When it’s hot, it’s time to hit the water. Southern Idaho is full of beautiful places to laze away a hot day, and stand-up paddleboarding is one of the best ways to experience them.
Increasingly popular in Southern Idaho (with a lot of great places to rent SUP boards), stand-up paddleboarding takes only a bit of practice to master. It’s a fun activity for both kids and adults and works perfectly for small groups.
Places to Explore
Dierkes Lake. This beloved swimming hole in the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls is incredibly popular during the summer — it’s equipped with picnic areas, playground equipment, a sand volleyball court, and places to scale the canyon’s walls or cast a line. But for the full Dierkes Lake experience, take your SUP out on its placid waters and wave to the landlubbers ashore. Falls Avenue, 1.25 miles north of 3300 East.
Centennial Waterfront Park. Offering great views of both the Snake River Canyon and the Perrine Bridge in the background, this park is great for both motorized and non-motorized water sports. When you need a break, have a bite underneath the park shelters — they come equipped with barbecue grills. 4185 North and 2874 East in Twin Falls.
Hagerman. Southern Idaho Tourism blogger Steve Steubner is a fan of SUP in the Snake River around Hagerman, where you can do loops around Ritter Island or paddle Billingsley Creek, both at Thousand Springs State Park. Read his recommendations here. Thousand Springs State Park, 1074 E 2350 S, Hagerman.
Get Your Gear
AWOL (A Way of Life) Adventure Sports is the exclusive paddle sports rental company at Centennial Waterfront Park. They strongly suggest calling ahead to reserve your board. For rental information, visit http://paddlethesnake.com/rentals/.
Hagerman Valley Sports and Mercantile features SUP rentals for people who want to explore Thousand Springs State Park. For more information, call (208) 724-3791 or visit the shop at 441 S State Street in Hagerman.
River Rat is a longtime rental favorite for Southern Idahoans. You can rent directly from the shop, or check out their location at Dierkes Lake from noon-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit http://riverrattwinfalls.com/outdoor-gear-rentals-id.html or 701 2nd Avenue S in Twin Falls.
Burley’s Idaho Watersports features inflatable or rigid-board SUP rentals that can be reserved online. Call (208) 678-5869 or visit http://idahowatersports.com/rentals/.
Plan Your Paddling Adventure
Southern Idaho’s high-desert landscape is made magic by water – the mighty Snake River, massive waterfalls, and gurgling freshwater springs and placid lakes. During the summer, the best way to see this area is over the bow of a canoe, from the seat of a kayak, or atop a stand-up paddleboard. We’ve rounded up the top places to explore — and cool off on the water — this summer.