See all 3 routes on Snake River
Idaho | Southern Idaho / Twin Falls County
Snake River
Murtaugh Bridge to Twin Falls Park
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A roughly 13-mile Class III-IV(V) Snake River canyon run from the BLM Murtaugh access to Idaho Power's Twin Falls Park take-out.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Murtaugh Boating AccessUse only the named public launch or landing; a nearby bank, bridge shoulder, fishing easement, or private campground is not substitute access.
Take-out
Twin Falls Park boat rampConfirm current closures, fire restrictions, seasonal gates, parking capacity, fees, launch condition, and Idaho invasive-species requirements before travel.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
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
- Pair-A-Dice, Let's Make a Deal, Duck Blind, and other ledge holes
- high-water hydraulics and long swims
- Twin Falls Park day-use hours and mandatory take-out
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Snake River at Milner, ID Total Flow |
| 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 1,200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater runnable minimum about 1,200 cfs; rocky/steep below about 5,500 cfs (planning ideal 2,500-5,500 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 corridorMurtaugh Bridge to Twin Falls Park; About 13.3 river miles
American Whitewater Murtaugh reach details identifies the endpoint chain, river miles, or managed float corridor.
- Public access controlMurtaugh Boating Access to Twin Falls Park boat ramp
Coordinates represent named public ramps, bank launches, park landings, or an explicitly described staging point.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13088000 - Snake River at Milner, ID Total Flow
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
This is a big-water canyon with dangerous ledge holes and rapidly changing lines; use a proven whitewater craft, helmet, rescue equipment, and a crew capable of self-rescue. American Whitewater notes the reach becomes rocky and steep below about 5,500 cfs and that the minimum for kayaks is around 1,200 cfs. Scout Pair-A-Dice, Let's Make a Deal, Duck Blind, and other named features before committing. The Milner total-flow gauge is an upstream operational reference rather than a local measurement at every rapid. Idaho Power operations, irrigation, wind, and reservoir changes can alter conditions; current local inspection overrides the score.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No on-route camping is assumed. Use a lawful Twin Falls or Murtaugh-area basecamp; both endpoints are day-use access facilities.
- Image decisionSnake River Hells Canyon context photograph
Approved route-area or same-river context; it does not depict every endpoint or current conditions.
- 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.
- American Whitewater Murtaugh reach details
- Official access/map control
- USGS 13088000 monitoring location
- USGS 13088000 current conditions
- Additional threshold support
- Idaho Power Twin Falls Park take-out
- USGS Milner total-flow gauge
- Snake River Hells Canyon 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 jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Snake River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Snake River?
Paddle Today watches Snake River at Milner, ID Total Flow and uses 1,200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Snake River route start and end?
This route starts at Murtaugh Boating Access and ends at Twin Falls Park boat ramp, about About 13.3 river miles on the water.
Is this Snake River route good 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.