South Fork Owyhee River Recreation Area

The South Fork Owyhee River flows north through the Owyhee desert, joining the river’s East Fork in southwestern Idaho. River-running in rafts and kayaks through the steep-walled canyon is the most popular recreational activity from late March through early June.

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 of the Owyhee is a tributary of the Owyhee and is mainly designated wild as it enters Idaho from Nevada; a short portion of the river, where the river crosses private land, is managed as a recreational river. This 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.

Along this fork, 31 miles are designated wild, from the Idaho-Nevada border (the upstream boundary of the Owyhee River Wilderness) to the confluence with the main Owyhee River.