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Access Site ID

Walters Ferry

Snake River Bernard Ditch

Source: idaho_department_of_fish_and_game Updated 1 year ago

City: Melba, ID
County: Owyhee County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 43.34133269, -116.60373449
Air Temp: --
Location
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Whitewater Run
I(II) Take-out Snake - H) Swan Falls Dam to Walters Ferry (Birds of Prey)
2 ft/mi
View Run
Current Conditions
Whitewater Runs on Snake River
21 runs (1 nearby)
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site: Put-in at this location This location is on the run Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
**Location & Access**
Walters Ferry provides boat ramp access to the Snake River approximately 17 miles south of Nampa, Idaho, just off Highway 45 near Melba. This sportsman's access point features a concrete ramp that is well-sheltered from the river's current, making it suitable for launching kayaks, canoes, and motorboats. The site offers day-use access and basic parking facilities. Nearby alternative access points include Celebration Park upstream and Marsing Access 4.5 miles downstream.

**River Character & Conditions**
The Snake River at this location is a major waterway (stream order 9) with an average flow of nearly 50,000 cubic feet per second and an average velocity of 10.81 feet/second. The river has a significant gradient of approximately 15.8 feet per mile in this region, indicating moderate current conditions. Paddlers should be prepared for an active river environment. The area is notable for its scenic canyon habitat within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, offering opportunities to view raptors and wildlife in their natural setting.

**Recreation Notes**
Day-use only. Pack out all waste and follow Leave No Trace principles. For more information, contact 208-384-3300. The site is maintained by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Federal Facility Information
208-384-3300 Free Access

Named after brothers Al and Roy Halverson who once farmed property to the north, the Halverson Bar and Halverson Lake area is unique for its curving two-mile sandbar along the Snake River and its two shallow lakes nestled below the rimrock and tall sand dunes. The Halverson Bar and Halverson Lake area is located at the western end of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National...

Named after brothers Al and Roy Halverson who once farmed property to the north, the Halverson Bar and Halverson Lake area is unique for its curving two-mile sandbar along the Snake River and its two shallow lakes nestled below the rimrock and tall sand dunes. The Halverson Bar and Halverson Lake area is located at the western end of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA). This 1,200 acre area is managed for non-motorized recreational activities. Motorized uses are not allowed in the area.

The lakes were originally natural depressions that accumulated water seasonally and were sustained by small springs. The lakes have since been deepened by homesteaders and farmers. Today, most of the water in Halverson Lakes comes from irrigation run-off from the upland plateau. Decades ago the lakes were stocked with fish - blue gill, bass, and crappie - which are the primary catch today. Cliffs and sloping bluffs of basalt separate the shoreline and canyon bottom from the upland desert. Basaltic boulders, deposited by the flooding waters of Lake Bonneville 15,000 years ago, lie like giant-size melons on the sandy bar. The area includes a gravel parking area and several miles of hiking trails.

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Nearby Recreation Areas
Birds of Prey Scenic Float Located within
Celebration Park Located within
Rabbit Creek OHV Trail Located within
Wilson Creek Travel Management Area Located within