See all 6 routes on North Fork Payette River
Idaho | Southwest Idaho / Cascade-Smiths Ferry
North Fork Payette RiverCabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry
A 9.8-mile Class II-III day run on the North Fork Payette, with named rapids, public bridge access, and a developed Smiths Ferry take-out.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A 9.8-mile Class II-III day run on the North Fork Payette, with named rapids, public bridge access, and a developed Smiths Ferry take-out.
Access map
Put-in
Cabarton Bridge Put-InUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Smith Ferry Take-OutConfirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
- Confirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
- Private banks are common. Do not land, scout, portage, or camp outside a signed public site or manager-designated corridor.
Watch for
- Cabarton Bridge congestion
- Trestle and named rapids
- wood, cold water, and changing releases
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
North Fork Payette River at Cascade, ID. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | North Fork Payette River at Cascade, ID |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 700 cfs to 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 700 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater published runnable window: 700-5,000 cfs |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route corridorCabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry; About 9.8 river miles
BLM Payette River boater corridor identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlCabarton Bridge Put-In to Smith Ferry Take-Out
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13245000 - North Fork Payette River at Cascade, ID
Gauge is on the named waterbody and supplies context only.
- Threshold postureGauge-linked range used for live scoring
The cited route guidance is tied to this gauge and reach; hazards, closures, weather, and local inspection still override the score.
- Safety and land managementCurrent manager notices override this record
Class II-III pool-drop whitewater with named rapids and limited recovery options; wear a PFD and use a boat and crew appropriate to the current level. Cabarton parking and the Smiths Ferry take-out can be congested on summer weekends; rig clear of the ramp and confirm the $5 access fees. Treat American Whitewater's runnable range as planning guidance, not a safety guarantee. Scout wood, bridges, and any rapid whose character has changed.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No on-route camping is assumed. Use current BLM/Boise National Forest campgrounds or a lawful nearby basecamp.
- Photo contextPayette River same-watershed context photograph
The gallery photo is visual context. It may show another part of the same river or watershed and does not show current conditions at every access point.
- Overlap decisionRetained as a distinct access-to-access itinerary
Adjacent cards use different public endpoints and provide a different trip length, hazard set, skill tier, or operating boundary.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- BLM Payette River boater corridor
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13245000 monitoring location
- USGS 13245000 current conditions
- American Whitewater published runnable window: 700-5,000 cfs
- Additional threshold support
- Payette River same-watershed context photograph
- Idaho boating and invasive-species requirements
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
North Fork Payette River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Cabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry route on the North Fork Payette River?
Paddle Today watches North Fork Payette River at Cascade, ID and treats 700 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Cabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry route on the North Fork Payette River start and end?
This route starts at Cabarton Bridge Put-In and ends at Smith Ferry Take-Out, about 9.8 river miles on the water.
Is the Cabarton Bridge to Smiths Ferry route on the North Fork Payette River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.