Water Sports
Rafting & Kayaking
Rafting and kayaking on the rivers is a terrific summer sport. There are companies that will take you and your group out or you can go on your own. Be sure you know the class for the stretch you plan to take. There are 5 classes of river (5 being virtually un-runnable) and we have all of them throughout our area. The whitewater adventure season normally runs from late spring to early fall dictated by the level of river flow. The Cabarton section of the North Fork of the Payette River offers a milder float and is particularly good for wildlife viewing. For the more adventurous, the Lake Cascade Recreation Area offers some of the best whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking in the country.
Kelly’s Whitewater Park in Cascade is the first of its kind in Idaho, attracting kayakers, canoers, rafters, tubers and standup paddleboarders. The park stretches 1800 feet along the Payette river as it flows past the site of the old Boise-Cascade Mill. The park also features a 2,660 square-foot welcome center that showcases a different theme each year and is also home to the John Borbonus war memorial, the only one if it’s kind in the country.
Boating and Sailing
The majority of the water sports take place on Lake Cascade. Boating, water-skiing and jet-skiing are very popular. Several regattas are held during the summer and there are excellent facilities for launching and docking your boat. Lake Cascade and Warm Lake, two of the most scenic lakes in Idaho are just 25 miles apart providing options that are the best of both worlds.
