LOCATION: About 45 miles north of Boise.
PUT-IN: Deer Creek Turnout
TAKE-OUT: Banks
PERIOD RUNNABLE: April-Sept
DIFFICULTY: Class III-IV
LENGTH OF TYPICAL TRIP: 1 day
PERMIT NEEDED: None needed
LENGTH OF SHUTTLE: 5 miles
OPTIMAL FLOW: 800-3,000
SIZE: 13 miles
DESCRIPTION: The South Fork of the Payette features a run through a canyon with a portage at Big Falls. The lower part includes the Staircase rapid. The South Fork of the Payette can be an advanced whitewater run for one, two, or three days of excitement. Three-day trips start high in Idaho's Sawtooth mountains, above the town of Lowman. After the Deadwood River adds its flow, the river begins to drop about 40 feet per mile with continuous steep rapids. This Canyon stretch is punctuated at its deepest point by a 40-foot waterfall. River runners portage around this spectacular sight then continue on through a narrow gorge filled with natural hot springs. In Garden Valley, the river flattens out, allowing time to relax before maneuvering more class III-IV rapids. The safest and most popular stretch is from the Deer Creek Turnout to Banks. The put in is located about a quarter mile downstream of Deer Creek at the remains of the Deer Creek bridge. The most significant rapids are Staircase, Bronco Billy and Slalom, all of which may rate as high as class IV depending on water levels. Another attraction is the Play Wave, where decked boaters may spend hours in a twenty yard stretch of the river. Dog Leg often collects trees which may block the river; scout this from the road before putting in. The run to Banks is about five miles long. If a longer run is desirable, more whitewater awaits downstream of Banks.
RECREATION: Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing
FACILITIES: Vault Toilets
GETTING THERE: From Boise, drive 40 miles north on Highway 55 to Banks. At Banks, turn right up the South Fork
toward Garden Valley. The Deer Creek Turnout is about five miles up the South Fork. You can stop and scout Staircase from
a turnout in the road about two miles up (recommended).
INFORMATION: Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, P.O. Box 95, Boise, ID 83701, 208/342-1919. Idaho
Department of Commerce, 700 W. State St., Boise, ID 83720, 800/635-7820. Idaho Department of Water Resources
Whitewater Recording: 208-327-7865.
CONTACT: Boise National Forest,Boise, ID 83702,(208) 364-4100
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