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Bear Valley River Company |
800-235-2327 |
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Cascade Raft & Kayak |
800-292-7238 |
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Headwaters River Company |
800-876-7238 |
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Idaho Whitewater Unlimited |
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Far and Away Adventures |
800-232-8588 |
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| Section |
South Fork (canyon and
lower) |
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Location |
Boise County, north of
Boise, southwest Idaho |
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Driving Time |
Boise—1.5 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class III-IV (upper),
II-III (Old Swirley), II-III+ (lower canyon) |
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Trip Length |
Upper—15 miles (24 km)
(upper); Old Swirley Canyon—14 miles (24 km); Lower
canyon—7 miles (11 km) |
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Trip Options |
Paddle raft, oar raft;
multiday (upper), one day (Old Swirley Canyon), half-day
(lower canyon) |
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Season |
May-September |
Two forks of southwest
Idaho's Payette River—the south and main—provide whitewater
enthusiasts nearly 36 miles (58 km) of superb Class II-IV rafting
opportunities within a one-hour drive of Boise.
The
Payette's best whitewater challenges are found in the canyons and
gorges of its South Fork. The narrow, steep-walled Old Swirley
Canyon run has mostly Class III pool-drop rapids, but it does have
four technical Class IV rapids—S-turn, Blackadar's Drop, Little
Falls, and Surprise—as well as a mandatory portage around the
40-foot, Class VI Big Falls. Although an adjacent county road allows
take-out just below Little Falls, some one-day and all multiday
South Fork rafting trips include the breathtaking Class III Old
Swirley Canyon. The South Fork also has several refreshing hot
springs.
Downstream, the last 5 miles (8 km) of the
lower South Fork, before its confluence with the North Fork, is one
of Idaho's most popular whitewater runs. Well known as the site of
the annual Payette Whitewater Rodeo, the lower run has fairly
continuous and exciting Class II-III+ rapids. Prior to the South
Fork's confluence with the main Payette, Staircase Rapid (a long
Class III-IV rapid) will adequately test the skills of paddle
rafters. Some rafters take advantage of the relatively short length
of the whitewater trip and run the Staircase section twice in one
day.
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