North Fork Payette River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork Payette River is a river in western Idaho
in the United States
. It stretches over 113 miles (181.9 km) from north to south, flowing from the Salmon River Mountains
to near Banks
, where it joins with the South Fork Payette River to form the Payette River
, a tributary of the Snake River
. Its watershed comprises more than 900 mi2 of forested mountains and sprawling lakes and wetlands.
. The river flows south into Upper Payette Lake then further in that direction through a deep valley into Payette Lake, which lies at the northern end of Long Valley. The river exits from the southern end of the lake near McCall
and flows southwards through the broad valley into Lake Cascade
, a huge reservoir formed by Cascade Dam. While part of the lake, the North Fork Payette River receives the Lake Fork, its largest tributary, which descends from the mountains to the northeast.
The river leaves the Cascade Dam at Cascade
and 5 mi (8 km) later enters a gorge, leaving the Long Valley. Idaho State Highway 55
follows the river as it courses south-southwest through the canyon. The gorge starts out as a valley only about 700 feet (213.4 m) deep, but as the river nears the mouth, it attains its maximum depth below the rim at nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m). The North Fork joins with the South Fork near the village of Banks, at an elevation of 2825 feet (861.1 m). From there, the river is known as the main stem of the Payette and flows 62 miles (99.8 km) further west to its confluence with the Snake River near Ontario, Oregon
.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It stretches over 113 miles (181.9 km) from north to south, flowing from the Salmon River Mountains
Salmon River Mountains
The Salmon River Mountains are a major mountain range covering most of the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The range is over long and its boundaries are usually defined by the Salmon River and its large tributary forks. Part of the central Rocky Mountains, the entire range lies west of...
to near Banks
Banks, Idaho
Banks is an unincorporated census-designated place in Boise County, Idaho, United States. Banks is located on Idaho State Highway 55 north-northeast of Horseshoe Bend. Banks has a post office with ZIP code 83602. As of the 2010 census, its population was 17....
, where it joins with the South Fork Payette River to form the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
, a tributary of the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
. Its watershed comprises more than 900 mi2 of forested mountains and sprawling lakes and wetlands.
Course
It rises at the confluence of two small streams, Trail Creek and Cloochman Creek, in a meadow deep within the Payette National ForestPayette National Forest
The Payette National Forest, is a U.S. National Forest located in central western Idaho, in parts of Valley, Idaho, Adams, and Washington counties. The land area consists of approximately 2.3 million acres of federally managed lands...
. The river flows south into Upper Payette Lake then further in that direction through a deep valley into Payette Lake, which lies at the northern end of Long Valley. The river exits from the southern end of the lake near McCall
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
and flows southwards through the broad valley into Lake Cascade
Lake Cascade
Lake Cascade is located on the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County, Idaho, USA, in the Boise National Forest. It is the fourth largest lake or reservoir in the state...
, a huge reservoir formed by Cascade Dam. While part of the lake, the North Fork Payette River receives the Lake Fork, its largest tributary, which descends from the mountains to the northeast.
The river leaves the Cascade Dam at Cascade
Cascade, Idaho
Cascade is a rural city in and the county seat of Valley County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It sits at an elevation of , along the North Fork of the Payette River...
and 5 mi (8 km) later enters a gorge, leaving the Long Valley. Idaho State Highway 55
Idaho State Highway 55
State Highway 55 is an Idaho highway from Marsing to New Meadows, connecting with US-95 at both ends.From Marsing it travels east to Nampa, Meridian, and Eagle, then north to Horseshoe Bend. SH-55 then climbs the Payette River to Banks, then its north fork to the Long Valley, through the towns of...
follows the river as it courses south-southwest through the canyon. The gorge starts out as a valley only about 700 feet (213.4 m) deep, but as the river nears the mouth, it attains its maximum depth below the rim at nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m). The North Fork joins with the South Fork near the village of Banks, at an elevation of 2825 feet (861.1 m). From there, the river is known as the main stem of the Payette and flows 62 miles (99.8 km) further west to its confluence with the Snake River near Ontario, Oregon
Ontario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
.