Murtaugh Canyon
Idaho – US
- Class
- IV
- Length
- 15 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 25 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 3,850 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 3,517 Feet
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
Visual or unknown
No gauge reading is available for this run — check it on site.
- Primary gauge
- VISUAL Gauge detail & alternatives
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 1,500 |
| Average | 5,000 |
| Maximum | 10,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The Murtaugh section of the Snake is a great big water class III to IV run near Twin Falls. Its flow is controlled, so it can run any time of the year, or not at all. The best gauge is found at http://www.usbr.gov/pn-bin/graphrt.pl?mili_qt.
The Murtaugh has a creeking feel at flows around 1500. Flows in the 4-9K range give it a moderate big water feel. It supposedly gets pretty ripping in the teens. 6K is supposed to be the easiest level.
Its nature is pool drop, read and run, big water class III-IV rapids. It is typical to scout Pair-o-dice and possibly LMAD. The Idaho Connection Surf Wave is a great treat at the end of the run before an easy flat water paddle out.
The Murtaugh is a really fun run, but there are some nasty hydraulics to be aware of. This run has seen a fatality in recent years. I suggest going with someone who knows the run for your first time. Also, keep in mind that the river and lines change dramatically with flows.
You can also put in a couple miles upstream from the Murtaugh Bridge, on river right below Cauldron Linn. This will let you check out the impressive falls and add a couple of HUGE class III wave trains. This alternative put in may be a good place to camp as well.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murtaugh Bridge Rapid | III to III+ | 1,500–10,000 | This rapid hits you right out of the gate on this run. Once you pass under the Murtaugh Bridge this rapid will appear. Below the rapid is a small pool followed by another little drop/rapid. |
You can scout this rapid from the bridge if you wish. |
| 2 | Rapid | III to III+ | 1,500–10,000 | This rapid consists of 3 waves/drops. Look at entering the top drop on the right. |
|
| 3 | Rapid | III to III+ | 1,500–10,000 | Another rapid with 2 waves/drops. Run this towards river right and follow the wave trains. |
|
| 4 | Rapid | III to III+ | 1,500–10,000 | A smaller class III is here |
|
| 5 | Maybelline Rapid | IV | 1,500–10,000 | This is the first big drop you will encounter on this stretch. The river is calm and pool like for a stretch above this rapid. Many people run this just left of center down the tongue and punch through the wave/hole after the drop. Then ride out the wave train |
You can pull over on the left bank and scout |
| 6 | Rapid | III | 1,500–10,000 | This is downstream of Maybelline Rapid and is a fun surf hole for the kayakers. |
|
| 7 | Rapid | III | 1,500–10,000 | This is a double pool drop. These 2 rapids are about 4.5 miles in from the put in. |
Read and run |
| 8 | Rapid | III | 1,500–10,000 | Look at running center down the tongue and riding the waves and holes out. |
|
| 9 | Rapid | III | 1,500–10,000 | This wave series is above a large pool in the river where the river widens. Pulling left below this rapid is a good place to pull over for a breather or lunch. |
|
| 10 | Misty | IV | —–— | Look for a rock arch on river right before Misty. At 6-9K it goes easy on the left/center, has big hits down the middle, and has a big hole on the right. |
Probably better to scout from right if you need to. |
| 11 | Pair-o-dice | IV | —–— | Class IV. You should know it when you see it, the name makes sense. This is after Misty and before the Hwy 50 bridge. Scout or portage river left. The right has one of the most impressive and dangerous hydraulics around. Supposedly people boof the left side of it at low flows. Mortals should stay left and scout. The rock on river left makes a great lunch spot. If you opt out of POD you can at least get a fun seal launch in from the lunch rock. This would be a difficult portage for rafts. |
River left |
| 12 | Hooker | IV | —–— | A large s-turn move or try to sneak it on the right (at 6K) or left (at 9K) with a sizeable hole in the center of the rapid. This was the site of a rafter fatality in 2009. AWW has a detailed report on their site http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3059/. |
|
| 13 | LMAD | IV | —–— | Let's Make a Deal comes right after Hooker. The river widens and then drops through a series of "doors," numbered from left to right. At 6-9K door 2 is relatively easy... It is bony at 6K, with a small pour-over to avoid at 9K. Door 5 is also open at 6-9K. It is a fun ride, but worth scouting if you haven't seen it before. |
Tough, but river right is probably best. |
| 14 | Redshanks | IV | —–— | Big water class III+ read and run. |
|
| 15 | Duckblind | III+ | —–— | Big water class III+. Center line has big hits and is a blast at 6-9K. |
|
| 16 | Idaho Connection | III | —–— | An incredible surf wave on river left. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Murtaugh Road/Bridge | 3,850 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | From I-84 in Southern Idaho take exit 188 on head east on Tipperary road to the Murtaugh Road. Turn south on Murtaugh and follow the road over farmlands until it drops down into the Snake River Gorge. There is a road before the bridge that heads to the river, where you can put in. |
| Take-Out | Twin Lakes Reservoir Boat Ramp | 3,517 Feet | No | Yes | Yes | All Vehicles | The take out is right above Twin Falls (the actuall waterfall). There is a boat ramp that boats and jet skis use. This is the take out ramp. Unfortunately to get here on the river you will need to paddle the length of the reservoir, which is about 1.5 miles of flat water. Make friends with some boaters and get towed out or man up and paddle it. To get here follow the signs to Twin Falls (waterfall). |
Camps
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Permit
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Fishing
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