An old article on the Murtaugh
1997 recap of the Murtaugh
I first had a chance to run The Murtaugh reach of the Snake River in early April, 1996 with Olin Gardner of Idaho Guide Service. At that time it was running about 17,000 cfs. Many of the rapids were washed out but there were plenty of 15 to 18 foot rollers. The water was cold and we got Wet.
The Murtaugh is located 45 minutes from Twin Falls, Idaho. This 14 mile section of the Snake River is renowned for it's 16 class III, IV and V rapids . (It was a 3 1/2 hour float with lunch and a portage at 17,000 cfs).
The put in is at the Murtaugh bridge north of Murtaugh, Idaho. The take out is in the slack water just above the Twin Falls. There is one portage at Pair of Dice Rapid which can be seen upriver from the Hansen bridge.
Flows are expected to remain floatable at above 18,000 cfs through June, 1997. After that who knows. Many will float the Murtaugh down to flows of 6,000 in inflatable boats. Others will float into the 4,000 cfs range but there are many ledges and drops at this level.
The ideal flow IMO is around 10,000. However 32,000 was quite popular as you can see by the trip reports.
The stretch of river we in "Idaho call "The Murtaugh" is actually a 15 mile stretch of the Snake River located by Twin Falls, Idaho. Just 20 miles upriver from where Evil Knievel made his famous attempt to jump the river canyon is one of the biggest and most enjoyable pieces of Whitewater in Idaho. After the river is released from Milner Dam, the Snake makes it’s way through a deep basalt canyon to the Twin Falls.
Between Twin Falls and Burley, Idaho lies the small town of Murtaugh. By taking the Hazelton Exit (#194) off Interstate 84 it is possible to follow the frontage road west of the south side of the freeway until you reach a "T" junction. Turn south (left) and follow this road until it crosses the Snake at the Murtaugh Bridge.
The launch is normally at the Murtaugh Bridge, but in the spring of ’82 construction started on a new bridge and makes the launch difficult. Upriver from the new bridge the normal put in is Star Falls and an alternate launch site. It is the preferred put in by local boaters as it includes Amnesia and Basalt Falls; two of the largest drops in this section of the river.
In order to include these two class IV rapids, one must backtrack three quarters of a mile until the first road on the right is reached. Follow this dirt road till a green house appears on the right. It is not hard to miss because it is inhabited by pigs – the bacon type. Take the next dirt road on the right (an irrigation lane) to the edge of the canyon. Without four-wheel drive it is advisable to carry the boats from here. Just don’t put in above Star Falls (Cauldron Linn).
From the very start the rapids come fast and hard. Almost before you get your spray skirt fastened Amnesia is just a hazy recollection and you are bracing yourself for Basalt Falls. At over 9,000 cfs, both of these assume Grand Canyon proportions. One of the advantages of running these two drops first is that they set the tone for the rest of the trip. Should you have problems with these, you can always take out at the bridge; otherwise you are committed for the next 15 miles. Directly under the bridge is a wave we call the Troll. Following is Knuckles. The pool below Knuckles provides a convenient spot to sponge your boat and scout or photograph Mabeline; a long class IV that in some flows develops a nasty hole on the initial drop. Other rapids follow one right after the other. In fact, in the next fifteen miles there are thirteen major rapids!
After about eight miles of floating through the steep basalt canyon on large entertaining class III water, two rock pillars on the right herald the start of the Murtaugh’s larger drops. One of the rock pillars actually has a hole through it’s center that is large enough to paddle through. Waiting below is Misty. On a windy day the spray from this drop is visible for a quarter of a mile. Large waves and hydraulics typical of big water are part of this class IV as they are in all drops.
More class III and IV water follows: Junkyard, Horseshoe, and Sine Waves (the longest rapid on the river). A long bouncy ride on plenty of surfing waves leaves your appetite whetted and eager for more.
When the Hansen Bridge comes into view it is time to be alert. The bridge isn’t hard to miss but the next rapid is. Pair ‘o Dice is the big drop and can sneak up on unwary boaters. When the bridge is in sight it is best to start working through some class III water towards the left bank. From a reed choked indeterminate eddy on the left, kayaks and rafts can ferry out to the middle of the island and land. The island is the nicest place to eat some lunch and scout the rapid. Rafts can be lowered off the rocks on the downstream side. Kayakers not wishing to run the nasty class V drop can be launched off the rocks with a helpful push.
Below the bridge, a long tranquil pool is followed by the Hooker, hook to the far right and work upstream of Fantasy Island in the middle of the river. Once on top of the island, Let’s Make a Deal can be scouted. From the left bank, doors 1-3 have been run. Doors 4 and 5 are a dubious prospect and should be scouted from the right-hand shore. Immediately below is Redshank, Duckblind, and the final rapid – The Idaho Connection or Endless Summer.
This rapid is pure delight and is the culmination of what must rank as one of the West’s best day trips. The rock island on the left of the Connection provides a large return eddy with a diagonal breaking wave that requires good momentum and perfect trim to gain access to some of the most spectacular surfing to be found anywhere.
The diagonal can be ridden sideways or used to move to increasingly larger waves in the center of the river. On a good run, three separate waves can be surfed and used to return the boater back to the eddy breathless for more.
By the end of the day if you still have thirst for more thrills, you can upstage everyone by running the Twin Falls. The sneak is on the left-----FAR LEFT.
The Murtaugh offers many things: it’s big, it’s fun, and it demands your respect. The season is early - April to June - and the flows vary from a barely runnable 3,500 cfs to over 20,000 cfs. As soon as there is demand for irrigation water, the river flows taper off to about 50 cfs. In warm weather there is some danger from rattlesnakes (rare) and poison ivy.
The deep canyon experience and mild spring temperatures are making the Murtaugh a classic run here in Idaho. Boaters need to be made aware of this section in order to help preserve it against the voracious appetite of the power companies.
Below is the account of the last month or so on the Murtaugh:
The multi-County Sheriff's group lifted the ban on floating the Snake River from Milner Dam to the Twin Falls Park take out June 20th after closing the river 5 days earlier. The river was closed due to record high water conditions, (32,000 cfs) and a concern for safety. A special thanks to Rob Lesser, Bill Brock of the Times News, Olin Gardner of Idaho Guide Service and countless others who worked hard to get this river open. And to the Sheriffs for seeing the light.
Pair of Dice Rapid 
at 32,000 cfs.
Lots of exciting action on the Murtaugh June 22nd at 32,000 cfs. Rob Lessor, the Boicatr and a group of cat-a-rafters from Boise and Reno surfed away on the BIG, BIG waves. Thanks to Montie, Jan and Tom for some really amazing cat-a-rafting ! One of the Reno Cater's took the center shot on Pair-of-Dice and got crunched in the hole for 12 seconds but remained upright. Just minutes later he entered door number two of Lets Make a Deal but moved over to catch the HUGE, NASTY wave behind door 3. He flipped, leaving his boat for what he said was the first time ever. Some amazing river rescue followed. Great stuff. These guys really know what they are doing! Congratulations to Bill Brock for his successful kayak run at record flows! Here's a trip report from the Boicatr.
Chris Barber did the Murtaugh Friday the 13th in a raft at 30,000 cfs before the closure and files this trip report. The Murtaugh is normally a class IV run for Advanced Intermediate boaters but at this level it's class V stuff for experts. Serious water for serious boaters.
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