The Payette River Basin covers over 3,000 square miles and includes the Deadwood River, the South, Middle, and North Forks of the Payette River, the main Payette River, and tributaries, lakes and reservoirs.

The Payette River offers something for every water enthusiast. Famous for whitewater and world-class rapids, the Payette River is also a serene place to paddle a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and float tubes.

What are the Payette River Basin Water Trails?

Water trails are boat routes suitable for canoes, rafts, paddleboards, kayaks, and motorized watercraft. Like pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle trails, water trails are recreational corridors between destinations.

Water trail amenities include boat launches, day-use sites, fishing access, and camping areas. They serve as educational venues that create interactive experiences regarding the geology, pre-history, history, ecology and commerce of an area.

The Payette River Water Trails vary from short routes along river sections to loops around lakes; from relaxing flatwater to intense rapids and whitewater.

Water trails are valuable assets to cities and counties, providing recreational and educational opportunities for both residents and visitors. Water trails also help people discover new perspectives about their waterways and their communities, raise awareness of watershed stewardship, and serve as economic engines through tourism and its associated hospitality industry.