Payette
1. Banks to Beehive Bend(The Upper Main)
| Difficulty | III+ |
| Length | 7.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 17 fpm |
| Gauge | Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id |
| Flow Rate as of 47 minutes | 9100 cfshigh runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 28, 2023 |
River Description
The Payette's Upper Main is classic Idaho whitewater. Less than an hour from Boise, Banks is 'River Central' for the Payette system and lies at the confluence of the Payette's North Fork and South Fork. Banks serves as the take-out for North Fork (class V) and South Fork (class IV) runs and the put-in for the class III section know locally as 'The Main'. There are several class III rapids and plenty of class II rapids (described in detail below). Big bouncy drops will keep experienced paddlers entertained and it's a great training run for intermediate paddlers honing their skills. Advanced paddlers can begin their run on the South Fork Staircase run or the Lower Five on the North Fork Payette and join the group in Banks. Commercial traffic can get heavy on this run during late spring or early summer weekends. This section is recommended for paddlers with at least the basic river-running skills--The Main is the 'real-thang'!
WHEN TO RUN: The Upper Main is runnable most of the year - best Spring through Fall. Be warned that this may become a larger volume river in the spring (June/July) and can reach 15,000cfs. But most of the summer it starts at about 5,000cfs and works it's way down to about 2,000cfs by September. October flows dip to around 800 to 1200. The river is still runnable at this level, but it IS low and a very different river.
HOW TO GET THERE: From Boise take state hwy 55 north about 32 miles to Banks (Highway 55 mile 78.8) and turn left across the North Fork. This is a fee parking area - $3.00/day or $20.00 season pass for the Payette system. Season passes can be purchased at the USDA Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management Interagency Visitor Center in Boise, Boise National Forest District Offices (Emmett, Lowman, and Garden Valley), Alpenglow Sports (Bogus Basin Rd.), Ponderosa Sports (between Horseshoe Bend and Gardina), Banks Cafe and Store; Garden Valley Store, Boise Army Navy Store, Cascade Outfitt
...River Features
Banks Put-In
The Banks Access site can be a busy site, particularly on weekends. It serves as a take-out for those coming down the North Fork or South Fork and serves as the primary put in for both outfitters and the public. Located across the bridge at Highway 55 mile 78.8.
Banks Beach (aka Bikini Beach)
Alternate access or lunch stop a mile down from the main put-in in Banks but before the real whitewater begins. It's at Highway 55 mile 77.9) This is also a pleasant place for non-paddlers to hang out.
Chief Parrish
This is a fun class II wave train that is a read-and-run down the middle. An alternate access point at the bottom of this rapid with parking, restrooms, and picnic tables can also be utilized as a lunch stop. Just after Chief Parrish is a class II wavetrain that has a boily section at the end.
Chief Parrish Access
Alternative access that can be used as a take-out above Mixmaster and AMF. Located at Highway 55 mile 74.2.
Beehive Bend Take Out
Primary take-out for the Main Payette with a trail up to a large parking area. Located at Hwy 55 mile 71.5.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe had a large group of kids in kayaks and a couple rafts along for the float from Banks down to Beehive Bend. It was a Saturday morning when we launched but not too crowed. We were at the launch area around 10am which was earlier than many other trips. After rigging and setting shuttle we were on the water at approximately 11:30am. We stopped for lunch for abour 45 minutes. We were off the water by 2:30pm. It was just over 2 hours of float time from Banks down to Beehive Bend at a leisurely pace.
Trip down the main with kids and the O'Keefe, Andrews, and Donnelly families.
We had a big trip with several kids and kayaks. The kids all did great and it was a fun flow. I did not have a chance to take photos on the river but captured a few images of the Banks put-in and Beehive Bend Take-out.
During the 2016 River Management Society in meeting in Boise a few of us went up to spend a day enjoying the Main Payette.
Trip to the Payette River in the summer of 2014.
Mostly big wave trains down the middle. Swirly, a good brace is helpful. Much colder water than in the summer, in the low 40s. Go Left is still a center left line, with a huge hole in the center-right.
Kayaking on the Payette, New Year's Day 2005!
Payett Upper Main. Troy Wilson(9) at Bennett's Rock
Troy Wilson (9) at Bennett's Rock on the Main Payette. After a summer of Idaho River Kids I can't get him back in his IK! The run at Bennett's is to the right of a rock that forms a monster hole at anything but high levels.
Bennetts Rock at this level is still a pour-over. As flows increase (Spring) this rock creates huge standing waves and a great surf opportunity with long eddies to return upstream. As levels decrease the hole becomes mammoth. Run is generally river-right. A nice wave-train follows!