This weekend, I had the opportunity to go whitewater rafting in the Payette river. This scenic river is only 30 minutes out of boise, and has easy access to both boaters and paddle boarders alike. The turn off for the river is hard to miss, and seemed like a popular spot for families to take their boats out to. 

I went in a group of 7, and we did a series of fairly easy rapids, which was great for us since most of us were either beginners to the sport or hadn’t rafted in years. Some of the rapids included “Bennett’s rock,” “Turn Left or you're fired” and “The mixmaster.” We did the half day trip, which was about 3 hours total with a stop for lunch in the middle. The view was unbeatable the entire way, we had a view of the mountains everywhere we looked, and the river water was crystal clear. 

The Payette river stretches 83 miles, so needless to say, there is a wide range of rafting levels to choose from for those more advanced. Going out on the rapids definitely gave me a desire to get back out there and try something more advanced, or at the very least, try more water sports in the area. 

I went with an organization called Youth Dynamics, which is a nonprofit organization which hosts outdoor activities for underprivileged children in the Boise area. This is a Christian organization that hosts a variety of outdoor adventure activities, ranging in levels of intensity. I would highly suggest an excursion with this organization for any ability level, as they are able to accommodate a wide variety of outdoor adventures. In addition to white water rafting, they also have trips for day hikes, rock climbing, horseback riding, and even cross country skiing in the winter. The staff, which I understood to be primarily made up of volunteers, were all lovely to talk to and knowledgeable about the area. Being new to the area, having a guide with a wealth of knowledge about local outdoorsy activities, and just about Boise in general, was wonderful. Youth Dynamics also took necessary precautions against COVID 19 by screening everyone before the excursion and having our group wear masks when necessary. 

 I would highly suggest an outing to the Payette river for anyone who wants to experience some of Idaho’s beautiful scenery without getting too far from the city. Whitewater rafting is great for all ages, and for those concerned about COVID, Youth Dynamics takes all the necessary precautions to slow the spread. This experience made me want to take on a more challenging route for next time, I’m looking forward to getting back out there.