McCall Idaho Headline News

Whitewater rafters are still taking to area rivers in large numbers according to area whitewater rafting guide services.

Closures remain on the main Salmon River and Middle Fork of the Salmon due to wildfires blazing along the rivers.

The main Salmon River was closed from Corn Creek to Vinegar Creek earlier this month due to the Rattlesnake and Raines fires raging along the river.

The Middle Fork was closed last week from Boundary Creek to Camas Creek due to the Red Bluff and Monumental fires that were burning on both sides of the river. River access from Boundary Creek, Loon Creek, Thomas Creek and Indian Creek launch sites was also suspended to due to public safety concerns.

Up-to-date river closure information is available at (208) 879-4112 or rafters can emailmiddleforkriverinfo@yahoo.com.

Exodus Wilderness Adventures in Riggins is focusing more on half-day trips on the Salmon River around Riggins, owner Dave Bingaman said.

"We've still got good flows down here," Bingaman said. "These are great flows for day trips."

The Riggins to Lucile run is especially good for rafters and kayakers on the river, he said. Some of the waves are coming back in for kayakers as the river is flowing at 3,280 cubic feet per second as of Tuesday morning.

Sarah Gallant of Cascade Raft & Kayak in Horseshoe Bend said the water in the South Fork of the Payette River will run out of suitable flows by next week, but rafting will remain solid on the main Payette and North Fork of the Payette in the Cabarton stretch.

Gallant reports no new hazards in the river.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Main Payette River at Banks was flowing at 3,224 cfs. The North Fork of the Payette River was flowing at 1,696 cfs. The South Fork of the Payette River was flowing at 315 cfs at GrandJean,1,410 cfs at Canyon and Swirly Canyon and 1,528 cfs in the lower river.