The South Fork Owyhee River enters Idaho from the north enclosed within a 550
foot deep canyon. The canyon is both basalt and rhyolite. Within the canyon
there are beautiful rock pinnacles and hoodoos. This stretch of river is known
as an outstanding wilderness river experience because of the canyon’s scenic
qualities, solitude opportunities, wildlife viewing, and length of trip
available.

The South Fork Owyhee River enters Idaho from the north enclosed within a 550 foot deep canyon. The canyon is both basalt and rhyolite. Within the canyon there are beautiful rock pinnacles and hoodoos. This stretch of river is known as an outstanding wilderness river experience because of the canyon’s scenic qualities, solitude opportunities, wildlife viewing, and length of trip available.

South Fork Owyhee

South Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

The Owyhee River canyon consists of a steep, rhyolite walls ranging in height
from 250 feet to over 1000 feet near the Oregon border. The west end of the
river below the confluence with the South Fork Owyhee River is known as the
“Grand Canyon of the Owyhee.” Within this gorge can be found extensive areas
of rhyolite pinnacle formations known as “hoodoos." This is the most dramatic
area of hoodoo formations within the entire Owyhee River system. Floating the
Owyhee is popular in the spring during higher water flows. Low water float
trips are also possible in smaller craft.

The Owyhee River canyon consists of a steep, rhyolite walls ranging in height from 250 feet to over 1000 feet near the Oregon border.  The west end of the river below the confluence with the South Fork Owyhee River is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Owyhee.” Within this gorge can be found extensive areas of rhyolite pinnacle formations known as “hoodoos."  This is the most dramatic area of hoodoo formations within the entire Owyhee River system.  Floating the Owyhee is popular in the spring during higher water flows.  Low water float trips are also possible in smaller craft.

Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

BLM manages more than 267,000 acres of public lands in the Owyhee River
Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern
Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high
desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge
Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something
for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge
river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique
beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical
cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn
sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their
canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

BLM manages more than 267,000 acres of public lands in the Owyhee River Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

Bird's eye view of the park

Owyhee River Wilderness Area

Deep Creek carves an extremely meandering, vertical walled canyon to its
confluence with the Owyhee River. Deep Creek can be kayaked or canoed in the
early spring when flows reach into the hundreds of cubic feet per second from
snowmelt. Later in the spring and again in the fall Deep Creek provides
outstanding hiking and backpacking opportunities.

Deep Creek carves an extremely meandering, vertical walled canyon to its confluence with the Owyhee River. Deep Creek can be kayaked or canoed in the early spring when flows reach into the hundreds of cubic feet per second from snowmelt. Later in the spring and again in the fall Deep Creek provides outstanding hiking and backpacking opportunities.

Deep Creek

Deep Creek Camp

Sheep at Deep Creek

Deep Creek Wild and Scenic River

Dickshooter Creek flows south and the stream cuts a narrow deep gorge through
the rolling plateau landscape until it joins with Deep Creek. The waters of
Dickshooter cease to flow by late-spring to early summer; leaving behind only
isolated pools in the gravel streambed. This canyon provides outstanding
hiking and backpacking opportunities. This is not a boatable section of river.

Dickshooter Creek flows south and the stream cuts a narrow deep gorge through the rolling plateau landscape until it joins with Deep Creek. The waters of Dickshooter cease to flow by late-spring to early summer; leaving behind only isolated pools in the gravel streambed. This canyon provides outstanding hiking and backpacking opportunities. This is not a boatable section of river.

Dickshooter Creek

Dickshooter Creek Wild and Scenic River

Battle Creek flows through a narrow, extremely meandering 200 foot deep
canyon. The canyon consists of nearly continuous vertical walls of rhyolite
which are about 1/8 mile apart. Over the next 20 miles the canyon will widen
to no more than 3/8 miles across and deepen to as much as 500 feet. Tucked
between the cliffs and stream channel is a lush riparian area of willow,
chokecherry, dogwood, alder, rose, currant, sedges and greases. Battle Creek
is floatable for experienced boaters and also provides a beautiful hike for
those floating the Owyhee River.

Battle Creek flows through a narrow, extremely meandering 200 foot deep canyon. The canyon consists of nearly continuous vertical walls of rhyolite which are about 1/8 mile apart. Over the next 20 miles the canyon will widen to no more than 3/8 miles across and deepen to as much as 500 feet. Tucked between the cliffs and stream channel is a lush riparian area of willow, chokecherry, dogwood, alder, rose, currant, sedges and greases. Battle Creek is floatable for experienced boaters and also provides a beautiful hike for those floating the Owyhee River.

South Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

Owyhee River Wilderness Area

Deep Creek Wild and Scenic River

Dickshooter Creek Wild and Scenic River

Battle Creek Wild and Scenic River