The Jarbidge is, along with Sheep Creek and the Main Owyhee, the most scenic river in Idaho's desert.  When you arrive at the put-in you'll think the river should be called a creek, but suprisingly the river has plenty of flow to send rafts downstream.

The trip starts in a canyon that doesn't appear very spectacular at first, but it doesn't take long for the walls to close in and the river to cut deeper into the rocks.  Since I find most descriptions of beautiful places to be sub-par at best, I won't even try to describe how beautiful the Jarbidge is, you'll just have to take my word for it. 

Most of the first day is easy paddling with one or two notable drops.  The first is Sevy Falls, which, despite the logs and undercut rock, was run with some regularity.  However in the spring of 2009 a big landslide just downstream backed up the river so as to obliterate Sevy Falls.  But don't think for a minute the desert cheated you from any opportunity to run dangerous drops, because the landslide create a new falls that as of 2009 appeared to be unrunnable.  The second drop is Wally's Wallow, which can be scouted on either side, with the left giving you a bird's eye view and the right putting you right at river level.  On day 2, about 5 miles above the confluence with the W.F. Bruneau, you'll hear the rumble of Jarbidge Falls as the canyon opens up again.  While some top notch paddlers have run the falls, most prefer to portage on the left.  Enjoy your portage because shortly you will merge with the West Fork Bruneau and you will officially be off the Jarbidge.  A few miles downstream is Indian Bathtubs, which can be used if you can convince someone to pick you up (maybe ride out with a shuttle that is dropping off a group of rafters running the Bruneau)?  The best bet though is to continue downstream for another day and a half of outrageous scenery and splashy rapids.

The BLM offers a booklet on Jarbidge/Bruneau system that has great maps.  While they may or may not be accurate for rapids they make up for it with suggestions on camp sites.  Both rivers have rocky banks with a plethora of poison ivy, so the camp site suggestions are quite handy.  And as you can imagine, with everyone camping in the same limited camp sites, it is appreciated if you haul out your poo.

To arrange a shuttle in or out of the Jarbidge/Bruneau confluence, give Owyhee Jackass Whitewater Shuttle a call, 208-433-1728, or email gottsch1@mindspring.com.  As of spring 2009 he was willing to run about any shuttle in the Bruneau/Owhyhee river system, with his own Land Cruiser.