Welcome to the Payette River Rafting FAQ for Payette River Company on the South Fork Payette River near Lowman, Idaho. Whether you are booking your first trip or returning for another season, this Payette River rafting FAQ covers everything you need to know before you arrive. If you have a question not answered here, call or text Ginger at (208) 720-7039 or email ginger@payetterivercompany.com.
Payette River Company is located at 14 Memory Lane in Lowman, Idaho — at mile marker 76 on Highway 21. Look for the cream building with a green roof. Please park on the downstream side of the building. Cell service is limited after leaving Boise or Ketchum so follow written directions and do not rely solely on GPS. Full directions are on our Directions page.
As early as possible — summer weekends and holiday weekends fill up fast. If you have a specific date in mind do not wait. Call or text Ginger at (208) 720-7039 or book directly online.
For the Canyon section the minimum age is 12. For the Kirkham Hot Springs section — both half day and full day — the minimum age is 5.
Yes — all guests are required to sign a release of liability waiver before their trip. Guests under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.
Yes — gift cards are available here and make a great present for anyone who loves the outdoors.
Absolutely — that is exactly what our overnight packages are designed for. You raft the Kirkham or Canyon section during the day and spend the night at Camp Woopie, our private riverside camp on the South Fork Payette. See all overnight options.
One of the most common Payette River rafting FAQ questions we get is what to pack. Here is everything you need:
For a half day or full day trip:
For overnight and multi-day trips bring everything above plus:
What does PRC provide?
All trips — paddle, helmet, life jacket, wetsuit and splash jacket if conditions call for it, water throughout the trip, and a shuttle to and from the put-in with great bus tunes.
Full day trips — cold beverages on the shuttle ride home and a photo slideshow back at headquarters.
Overnight and multi-day trips — all camping gear including tents, sleeping pads, and pillows. Sleeping bags are available as a $15 add-on when booking online.
Yes, water shoe rentals are available for $5 at headquarters.
Our life jackets fit up to a 56 inch chest. Weight and physical limits are handled on a case by case basis. Call Ginger at (208) 720-7039 for more information.
Yes — please let Sean or Ginger know about any physical restrictions, injuries, or allergies before your trip. This includes things like a sore shoulder, knee replacement, asthma, or dietary restrictions. If we feel that your safety or the safety of others could be affected we may ask you to modify or skip part of a trip.
GoPros are welcome — our helmets have the clip connection. Let your guide know you have a GoPro when you are fitted for your helmet and bring your mount.
We do not recommend bringing your phone on the river — not even in a waterproof sleeve. It can be damaged when the boat is jostled in whitewater, lost, or create hazards with attached straps. PRC provides photos of your trip at a reasonable price.
All PRC guides are licensed through the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, which requires verified river guiding experience and First Aid and CPR certification. Sean holds additional wilderness first responder certification. Our guides bring years of experience on the South Fork Payette River and a genuine commitment to making sure every guest has a safe and memorable trip.
We require a 30% deposit to book your trip. If you cancel within 48 hours of your trip or do not show up you will be charged the full amount. If you cancel 3 or more days before your trip your deposit will be applied toward a future trip.
Our rafts hold up to 7 guests plus your guide — plenty of room for families and groups. If you have a larger group we can put multiple rafts on the water. Contact Ginger at (208) 720-7039 to discuss group options.
A great Payette River rafting FAQ question — and the answer depends on the section and time of year. The Canyon section is fed from the bottom of Deadwood Reservoir, which means the water tends to run on the cooler side even in summer. The Kirkham section is natural flow draining the Sawtooth Mountains — slightly warmer but still crisp and refreshing. Either way your guides will make sure you have the right gear for the conditions.
Trips run rain or shine. You are going to get wet anyway — that is part of the fun. If it is a cool or rainy day your guides will make sure you have the appropriate gear to stay comfortable on the water.
You cannot fish from the boat on our advertised trips which are all paddle rafting. However you can arrange a private fishing trip with up to 2 people per oar boat while your guide rows you down the river. Contact ginger@payetterivercompany.com for details.
If you are staying overnight at Camp Woopie you can walk and wade fish from camp. Please bring your own fishing equipment and purchase your Idaho fishing license before your trip at idfg.idaho.gov/licenses.
For the safety of everyone on the river, PRC reserves the right to refuse participation to any guest who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Half day Kirkham — no lunch included. The Boise National Forest has some beautiful spots to stop for a picnic before or after your trip. Or stop by South Fork Lodge before or after your trip!
Full day Kirkham — a riverside lunch served before or at the Kirkham Hot Springs stop.
Full day Canyon — a riverside lunch including Noi’s famous homemade cookies served before the Big Falls portage.
Overnight and multi-day trips — if you raft first your day trip lunch is included on the river. Once at camp all meals are included from appetizers and dinner on your first night through breakfast on your last morning. The number of meals varies by package — see individual trip pages for full details.
Dinner at Camp Woopie is a real sit-down riverside meal — appetizers, a full dinner, and a dessert fresh from the dutch oven. Breakfast is served hot the next morning. All meat comes from Ginger’s family’s farm in North Idaho. Vegetables come from the PRC garden in Lowman when in season. We do our best to source all other ingredients locally. The menu can be modified for dietary needs — just let us know when you book.
Yes — water is available throughout all trips. On the Kirkham section if you are a big water drinker feel free to bring your own bottle — we are happy to fill it for you at headquarters. On the Canyon section we ask that you keep personal items minimal as guests help carry the boats around the Big Falls portage, so we try to keep things light. In an effort to reduce plastic waste PRC does not provide single use water bottles.
After every trip Sean or Ginger presents a photo slideshow — highlights captured from the bank or from Sean’s safety kayak while you were on the water. Photos are available for purchase at a reasonable price through our Pixieset gallery.
Gratuity is not included in the trip price and is always appreciated. The standard for guide gratuity is 15-20%.
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Beer and non-alcoholic drinks are provided by PRC at camp. Feel free to bring your own wine or cocktails.
South Fork Lodge is just three miles downstream from our headquarters and well worth a stop before or after your trip. The coffee bar opens at 7am — perfect for grabbing a coffee before your full day trip. Heading out for the half day? Stop in for lunch before you check in with us. After a full day on the Canyon a cold drink and a snack on their patio hits the spot. And if you are finishing up the half day around 7pm, dinner at South Fork Lodge is a treat. The lodge sits right on the South Fork Payette and also rents side by sides and other outdoor toys if you want to make a full day of it in the area.
If you arrive early for your trip, Kirkham Hot Springs is just one mile upstream at mile marker 77 — well worth a stop before you get on the water.
The drive home is part of the adventure. Heading back to Boise via Highway 55? There are several places to stop for a bite in Garden Valley. Taking the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway through Idaho City? Stop in Idaho City for a meal or a drink before heading back to the valley. Heading back to Sun Valley or Ketchum? The drive through Stanley is stunning — grab a bite in Stanley before continuing on through the Sawtooth Valley.
Other lodging options in the area:
This Payette River rafting FAQ covers the most common questions we hear from guests — but every trip is a little different. If you have something specific on your mind, Ginger is happy to help.
Call or text Ginger at (208) 720-7039, email ginger@payetterivercompany.com, or book directly online.
