Flowing from the central Idaho mountains, the Payette River and its various forks offers a variety of river related recreational opportunities. The BLM and Forest Service jointly manage the Main Payette and South Fork Payette Rivers to provide public river access primarily for white-water boating. For the beginner, the Main Payette, from Banks to Beehive Bend, offers Class II-III rapids. The “Staircase” section of the South Fork (Confluence or Deer Creek to Banks) will provide a little more challenging Class II-III options, and the “Canyon” stretch (Deadwood to Danskin) will test your Class III-V rapids skills.

Payette River Maps (Boater’s Guide)

Explore Nearby

• Farragut State Park — State Park in Idaho
• Winchester Lake State Park — State Park in Idaho
• Salmon–Challis National Forest — National Forest in Idaho
• Payette National Forest — National Forest in Idaho
• Western Heritage Historic Byway — Scenic Byway in Idaho