Kayak Love

Idaho · river

North Fork Payette River at Cascade

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

83of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near North Fork Payette River at Cascade
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Cascade Idaho, Ultra Cool Salmon - panoramio.jpg by Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

3 mph

gusting to 7 mph

Air temp

49°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

192 cfs

very low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Monday · 100

  • Today

    86

  • Fri

    93

  • Sat

    75

  • Sun

    58

  • Mon

    100

    Best

  • Tue

    93

  • Wed

    100

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
9a37
10a313
11a713
12p913
1p1014
2p1015
3p1116
4p1216
5p1116
6p1015
7p713
8p69

Is this flow normal for September 10?

Today's 192 cfs is 86% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.

The median flow on this date is 1,350 cfs, across 83 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind3 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
  • Cold49°F — dress for the water, not the air-17

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Idaho