About this spot
Howard's Plunge is the final rapid on the popular Cabarton run of the North Fork Payette River, just south of Cascade, Idaho, reached only by raft, kayak, or SUP, not by a road or trail to the water. After running the Class III+ rapid (a river-right hole and horizon-line drop), paddlers commonly eddy out on river left and jump from the streamside rocks into the wave train below, a maneuver documented in multiple rafting and paddling trip reports and videos. This is a whitewater feature, not a swimming hole: flows are dam- and snowmelt-dependent, the rapid itself carries real hazards (holes, rocks, hydraulics), and jumping is only sensible with a helmet, PFD, and experienced group, typically as part of a guided or private rafting trip.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.