1. Upper

Upper Smith Creek is the remnant of the once classic Smith Creek, but is a good run on it's own if in the area.While Lower Smith Creek was once the highlight of the region, Upper Smith Creek remains a high quality bedrock whitewater run in close proximity to Cow Creek and the very different Boundary Creek. Upper Smith offers clean, aesthetic, and fun bedrock rapids and small falls.The reach is easily accessible by Forest Service roads.The diversion not only eliminates significant periods of optimal and acceptable flows, and renders Lower Smith Creek unavailable when other nearby rivers are in their optimal range, including Upper Smith Creek. The run starts off pretty slow, but eventually smaller bedrock rapids begin to appear.  The second half of the run feels pretty classic, culminating in a great rapid with two 15-20' steps before easing off after the Cow Creek confluence. Flows can be estimated by calling the Smith Creek diversion at (208) 267-2744, which diverts 350 cfs or so from the creek.  A couple hundred feet below the diversion on river left is a staff gage.  6.4' was a fun, friendly low flow on the Upper Section, 8.1' was a padded medium for the upper. The run is short enough to combine with Cow Creek, which has water at the same time as Smith.  Cow Creek has a nice drop below the put in bridge, then everything else can be scouted/portaged on the right.  There is one large class V drop and the rest of Cow is IV-IV+