3. Danskin Station to Alder Creek Bridge

This is a beautiful section of the South Fork Payette in a scenic gorge that usually has less traffic than the 'Main'. The section is named for its strong eddies and wave dynamics but the whitewater is no more than class II-III. This section can be run during most of the spring/summer/fall. Levels can be on the high side during spring run-off (May/June) and lower as September drags on. After the Deadwood shuts off (in 2015 it was August 31), flows can be in the 345 range, which results in some scrapey sections, but the run still has some fun rapids, and very clear water. About a mile below the Danskin put-in the river makes a sharp right-hand turn into the canyon. Great class II and III whitewater in a scenic gorge continues for about two miles. As you exit the canyon, the remains of the Grimes Dam provides a nice play wave known as UPW (Ultimate Play Wave). The rapid has changed over time and is not as epic as it once was. After 5.6 miles, the whitewater tapers off and you will reach Hot Springs which serves as an alternate take-out or a put-in if you are looking for a good SUP run. The Hot Springs Forest Service Campground is also located here. It's another 2.5 miles down to the Alder Creek Road. You can also continue on down through the next 4 miles of the Garden Valley, a good flatwater run. Logistics: From Boise drive north on State Highway 55 about 32 miles to Banks and then turn right up the Banks-Lowman Road (Highway 17) which heads upstream along the South Fork Payette. This road parallels the river along the right bank but out of site from the river and serves as the shuttle route. The take-out is at Highway 17 mile 11.7 (just west of the airstrip) where the Alder Creek Road heads 0.2 south from the highway to the Alder Creek Bridge across the river. The access is the downstream river left side of the bridge. An intermediate access point is available at Hot Springs at Highway 17 mile 13.9. You can take-out here and everyone can enjoy a nice soak while shuttle drivers get the cars from the put-in. It's a hike up the hill from the river which works better for kayaks than rafts. Grimes Dam site is not an access but it is a historical site at the pull out at Highway 17 mile 17.1. This old hydropower dam failed in 1943 and there is an interpretive site along the highway. The put-in is at Danskin Station at Highway 17 mile 19.5. Access is available through a steep set of stairs down to the river and a raft slide. The parking area is a feet site at $3.00/day or $20.00 season pass for the Payette system. Season passes can be purchased at the USDA Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management Interagency Visitor Center in Boise, Boise National Forest District Offices (Emmett, Lowman, and Garden Valley), Alpenglow Sports (Bogus Basin Rd.), Ponderosa Sports (between Horseshoe Bend and Gardina), Banks Cafe and Store; Garden Valley Store, Boise Army Navy Store, Cascade Outfitters, Cascade Raft Company (about 1.5 miles south of Beehive Bend), Idaho River Sports, and REI. Day passes can be purchased at the river access sites.