on the payette river for families and firsttimers to thrill seeking adventurers. Payette river rafting the boise area can get a little warm in the summer and the perfect way to escape the heat is to come enjoy the amazing whitewater of the payette river.
Contact us to reserve your idaho whitewater rafting trip today. Come up and enjoy a couple hours of big waves, great swimming and allaround river fun with your friends and family. We admit its pretty tough to pick the best whitewater rapids in idaho. Our guides nate and ewan made everyone feel safe and prepared for the class 3 and 4 rapids we would encounter.
The main payette river is a classic idaho whitewater river with plenty of pool and drop rapids ranging from class ii to class iii. Grand canyon national park is extending the suspension of administrative, research, private and commercial river rafting trips through june, 2020, in order to comply with the local health guidance to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus covid19. The canyon fullday float on the south fork payette river takes you from deadwood confluence to danskin. Offering a wide variety of habitats and rapids, the payette has something for everyone.
Nothing says summer fun like whitewater rafting along one of the most beautiful stretches of rivers in idaho. We offer the best rafting idaho has to offer with payette river rafting trips for all ages and group sizes. The payette river is a 62mile river in southwestern idaho, and is. Request a few more visitor guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail. The south fork payette boasts some of the best mild to wild whitewater rafting in idaho. Main payette 12 day rafting on the payette river class 23 whitewater. Under the direction of tom long and chad long, our instructional staff brings with them years of experience and a. Other great stops along this drive include cascade reservoir, smiths ferry, roseberry one mile east of the byway on roseberry road at donnelly, the city of mccall, and ponderosa state park. The payette river company is a bit further from boise than the other river rafting companies, but it is so worth the extra effort. Taste different varieties of payette brewing company beers expertly paired with an exceptional wilderness menu. Raw footage, rafting in the south fork of the payette river in idaho. Powells book about his journey through the grand canyon is a standardbearer of adventure literature. We use a proven teaching progression that quickly develops your competence with the primary goal of promoting safety. We had run the lower staircase run on the previous day and it had plenty of water, so we expected a nice medium flow.
We ran the south fork of the payette canyon run during an early summer trip to idaho. For example, in 2015 the deadwood stepped down from to 900 on august 25, then to 700 on august 28, then down to 50 on august 31. Paddling the payette is the goto guide for whitewater boating, stand up paddle boarding sup. Payette river ranger for the boise national forest. Cool off and enjoy some fun in the sun on one of the incredible day trips with the tam fam. Starting west of boise, the payette river scenic byway heads north on idaho 55 passing the payette river and the boise and payette national forests. Idaho river rafting will thrill your group on the payette river. Lake and river fishing, boating, downhill and nordic skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, biking or soaking at one of several hot springs in the area bring our guests back year after year all year. Aug 23, 2014 raw footage, rafting in the south fork of the payette river in idaho. This is the whitewater state were talking about after all. Payette lake is a natural lake, formed by glacial activity, situated in the upper drainage basin of the payette river, which drains into the snake river in southwestern idaho.
This is a fun section on the south fork of the payette river paralleled by the banks lowman road with class iii and iv rapids. Payette river company offers day and overnight trips on the south fork payette. Rivers lend themselves to stories, and stories lend themselves to books. The guide book that i had used to plan this trip said that the current on this part of the river could be tricky for novices, which we definitely were, but after a few strokes i started to get comfortable and settled into an. All donations in the united states are taxdeductible in full or in part, to the extent permitted by law. Nestled in the mountains with the natural gem, payette lake, at their base allows vacationers countless opportunities to discover and explore the outdoors. Wave train photos photos of all paddlers on the payette river during the weekends in the summer. Half day river rafting trips family memories to last a. The payette river is a 62mile river in southwestern idaho, and is a major tributary of the snake river. Payette lake is the perfect spot for boating, sandy beaches and water sports. Tamarack offers guided whitewater rafting on idahos renowned payette river. Get in touch with our whitewater center on the payette river. The rafting putin location at banks sits at the confluence of the payettes north fork and south fork and is a hub of activity during the rafting season.
Payette river halfday rafting and kayaking trip 2020 idaho. Exploration of the colorado river by john wesley powell. World class rafting experiences for ages and abilities. Categories canyon kidscamps main payette 12 day rafting main payette 12 day rafting on the payette river class 23 whitewater. It is an ideal training ground for kayakers and the perfect stretch for families and firsttime rafters. This main payette trip, from banks to beehive bend, is typically 23 hours in length. Payette river idaho fly fishing, camping, boating alltrips. The canyon trip was the first rafting trip i attended with the payette river company and let me tell you it was amazing. Steve stuebner is the author of over 10 books on idaho outdoor topics. Payette river company day trips lowman 2020 all you need. Usgs current conditions for usgs 247500 payette river nr. Today, we offer whitewater rafting in utah, colorado and idaho, on the colorado, green, yampa, san juan, and salmon rivers. Your problem wont be where to book your idaho rafting trip, but which river to.
The payette river is world famous for its whitewater but it is often overlooked for many short sections of quiet water. Come up and enjoy a couple hours of big waves, great swimming and. You will tear down the barrel of the famous staircase, a quartermilelong class iv rapid guaranteed to take your breath away. We provide payette river rafting trips for all levels located less than 1 hour from boise, idaho. Jun 03, 2016 payette river rafting the boise area can get a little warm in the summer and the perfect way to escape the heat is to come enjoy the amazing whitewater of the payette river. After the deadwood river is shut off, the canyon flows can be in the 345 cfs range, which is generally too low for rafts, but still some creeky fun for kayaks.
Float idahos payette river watch video book your trip. From serene scenic floats to funfilled family adventures to action packed trips for the adrenaline junkie, the payette offers something for everyone. The best idaho whitewater rafting adventure is less than 1 hour from boise, idaho. Whether you choose to shoot the dam a class iv rapid early in the season, or. Staircase iv and slalom iv are long rapids that can be scouted from the road while doing the shuttle. Whitewater river rafting adventures with cascade raft company. Idaho river kids an incredible organization getting kids and teens out on the water. Drainage in the watershed flows primarily from east to west, with the cumulative stream length to the head of. The main salmon river offers everything from a scenic, relaxing float trip to a high adventure, whitewater experience. At iwu, our speciality is funfilled, guided adventures on the north, south and main forks of the payette river. Idaho is the self declared whitewater state since it is full of world class rivers.
Our hydrologic monitoring stations continue to send data in near realtime to nwisweb, and we are continuing critical water monitoring activities to. Rapids include go left or youre fired, the mixmaster, and bennetts rock. Our multiday trips treat you to prcs private camp for a night on the river. We offer two fullday payette river rafting trips down either the canyonsouth fork. The payette river, 30 minutes from downtown boise is the ideal way to escape the summer heat. Payette river company day trips lowman 2020 all you. We had run the lower staircase run on the previous day and it had plenty of water, so we expected a. Not intended for scaredy cats, this segment of the south fork will immerse you in the wild action of gateway, blackadar, lone pine, little falls, and surprise rapids, to name a few. The 4 th edition of of paddling the payette by idaho author steve stuebner is hot off the press. So naturally, there have been a couple of great river books over the years. Its the best and only guide to 24 paddling trips on the payette river. The payette river is one of southwestern idahos most popular rivers for fishing, kayaking, and rafting.
Class v whitewater rafting on the north fork payette river. The south fork of the payette river near banks, id offers some amazing scenery and a couple of class iv rapids. Payette river cabin vrbo book your vacation rentals. Bear valley rafting the best river rafting company in idaho. First, everyone was kind and friendly, from the owners to the guides.
This trip combines exciting whitewater rafting and beautiful scenery along the south fork of the payette river. We have been sharing payette river rafting trips since 1985 and would love to share white water rafting with you. I have rafted in the past but the knowledge and professionalism of this company was astounding. Best whitewater river rafting in idaho for adventure. We had been having a great time up to this point, and we were all looking forward to paddling this section. Best whitewater river rafting in idaho for families. Grab a paddle and your water shoes and get ready to take to the wild water of the salmon or payette river, both accessible from the ranch.
Idaho white water unlimited float idahos payette river. The most famous are multiday trips like the middle fork of the salmon and the selway but there are many other wonderful overnight and day trips. Located in beautiful banks, idaho at the confluence of the north fork and the south fork of the payette river, bear valley rafting co. For a couple hours come and challenge yourself with thrilling class iii whitewater, swim in the refreshing water of the pools between rapids and enjoy a delicious snack in. The easytoread river maps and concise milebymile descriptions make this book an invaluable reference. Flows are the sum of usgs south fork payette near lowman plus deadwood river. Our halfday trip can have you paddling your own inflatable kayak behind one of our experienced guides or you can join your friends and family to work together in one of our bigger. Sep, 2014 class v whitewater rafting on the north fork payette river creaturecraft guide school. Plus, take this unique opportunity to chat with our very own beer experts, as you taste beer in an epic riverside setting.
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