Banks, Idaho: A small but mighty dot on the map of Idaho. Very few people outside of the paddling community think twice about Banks, as it literally passes by you in a glance while traveling on Highway 55. Yet, Banks, population 7, has always been known as one of the best places to paddle in the country— if not the world. Home to the Payette River system, this expansive area can test any one of any skill set. Legends have been tested—and bested—by the all-knowing North Fork of the Payette. Beginners hone their newly formed skills on the Main Payette. The aspiring or comfortable class IV paddler can enjoy high spring flows on the South Fork Payette. And then there are the Steeps of the elusive Middle Fork Payette, but you will have to find out more about those yourself. This river system has it all; all the building blocks to become an exceptional paddler are all here, and the small bar/restaurant aptly named Banks Cafe lies in the heart of it all.
“BANKS HAS A WESTERN KAYAKING SOUL; IT’S RUGGED YET SUBTLE, INTENSE YET CALM.”
THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE; THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
You would think Banks got its name into the history books in the late 70s due to paddling legends Doug Ammons and Rob Lesser, but their presence wasn’t the spark to
