New full-color guide to the Boise River provides details on navigating the river from Lucky Peak to Parma

Adam Bass, right, with Chel and the new Boise River guide.

Hi all, 

Just when we're seeing more and more people floating non-traditional sections of the Boise River in rafts, canoes, stand-up paddle boards and inner tubes, the Boise River Enhancement Network (BREN) has produced a new guidebook for the Boise River, providing details on navigating the river from Lucky Peak to Parma. 

Adam Bass is the author of the full-color, waterproof guide. BREN had a little party at Idaho River Sports on Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of the new guide. The spiral-bound guide is available for sale for $35 retail.

Tom "Chel" Chelstrom wrote the first detailed guide to the Boise River in the mid-1990s, and updated it five times over the years.

"My first printing of “Canoeing the Boise river” served to jump start our community’s awareness of the recreation opportunities beyond Barber Park to Ann Morrison," Chel says. "I am delighted that Adam has incorporated some of that early work and made a much more detailed, user-friendly guidebook.

"The book is a great tribute to the efforts of so many people to improve access and information about the river. Shout out to IRU, Boise River 2000, the Boise River Trails Coalition and Boise River Enhancement Network for 25 years of great work!"

Here's Drew on the Boise River with his friend Jenny McIntosh.

Adam Bass said this about the book:

"The Guidebook introduces river users to the beautiful plants and fascinating wildlife of the lower Boise River as well as the natural and human-created hazards. Experienced boaters can use the Guidebook to safely explore our backyard treasure and become ambassadors for a healthy river." 

In the introduction, Bass writes "The Boise River flows nearly 70 miles from Discovery Park, just below Lucky Peak Dam east of Boise, to its confluence with the Snake River west of Parma. The river provides wonderful paddling opportunities and scenic views over its entire length. There are many accesses and most are easily reached on major roads, which make for simple shuttles."

They break the river down into the following sections: 

• Lucky Peak to Barber Park 
• Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park 
• Glenwood to Eagle Road - South Channel 
• Glenwood to Eagle Road - North Channel 
• Eagle Road to Linder - South Channel 
• Eagle Road to Linder - North Channel 
• Star Road to Lansing Lane 
• Middleton Road to Wittenberger Park 
• Wittenberger Park to Notus 
• Notus to Parma 
• Parma to Fort Boise  

Each section has notes on put-ins and takeouts, hazards or points of interest, wildlife you might see along the way, etc.

BE SMART AND SAFE OUT THERE! 

Try to scout unfamiliar sections of the river before you go, or at least hazards that you expect to encounter such as irrigation diversions. The best advice is to "scout" any hazards before floating them. 

The guidebook says, "Paddling on rivers is never completely safe. Develop your skills on lakes, paddle within your ability, and always wear a properly fitted PFD (life jacket). You are responsible for your safety while paddling and only you can judge the suitability of the Boise River for your skill level."

Also ... "Keep other river users in mind," Bass says. "If you plan a trip through town, keep in mind other floaters. If you plan a trip downstream of Eagle Road, keep in mind potential
waterfowl hunters. Always be aware of fishermen."

Truth be told, Chel approached me about printing a guidebook on the Boise River when he was researching all of the different sections of the river shortly after I had published my first edition of "Paddling the Payette," a guide to 24 day trips on all forks of the Payette River. At the time, I didn't think there would be much of a market for a canoeing guide to the Boise River ... because it was a very small small number of people who do that type of thing. 

But now that SUPs and sit-on-top kayaks are commonplace on the Boise River -- and full-sized rafts with anglers on board -- there definitely is a need for a detailed guide about the more unsung sections of the Boise River, in my view. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - Be sure to check water levels on the Boise River before you go ... check the Idaho river flows page to get the latest flows, such as the gauge in Caldwell: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/uv/?site_no=13211205&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010

Be sure to bring plenty of food and water with you. Wear good river shoes/sandals for navigating around hazardous areas. 

And have fun!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR IDAHO CITY YURTS! 

Hey folks, Idaho Parks and Recreation is having a hard time recruiting volunteers for stocking up the Idaho City yurts with fresh firewood and other things for the winter season. Contact Steve Schaps, thewildwestguy@gmail.com if you'd like to help out.

August 11-12 - Skyline Yurt organized by Brian McMahan. Meeting at 7:45 am at the Idaho Parks and Rec office on Warm Springs Road.  Carpooling available.

August 17-18 - Hennessey Yurt organized by Leo Hennessey himself. Meeting at the yurt at 9-10 am. 

August 30-31 - Elkhorn Yurt organized by me (Steve Schaps) meeting at the Parks and Rec office on Warm Springs Road at 7:45 am. Carpooling available.

August 31-Sept 1 - Banner Ridge Yurt organized by Julie Rittenberry. 

Please spread the word to your friends. Thanks!
- SS