Payette, Middle Fork
1. Boiling Springs CG to upstream of Trail Creek
| Difficulty | IV |
| Length | 7.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Middle Fork Payette River Nr Crouch Id |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1220 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 28, 2025 |
River Description
Lat/Longitude data are very approximate.
This section is notably different than most of the big water runs of the Payette and Salmon runs in Idaho. Pool drops and creek-style paddling are the most iconic characteristics. Most rocks are like sandpaper and you will lose momentum when trying to boof and can be a pin hazard with inattentive paddling. Paddle with confidence & commit to all the moves and you should avoid many of the hazards. The last rapid, Molly's Nipple, could be called class V and the whole run might be class V above 1500 cfs or so.
There are three sections of this gorge run: the Gorge (Silver Creek to Trail Creek), the Distillery (bridge to bridge) and Boiling Springs (CG to bridge). This beta ends at Trail Creek campground, upstream of two class V+ roadside sections, knowl locally as 'the Steeps', which have lots of wood and strainers (and no run description currently).
Boiling Springs:
A nice warm up to the rest of the run, a good skill builder for technical paddling, and an ideal spring run for beautiful scenery, clear water, and the occasional bit of action. Your biggest limitation is the road-- it sometimes takes until mid May to clear and be accessible by 2WD or standard passenger vehicles. The majority of the run is roadside, as are most of the iconic rapids. Use your drive up to scout for new logs that may have fallen into the river.
There are four major rapids. First up is the Kinks (III), approximately 1.5 miles downstream of the campground. As you round a bend, the river narrows, boulders become prevalent, and your first technical movements become required. After a half mile of calmer waters, you approach the most dangerous rapid: Hawking (IV+). Named for the undercut rock into a black hole (river left), you will need to weave around several small holes and power to the right to avoid the hazard. Immediately downstream is Plinko (IV), a fast and fun vertical slot with a great sc
...River Features
Boiling Springs Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportAll wood was cleared this summer, except for the right side of Mollys. Who knows what new flows will bring though, so always run it like there is a log around every corner. I've run this from 1200 down to 450.
THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE RUNS ON THIS RIVER. The top run is boiling springs Some good rapids about a mile down from the campground goin down to the next bridge, which starts THE DISTILLERY RUN. This is all class four and one five. for about 1.5 miles. The first is Roy Rodgers, then Gin, the Class 5 is Tequilla, and the long one at the end full of boulders is Scotch on the Rocks. The gorge then starts at the next bridge. Below the gorge is the STEEPS. the first is class 6 for about half a mile, then a 5 runout for about half a mile afterwards depending on flows. Below that is Steepish, a class five depending on flows, but all roadside.
Ran this at @750cfs last weekend. Fun, friendly class IV flow. One piece of wood in play, at the exit of one drop, with much of the current pushing into the wood. Be heads up when boat scouting your way down.
On May 31, 2020 we ran this at 1330 cfs. It was a solid class 4 creek run with one wood portage at that level. It is a very fun run! Topping off the run is a riverside hot spring at the take out and great free camping.
Road scouted this in July 2008 with an eye to paddle it, but found every drop harder than III stuffed with logs. Couldn't see it all, but we opted to do something else. If you go, check the exit ledge from the road or by a short hike from the takeout. Be on the lookout for logs, there are many. --Brian Vogt
short warm-up