IDAHO RIVER RUNS

Last Updated: December 15, 2025

Idaho is a paradise for whitewater and kayaking enthusiasts, with its stunning rivers offering a range of experiences for all skill levels. One popular destination is the Payette River, known for its thrilling Class III and IV rapids. The South Fork of the Payette River, with its famous Staircase rapid, is a must-do for experienced paddlers looking for an adrenaline rush. For those seeking a more laid-back adventure, the Main Payette River offers beautiful scenery and fun Class II and III rapids suitable for beginners. Recommended streamflow levels for the Payette River range from 3,000 to 5,000 cubic feet per second for an optimal paddling experience.

Another top spot for whitewater enthusiasts is the Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return." This iconic river offers a variety of sections for different skill levels, with the Middle Fork of the Salmon River being a favorite among paddlers for its remote wilderness and challenging Class IV rapids. The Lower Salmon River provides a more relaxed experience with Class II and III rapids, making it ideal for families and beginners. Recommended streamflow levels for the Salmon River range from 3,500 to 6,000 cubic feet per second for the best paddling conditions. Remember to always check current streamflow levels, wear appropriate safety gear, and paddle with a group for a safe and enjoyable whitewater adventure in Idaho.

Location	Streamflow (cfs)	Difficulty (class)
Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork Salmon River	53	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Three Cabins Creek	53	II-IV
Three Cabins Creek To Confluence With East Fork Salmon River	6	III
The Northern Boundary Of The Wallowa Whitman National Forest To The Confluence With The Grande Ronde River	15800	IV-III
Payette Nf Boundary On Lake Creek (Just West Marshall Lake) To To And Including Chinook Campground	552	III-IV
Chinook Campground To Ponderosa Campground	552	III-IV
West Fork Big Wood River To Confluence With Big Wood River	18	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With North Fork Big Wood River	53	III-V
Below Private Land In Section 2 To Nf Boundary	56	III-IV
Headwaters To Nf Boundary	56	NONE
Headwaters To Point Where Creek Turns Ne, Near Trail Creek Summit	66	IV-V
Kane Lake To Confluence With Summit Creek	66	III-IV
Arrowhead Lake To Wildhorse Campground	66	IV
Confluence With South Fork East Fork Salmon To Confluence With Unnamed Creek In Section 6	53	IV
Unnamed Creek To Sawtooth Nf Boundary	6	IV-V
Headwaters To Sawtooth Nf Boundary	6	III-IV
Pine Flats Creek To Long Gulch	572	III-IV
Confluence With Bell Creek To Boiling Springs Cabin	340	IV-IV
Boiling Springs Cabin To Confluence With Fool Creek	5	III-IV
Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Payette River	526	III-IV
Confluence Bear Valley Creek To Fcronr Wilderness Boundary	5	III-IV
Fcronr Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Elk Creek	5	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Elk Creek	5	III-IV
Elk Creek To Fir Creek Campground	5	III
Fir Creek Campground To Boise Nf Boundary	1060	III
Long Gulch To Boise Nf Boundary	340	III
Deadwood Reservoir To Confluence With Warm Springs Creek	5	III
Warm Springs Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek	572	III-IV
Pine Creek To Confluence With South Fork Payette River	572	IV-V
Wolf Creek To Confluence With Pine Flats Creek	572	II-III
Cataldo Mission To Coeur D'Alene Lake	17500	IV
Confluence North Fork Coeur D'Alene River To Cataldo Mission	16500	III+-IV
Kootenai River	32100	III-IV
Source, Sec. 19, T39n, R13e To Road #581 Near Moose Ck, Sec. 16, T39n, R11i	578	III-IV
Road 581, Sec. 19, T39n, R13e To Mouth, Sec. 18, T39n, R10e	578	II-IV
Dworshak Reservoir, Sec. 34, T41n, R6e To Forest Road #250, Sec. 6, T40n, R11e	2660	III-IV
Dworshak Reservoir, Sec. 19, T41n, R5e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 33, T42n, R6e	2660	III-IV
Proposed Hoodoo Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 28, T10n, R26w To Mouth, Clearwater Nf	578	III-V
Hungery Creek, Sec. 24, T35n, R8e To Lochsa River, Sec. 33, T35n, R9e	7380	IV-III
Headwaters, Sec. 3, T35n, R7e To Fish Creek, Sec. 24, T35n, R8e	7380	III-IV
Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Johnson Creek	572	III-IV
Johnson Creek To Confluence With Hunter Creek	572	II-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Big Lost River	66	II-III
Headwaters To Confluence With Pole Creek	1060	III-IV
Inlet To Marsh On Spring Creek To Outlet Of Marsh On Spring Creek	73	II-IV
Mainstem West Of Palisades Reservoir Including North Fork And Deadman Creek To Palisades Reservoir	912	II-III
Mainstem And Lower 2 Miles Of North, South And Siddoway Forks To One Mile Above Trailhead	912	IV-V
One Mile Above Trailhead To Trailhead	912	III-V
Confluence Of North Fork Palisades Creek And Corral Canyon To Palisades Campground	912	III-IV
Riverside Campground To Confluence With Warm River	450	II
Pinehaven Subdivision To Riverside Campground	195	III-IV
Northern Boundary Of Harriman Park To Pinehaven Subdivision	195	IV
Box Canyon Summer Homes To Northern Boundary Of Harriman Park	195	NONE
Island Park Dam To Box Canyon Summer Homes	195	III-IV
Confluence With Bear Creek To Confluence With Hanson Creek	315	III-IV
Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile East Of Banks) To Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile South Of Banks)	526	II-III
Tie Canyon To Targhee Nf Boundary	912	III-IV
Headwaters To Lady Face Falls	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Little Beaver Creek	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Salmon River	97	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Little Boulder Creek	6	NONE
Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary	200	NONE
Lady Face Falls To Inlet Stanley Lake	200	III-IV
Outlet Stanley Lake To Confluence With Valley Creek	200	II-IV
Headwaters To Western Boundary Line Of Section 17	200	III-IV
Confluence With Rabbit Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Boise River	795	III-IV
Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek	795	III-IV
Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek	795	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Alta Creek	318	NONE
Alta Creek To Confluence With Feather River	318	III-V
Confluence Of Star Hope And Muldoon Creeks To Confluence With East Fork	83	III
Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Of East Fork Big Lost River	83	III-IV
Palisades Dam To Confluence With Pine Creek	912	IV-III
Pine Creek To Riley Diversion	1380	IV-V
Buffalo River Springs To Confluence With Elk Creek	195	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With South Fork Payette River	200	II-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Yankee Fork	97	III-IV
Confluence Of East And West Forks To Nf Boundary	56	III-IV
Western Boundary Line Of Section 17 To Confluence With Valley Creek	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Western Boundary Line Of Section 34	200	III-IV
Western Boundary Line Of Section 34 To Redfish Lake	200	NONE
Headwaters To Inlet Redfish Lake	200	III-IV
Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek	295	III-IV
Headwaters To Deadwood Reservoir	5	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork	56	III-IV
Nf Boundary At 4th Of July Creek To Confluence With North Fork	1740	II-III
Elk Creek To Slackwater Of Ponds Power Dam	195	III-V
Headwaters Of North And South Fork And Mainstem To Targhee Nf Boundary	488	II-IV
Source To Upper Palisades Lake	912	IV-V
Yellowstone Np To Targhee Nf Boundary	488	III-IV
Yellowstone Np Boundary To Confluence With Warm River	234	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Trail Creek	200	III
Trail Creek To Sawtooth Nf Boundary	200	III-IV
Outlet Redfish Lake To Confluence With Salmon River	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Big Wood River	53	III-IV
Wade Creek To Nf Boundary	216	IV
Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Middle Fork Salmon River	1060	III-IV
Headwaters To 1 Mile Downstream Of Soldier Lake	1060	III-V
Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Salmon River	200	III-V
Headwaters To Inlet Pettit Lake	200	III-IV
Outlet Pettit Lake To Confluence With Alturas Lake Creek	200	III-IV
Salt River Trailhead To Nf Boundary	73	III-IV
Unnamed Lake North Of Edwards Lake (And East/West Forks) To Targhee Nf Boundary	4	NONE
Warm River Springs To Confluence With Henrys Fork	450	III-IV
Ponderosa Campground To Confluence With South Fork Salmon River	552	II-III
Headwaters To Confluence With Corral Creek	11	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Button Creek	11	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Little Wood River	66	III
Smith Creek To Confluence With Main Salmon	552	III-IV
Headwaters (Boise Nf) To Confluence With Smith Creek (Smith Creek Landing Strip) (Payette Nf)	552	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Wildhorse Creek	66	NONE
Headwaters To Section 7	46	III-IV
Headwaters To Elk Meadow Trailhead	200	III-IV
Elk Meadows Trailhead To Confluence With Valley Creek	200	III
Confluence Of Loon And Pioneer Creeks To Phillips Creek Transfer Camp	1060	III-V
Phillips Creek Transfer Camp To Confluence With Middle Fork Salmon River	1060	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Loon Creek	1060	III-IV
Headwaters To Confluence With Alturas Lake Creek	200	III-IV
Headwaters To Inlet Alteras Lake	200	III
Outlet Alteras Lake To Confluence With Salmon River	200	III-IV
Headwaters, East And North Fork Of The Yaak River To Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33n, R33w	35700	NONE
Wilderness Boundary To Fs Road 319	8730	II-III
Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 35, T33n, R9e To Headwaters, Sec. 33, T33n, R10e	8730	III-IV
Headwaters (Sec 5, T32n, R10e) To Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Boundary	8730	NONE
Fs Road 319 To Selway River Road (Fs 223)	8730	III-IV
Salmon River, Sec. 22, T28n, R1e To North And South Forks Of White Bird Creek	7450	NONE
Salmon River, Sec. 36, T27n, R1e To Gospel Hump Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 31, T27n, R4e	7450	II-IV
Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters	7450	III+
Selway River, Sec. 16, T31n, R13e To Headwaters	1740	III-IV
East Fork Bull River, Headwaters, Sec. 13, T27n, R32w To Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w	18600	III-IV
Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w To Bull River, Sec. 12, T27n, R33w	18600	III
Crooked Creek, Sec. 10, T25n, R7e To Gospel Hump Wilderness Boundary	42	III+-IV
West Fork Yaak River	859	NONE
Gospel Hump Wilderness Boundary To Headwaters Near Hump Lake	42	III-IV
Salmon River, Sec. 23, T26n, R10e To North Boundary Frank Church Wilderness, Road #468	42	III-IV
Road No. 468, To Headwaters, Sec. 3, T28n, R12e	42	III-IV
Middle Fork Bull River, Sec. 9, T28n, R33w To Proposed Addition To Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Sec. 12, T28n, R33w	18600	III-IV
Boundary Proposed Addition Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Sec. To Cabinet Gorge Reservoir	18600	IV
Headwaters To Wade Creek	216	III-IV
Coeur D"Alene River, Sec. 8, T49n, R2e To Honey Mountain, Sec. 32, T53n, R1w	16500	III-IV
Cedar Creek, Sec. 6, T41n, R6e To Adair Creek	2660	III+-IV
Hgh Creek Lake To Nf Boundary	406	III-IV
Bear Valley Lake To Trailhead	216	II-III
Trailhead To Confluence With Hayden Creek	216	III-IV
Hammer Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Salmon River	1060	III-IV
Headwaters To Hammer Creek	12	III-IV
Adair Creek To Fish Lake, Sec. 4, T43n, R4e	2660	III-IV
Southern Boundary Of State Land To Mouth	406	III-IV
Source To Mouth	406	III-IV
Long Canyon Pass, Sec. 30, T63n, R2w To Forest Boundary, Road #417, Sec. 25, T63n, R2w	436	III-IV
Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w	926	III-IV
Sec. 28, T30n, R13e To Boundary Selway Bitterroot Wilderness	1740	III-IV
South Fork Clearwater River, Sec. 30, T29n, R5e To Headwaters	42	III-IV
Clearwater River To Red And American Rivers Near Elk City	18	III+
Selway River, Sec. 11, T31n, R9e To Road Crossing, Sec. 14, T31n, R9e	8730	IV-V
Road Crossing, Sec. 14, T31n, R9e To Headwaters	8730	III-IV
Selway River, Sec. 10, T32n, R12e To Headwaters All Forks	1740	III-IV
Selway River, Sec. 22, T32n, R11e To Headwaters	8730	IV-V
Idaho State Line To Confluence With Beaver Creek	406	III-III
Headwaters To 1 Mile Downstream Of Cut Throat Lake	1060	IV
Sawtooth Nra To Confluence With Wolf Creek	960	III-IV
Just West Of Crystal Lake To Trailhead	537	III-IV
Antelope Creek J19	53	III-IV
Joseph Creek	25800	III-IV
Dry Creek	384	III
Cow Creek	114	II-III
Little North Fork Clearwater River	1040	III-IV
Summit Creek	70	III-IV
West Fork Morgan Creek	114	III-IV
Canyon Creek	537	IV-V
Lolo Creek	1680	III
Pole Creek	53	III-IV
Vineyard Creek	10	III-IV
Pahsimeroi River	384	V-IV+
Noon Creek	53	II-III
Squaw Creek	37	III-IV
Petes Creek	53	IV
South Fork Payette	285	III-IV
East Fork Salmon River	18	III-IV
Lake Creek	632	III-V
Mahogany Creek	384	III-IV
Clearwater River	18	III-IV
French Creek	632	III-IV
Teton River	213	III
Bayhorse Creek	37	III-III
East Fork Big Lost River	66	III-IV
Pleasant Valley Creek	53	II-IV
Thompson Creek	18	III-IV
Piute Creek	53	III-IV
Herd Creek	66	III-IV
Yatahoney Creek	53	IV-V
Jump Creek	170	III-IV
Little Owyhee River	53	III-IV
South Fork Snake River	12700	II-IV
Bitch Creek	739	III
Juniper Creek	53	III+
Corral Creek	53	III
Boulder Creek	7500	III-IV
Cabin Creek	53	III-IV
Bald Mountain Canyon Creek	53	III-IV
Lund Creek	2100	IV-IV
Nickel Creek	53	III
Little Lost Lake Creek	1040	III-IV
Big Lost River	66	III/IV-V
Rock Creek	7500	III-IV
Dukes Creek	53	II-IV
North Fork Boulder Creek	7500	IV-V
Lost Lake Creek	1040	IV-V
Current Creek	53	III-IV
Snake River	8770	III-IV
Salmon River	18	III-IV
Deep Creek	53	III-IV

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