Canoeing the Upper North Fork of the Payette River
The North Fork of the Payette River extends north from Payette Lake’s North Shore toward Upper Payette Lake. This river can take up to four hours to traverse, two hours to reach the shallows, and an equal amount of time to return. There are opportunities to see various wildlife. We have seen birds, fish, butterflies, and occasionally a moose. On this trip, we saw a pair of bald eagles and caught a fish swimming under the water. The serene beauty of this place always brings peace and joy. We look forward to this adventure whenever we visit McCall in the summer.
Access
Non-motorized boats or paddle boards only on the river.
You can access the river from the North Shore beach area, but it is usually busy with a different type of crowd. More parking is available at The North Shore, but finding an open space during the summer is often difficult. If you find one, there is still a small hike to the beach, about a 1/2-mile. The mosquitos in the parking lot and along the path to the beach are terrible. It makes that 1/2-mile hike very unpleasant. Come prepared, especially if you have young children in tow.
You can also access the river from the west side of Payette Lake at the river’s mouth. This is the recommended put-in for the river. Here, you will find about two dozen parking spaces, a boat put-in area, a small section of beach, a small picnic area, and a vault toilet. There are almost no mosquitoes in this area. An access fee for this parking area is $7, so bring small bills. If you have the Idaho State Parks Pass, the parking is free as long as the associated, valid sticker is on your windshield.
If you need to rent a boat or paddleboard, you can do so at Gravity Sports in downtown McCall or at the river entrance on the west side at the yurt for Backwoods Adventures Canoe & Kayak Rental. Be sure to call in advance to see if you can reserve the day and time you’d like to head up the river since this is usually a busy area and stock is limited. Backwoods Adventures does not take reservations, but they have a large selection of canoes and kayaks.
Challenges
The Wind. In the mornings, you’ll experience the least wind, making traveling up and down the river easier. As the day progresses, the wind gets stronger and stronger. Paddling into a headwind can be difficult and slow going.
Water Temperature. This lake and the river that feeds into it are frigid. Don’t expect to jump in without knowing what you’re getting into. I’ve seen several people do so and lose their breath from the shock of it.
Crowds. If you arrive in the early morning/sunrise, you’ll find the best chance of finding parking at either the North Shore or the West Bank. You’ll also see the least number of people on the river. As the day goes on, the numbers will increase quickly, then slow down in the afternoon as most people move on to other things. A late afternoon is an option for fewer crowds, but it does come with increased wind on most days.
The Activity
While coating ourselves with sunscreen, I sent the drone out to explore. Atop the tallest tree on the opposite side of the river was a pair of bald eagles. I quickly took some pictures and then left them alone.
We rented canoes from Backwoods Adventures and set off up the river. Inflatable kayaks are good enough on a small lake or river where you only plan to travel a short distance. They cannot compare to a real kayak or canoe when traveling more than half a mile. In the canoes, we glided through the water with ease; steering was easy-peasy, and we could enjoy the trip much more while exerting ourselves much less.
This section of the river is fun, easy, and full of beauty. The weather is almost always calm in the morning, and the wind is almost nonexistent. This makes for a delightful journey as you paddle your way upstream.
At noon, there isn’t much wind and very little shade. It's probably the worst time, but it's still totally workable on this gentle river, especially if you have transportation that requires minimal effort to move across the water.
In the afternoon, there is lots of shade, and a cool breeze comes off the mountains and blows across the water. While paddling into a headwind can make the journey more difficult, a tailwind allows you to sit and enjoy the scenery as the wind gently pushes you along.
The first half mile will bring you to a fork in the river. The right fork is a slightly longer route with a few bends in the river. The left fork is a shorter route that will take you to a small beach area where you can take a break if you like. This is where we stopped on this trip. The two forks meet up again about 100 feet beyond the beach area.
From there, you follow the river as it horseshoes around once, then again. On the northern tip of the first horseshoe bend is another spot you can put in your SUP, canoe, or kayak. A small beach area is a great place to take a break and maybe have a snack or picnic meal. On the second wrap, as you head north again, there is an offshoot to the right. This is a dead end, but exploring if you have the time and inclination to do so is fun.
Continue to follow the river north, and you’ll come to another beach on the river's west bank. This is the beach for the Northwest Campground. You can stop here, but depending on the season, it may be crowded.
Further up the river, you’ll reach the bridge. If you’ve reached this point, you’re doing great. Continuing, the river will bend west, and then further on, it will bend back towards the east. Depending on water levels, you might see a section of the river to your left. It’s another dead end, but it can be fun to explore.
At this point, the river is going to start getting pretty shallow. It might be a great time to turn around and head back. If you can continue, you have about half a mile before the river becomes too shallow to traverse.
Summary
Overall, this river is one we try to visit each time we are in McCall during the warmer months. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out, but it is well worth your time if you have a morning or more. The views are beautiful, the water is smooth and easy to navigate, and you may see various wildlife like birds, raptors, moose, bears, fish, and more. You can spend as little as an hour on this river, but I recommend at least two. To go the full length of the navigable river takes around four hours, round trip. Don’t miss this McCall favorite adventure.
