Owyhee River Access — East Fork

This 74-mile stretch has a boating put-in at Garat Crossing and a take-out point at Three Forks. As an alternative, visitors interested in a shorter trip may take-out at Crutcher’s Crossing for a 39-mile float. Another alternative is to go from Duck Valley Indian Reservation to Crutcher’s Crossing for a 50-mile adventure. Spring and early summer are the best seasons to experience these class III and IV rapids, while the flow is between 500-8,000 cfs. This fork is only recommended for kayaks and whitewater canoes due to two challenging portages located about 7 and 9 miles above the confluence with the South Fork. The most challenging is the Owyhee Falls Portage, which is a one-quarter mile distance with a 500 vertical foot climb. Other portages may also be required at the upper East Fork upstream of Garat Crossing if your launch is made at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, rather than at Garat Crossing. Deep Creek, one of the East Fork’s major tributary streams, is runnable by kayak or open canoe early in the float season. While floating the secluded East Fork, you are most likely to see falcons, ducks and bighorn sheep.