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Snake River
Southern Idaho

The access point is a small boat launch located approximately 6 miles East of Glenns Ferry across the river from the town of King Hill. It is used as an alternative to the larger and nicer launch at Glenns Ferry, mostly for jet boaters looking to avoid the excessive moss that forms in the slow waters between King Hill and Glenns Ferry. This moss is extremely bad in the summer months.

There is a small, narrow boat ramp and room for 5 to 8 rigs to park, depending on how people do park. Be careful when parking that you don’t block the access to the ramp for other boaters. It is a small area and you need to be aware of how much room is needed for a truck and trailer to get into position to back down the ramp.

There are no docks, and there is only a sliver of room to land a boat along side the ramp. Be careful coming into the bank here as it is shallow and moss grows along the bank.

Sturgeon fishing and duck hunting are very popular along this stretch of river.

How to get there - it is approximately 75miles South East of Boise. From Boise you can either take the Glenns Ferry Exit and turn onto King Hill Loop road as you exit or stay on the interstate and take the Paradise Valley Exit 125. From exit 125 turn north towards the river, you will go down a steep hill and the launch is at the bottom of the hill. It is a sharp turn from this direction. From Glenns Ferry on King Hill Loop you will follow the road to King Hill the turn right and go across the bridge crossing the Snake. Then turn right, the ramp is at the bottom of the hill. If you go up the hill you have gone to far. Be careful, there is a low clearance underpass, 12’5” before you cross the bridge.

From Twin Falls it is approximately 40miles. You can take the King Hill exit #129, turn and head North West toward the town of King Hill. Again, you will need to go through the underpass and over the bridge.

As with most of the Snake River, water levels can fluctuate dramatically in short amounts of time on this part of the river at the whim of Idaho Power Company. Typical daily flows in the summer can fluctuate between 6,000cfs and 9,000cfs.

Going upstream from King Hill is generally considered one of the easier white water jet boat runs in Idaho. That is until you get to Peg Leg rapid which is near the end of the run, about a mile downstream from the Bliss Dam. This is a large and difficult class III rapid. It is not something you want to try if you are new to whitewater jet boating! Don't worry, you will know when you come to Peg Leg Rapid. My best advice is that if you don't know anything about the rapid then turn around and come back another day when you have a bit more information, or even better yet come back with someone to show you the way through.

The 12 miles of river between King Hill and Peg Leg rapid are fairly mellow and the river is readable at most river flows. There are a few technical areas however. The one to be the most concerned with is called Castle Rock. It is not really a large rapid but it is quite technical. It has claimed its fair share of boats and damaged many, many more. There are also some spots on the river just above and bellow Castle Rock that hide some rocks that can be hit as well, depending on the water flow.

Despite this being considered an easier run, like any river you need to always be very cautious and aware of the hazards.

Castle Rock Rapid - It is actually worse then it looks if considering how many boats it has taken a bite out of. On the upstream side of the rocks there is a narrow channel you must stay in as it is usually very shallow on either side of the channel.

Boats going up Castle Rock rapid