Flat Water Paddling Around Boise

BOISE, ID — Not everyone is suited to don a wetsuit and take to the rapids in a specialized kayak. Taking that into account, we turned to rootsrated.com to find a few spots around Boise suited for canoes and family kayaking.

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The Boise area is known for its whitewater paddling, but there are dozens of rivers and lakes where flat water paddling, including canoeing and kayaking, are good bets, too. Favorite destinations include the Lower Payette River from Horseshoe Bend to Montour and the Middle Fork of the Payette River from the Boise National Forest boundary to the town of Crouch. The North Fork of the Payette River from Cascade to the Cabarton Bridge is an excellent full-day flat water float. Paddlers also like the Montour stretch across Black Canyon Reservoir for moonlight adventures. The Boise River through town is the perfect river for an afternoon float whether in a canoe, raft, or tube.

The McCall area has two flat water floats: one on the North Fork of the Payette River above Payette Lake, and the other below the lake toward Lake Cascade. Bear Valley Creek, about 90 miles northeast of Boise, is an excellent float in June and July, offering mountain scenery and excellent camping.

Lake Cascade
Lake Cascade boasts 360 degree mountain views and is in one of the most gorgeous settings of pine trees in the area. A favorite destination of city dwellers, the lake is a great summer escape for all outdoor folks, from adventure-seekers to those who want to sit back and enjoy a good book on the shore.

Anglers will happily spend the day fishing for trout, Coho salmon and bass (they can also go ice fishing in the winter). The lake has access to hiking and mountain biking trails. And windsurfers, paddleboarders, and boaters of non-motorized and motorized vessels will find plenty of room to sail across the lake’s 47 square miles of surface area. Lake Cascade State Park has camping units dotted around the lake that also offer beach and dock access.

Pack your towel, paddleboard, rod and reel and hiking sandals for a great day or weekend away.

Boise River

Pack some snacks, grab a lemonade and head over to Epley’s at Barber Park to rent tubes and rafts and get details on their shuttle service (Epley’s provides rentals and the shuttle from mid-June through early September). Or, set up your own shuttle and bring your own tubes and rafts. Epley's has a great floaters map available. Leaving from Barber Park, the float takes anywhere from 2 ½ to 5 hours depending on the speed, or lackadaisical nature of your crew, how many stops you make along the way and how long you want to be in the water.

Quinns Pond

A hub of the in-city paddling scene, the section of Greenbelt between the pond and the whitewater River Park bustles with boating activity. A contributor to the friendly paddling scene is Idaho River Sports, known to locals simply as “IRS.” Located right across from the pond, IRS rents stand-up paddleboards and gear and offers clinics and SUP yoga classes. Throughout the summer, the shop’s friendly owners, Joe and Stan and their great crew regularly host free paddleboard nights. Keep an eye on the IRS Facebook page for updates, then head over to join in on the camaraderie.

Formerly a concrete dumping ground, the area just west of the pond, across the path, is part of a big revitalization project currently in the works. The plan includes expansion from Quinn’s Pond to the existing Boise River Park, including additional connected ponds, a new park and play area, and an additional whitewater park with a riverside viewing area.

Payette Lake

Beautiful, glittering Payette Lake is set against a backdrop of mountains and lush forest and offers water sports enthusiasts over 5,000 acres of water to play on. With several marinas and beaches along its shores, the lake has easy access for paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming or sailing. Boaters of the motorized variety can give rides to wakeboarders too. There are a number of paces to rent paddleboards and boats in McCall including at the state park.

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