Idaho Slots

[uintahiker]

Anyone done any slot canyons in Idaho? The Owyhee River area appears to have some good potential.

[Iceaxe]

I've looked at some of the small side tributaries of the Snake River Gorge and there appears to be some great short slots and some class C potential. I've explored along the rim much of the south side from the bridge up to the lower falls and noticed half-a-dozen opportunities. The problem is not in locating the slots, but in coming up with a plan of action for exiting the gorge after you finish the slot. At the time I checked it out the Snake was running full throttle.


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[DesertDuke]

I have friends that have floated the Owyhee and I have planned on adding that to my list some day. I have spoken with them and I believe it may have some small narrows but would be surprised, based on their reports, if there are any slots of notable size. There is a PBS special on the area with good footage that you could watch as a remote type of reconnoitering. I hope I am wrong and you find some as I am sick of driving so far south for every canyon I do. If so, please let me know.

http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/canyonland/riverrunners.cfm

[Slot Machine]

[map] 43

[River]

The best source for beta is Canyoneering Northwest: http://www.canyoneeringnorthwest.com/idahoMain.html

There are lots of scenic canyons in SW Idaho. Most are generally hikes with a few scattered technical sections. Often, these sections can be bypassed fairly easily. A few pictures (sorry for those who like to wear a helmet while hiking):

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Always looking for partners to explore the area.

Erik