Overview

The road along the South Fork of the Payette River is located high above the river at many points, giving this run a surprisingly pristine feel. During high water, the river below Big Falls is practically one long flush. At medium flows and lower, the river takes on pool/drop characteristics with rapids being steep but short.

From the put-in to Pine Flat Campground, the river flows through a moderately steep, forested canyon, that's primarily Class III water with no major rapids. Below Pine Flat, the canyon becomes deeper, steeper and drier. Approximately six miles from the put-in is Big Falls, a mandatory portage. The falls come after a right-hand bend with a scree slope on the outside of the bend. Portage on the left.