Garden Valley is in the Boise Mountains about an hours drive north of Boise in alpine scenery where the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Payette River flow. This valley is part of the Boise Metropolitan Area and the largest town is Crouch along the Middle Fork and the smaller unincorporated settlement of Garden Valley is along the South Fork. This link tells the history of this area http://gvchamber.org/garden-valley-history/
The Payette River system is also very popular for whitewater, both rafting and kayaking. The South Fork is classified Class IV and the North Fork (which flows from McCall to Banks where it meets the South Fork) is a Class V river which is said to have the most challenging whitewater in the Lower 48. The Middle Fork is a smaller river with a lot of big boulders in the water but flattens and widens out as it enters Crouch near the confluence with the South Fork.
Oh yes, natural hot springs along the rivers are also what defines this beautiful area. Those are sacred, so no pics in this thread
Enjoy!
Banks is at the confluence of the South Fork and the North Fork of the Payette and forms the Main Payette River which eventually meets the Snake River.
From Banks you head east on the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway into Garden Valley.
The birds love leaving their mark on informational signs.
The confluence of the Middle Fork, which is to the left in this photo, with the South Fork.
Crouch
There is more to this little mountain town, but I didn't have time to photograph every building.
Terrace Lakes
The Middle Fork
Six Mile Creek Falls the Middle Fork is at the bottom of the canyon.
If you stare for a minute you will see faces in the cliff walls.
Big Falls on the South Fork Canyon. Big Falls is a waterfall that rafters usually have to portage and put back in below the falls. Daredevils will run this in their kayaks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zOFcYKq0BE
Looking down in the canyon from the highway.
The Main Payette south of Banks.
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Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time? That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains.-Hermann Hesse
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