Snake
E) Murtaugh Bridge to Twin Falls Reservoir - (The Murtaugh)
| Difficulty | III-IV(V) |
| Length | 13.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Snake at Milner Total Flow |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 2, 2024 |
River Description
The Murtaugh Canyon, a classic run on the Snake River, featuring Pair-A-Dice, Let's Make a Deal and Idaho Connection.
This is a big desert river with ledge drops, big waves and holes. Idaho Connection features some of the best surfing anywhere.
The river gets very rocky, and steep below 5,500 cfs, but kayakers can run it lower down to around 1,200 cfs. It has been survived above 36,000 cfs.
The character of the river and lines through the rapids change dramatically with flows. In fact, Murtaugh is often described as three rivers in one, because of its three inner canyons that are either exposed or inundated as flows change.
There are many dangerous ledge holes throughout this run. All are easy to avoid if you know where they are.
The locals refer to the Milner combined gauge on the Idaho Power website.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportLet's Make A Deal at 19,000 cfs. The 'doors' are the lower 5 channels in between the 4 rock pillars. The two large upstream islands (bottom of the photo) are not part of the 'doors.' Numbers start counting from the left. Door 1 is always a no go. Channel wide sticky hole at most flows. Door 2 is always the safest option when there is enough water. Door 3 can be run if you miss the bus sized hole below it. Door 4 also contains a channel wide sticky hole. Could be possibly run at lower flows. Door 5 is the farthest right run. It is the only option when flows get under approximately 2,500 cfs and is run within feet of the right shore. The rapid can be scouted from the top of fantasy island (The big island above the rapid in the center of the river). Land on the gravel bar on the upstream side of the island and climb to the top. The safest high water line is just to the right of fantasy island (not too close, there's a hole) and over into door 2. The red line in the photo shows this line starting from the scout location.
Toilet Hole in the Connection Rapid. 21,000 cfs. Easy to miss. Great eddy service on this feature for catching big air, until you time it wrong.
Ran it at 13,000 cfs on 4/16/2011. Huge, big water class IV!!! Lots of fun, but a bad level to swim. I recommend bring a breakdown paddle in your group when running this section at high flows.
We ran the Murtaugh section at 2600 according to gage mentioned below. Excellent run, class IV with Duck Blind and Lets Make a Deal (depending on the 'door') probably with higher rating. At this level you can run multiple 'doors' at Lets Make a Deal, including door number 2, which is the easiest and other doors which are much more difficult.
The wrong gage is listed for this stretch. Use the following link: http://www.usbr.gov/pn-bin/dfcgi.pl/?sta=MILI
Also, the minimum level for kayaks (and certain rafts) is more like 1000-1200. There's excellent play at opium hole (mid way through the canyon) and Troll Holl. At flows around this level, the river is confined to the inner rock channel. Overall, the nature is pool drop class III/IV with 2 class IV+/V- rapids (Let's make a deal and Duckblind.) The hole in duckblind, combined with the rapid acceleration of water behind it, and the ledge create a potential for good beatings.
Chad Maxwell and John Dewell avoid the retainer on river right