Payette, N. Fork
4. Cabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry(The Cabarton Run)
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportGreat Trip - Kevin Hyer
Jun 19, 2026
Run on Saturday Jun 13th. Great trip with co worker from Belgium. Lost the front right position during fransois / Frederik!. No harm done. We took it center. Was hit dead on with a wall of water - It was a great!
WEEKDAY - R S
Jun 10, 2025
What can only be described as a perfect day on the water!
Great weather, good people, best guides in Idaho.
We may have seen one boat the entire trip.
Love weekday trips.
MORE PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/iYww7KxbspGbtJMv8
Fun Run - Michelle Millet
Jun 12, 2024
We had a couple of fun runs on this stretch in hardshells and packrafts. We got to see a Moose along shore one day. The wave at Francois was big! It was easy to miss on the right for tentative paddlers, but most of the group took it head on (it did flip one the hardshells). Howard's was the highlight. Everyone had a blast. One hardsheller flipped and ended up upside down on the eddy on the left at the bottom. It's rocky and shallow but she made it out unscathed.
Idaho With Kids 2022 - Day 2 - Thomas O'Keefe
Jun 25, 2022
We enjoyed a Saturday run on Cabarton with good flows. We got to the put-in just before 10am and were able to drive right up to the launch ramp. Within 30 minutes there was a long line of vehicles to access the put-in. With good weather and a lunch stop we were on the water until 4pm. Most of the kids had kayaked the day before and wanted to try a paddle raft.
Idaho With Kids 2022 - Thomas O'Keefe
Jun 24, 2022
Good flow, great weather, and good friends on the Cabarton Run. We got on the water around 1:30pm and finished our run around 5:00pm with a stop for a late lunch. Traffic on the river was reltatively light and we had no issues accessing the put-in on a Friday afternoon. We had a big group with a few rafts and a several kids in kayaks and inflatables.
Untitled
Jun 25, 2012
Great river for the whitewater intermediate. Action gets more progressive near the end of the run. Run is mostly has pool drop rapids with Trestle Rapid being the exception. The last 3 rapids are a hoot!! The run ends into a small lake. Water is generally warmer than most and exceptionally warm in late summer because the river is fed from top waters from the dam at Cascade.You have to poop in a container so you dont ruin camp sites.And not get stuck in the room of doom after howards plunge.
Other comments: at least a 1-2 long flat stretch in the middle of the run. Very scenic run. A lot of bald eagles abound.