Great blue herons are croaking, ospreys are screeching, ducks are quacking and geese are honking.
And it’s all accompanied by the whistling wings of flocks of goldeneyes flying overhead.
Red-winged blackbirds spice the song like notes from a clarinet.
The 8-mile stretch of the S
nake River downstream from the C.J. Strike Dam is nature’s philharmonic orchestra.
A spring float from the dam to the farming town of Grand View is a wildlife watcher’s wonderland, revealing an array of birds and animals.
You’ll see a muskrat sneaking across the water in front of your boat.
Look closely into the shoreline reeds and hen and drake mallards are about to flush.
I once saw a family of otters porpoising along this stretch. On the islands you might see a mule deer bedded down in the thick brush watching the world go by.
A variety of hawks swoop down from the sky hoping to snag some prey.
The area has lots of owls that are typically hidden during daylight hours but may be seen very early in the morning or late in the evening.
The reason for the abundance of wildlife along this section of the river is that it is hidden from roads and nestled between farmland and marshes.
As you take off from the C.J. Strike Cut-off Road Bridge below the C.J. Strike Dam, you’ll notice the steep brush on the north bank. In the trees and brush are small springs that flow into the river. Watch for quail and flickers in the thickets.
Watch closely for great blue herons in the reeds.
Look ahead. The first island you come to on the right will be hiding lots of ducks.
There’s a heron rookery about three-quarters of the way down the island on the north bank of the river opposite the island.
I like to float down the right channel of the island, but it can get low.
As you drift downstream past the island, you can take either the right or left bank of the main river. It’s best to stay close to the bank to get better a look at birds and not scare critters downstream.
A major island in the middle of the river downstream has the largest heron rookery of the float trip.
You’ll be amazed at the number of nests and birds in the trees. You may even see a lonely Canada goose using one of the heron nests right in the middle of all the herons.
As you progress downstream, you’ll see a marshy area on the left where Shoofly Creek comes in. Keep a keen eye out for pheasant, quail and owls. Stick close to either bank from here downstream because the river is wide and you’ll need to stay out of the wind.
On the final stretch of the trip, you’ll come to a few more islands on the left side of the river. There’s a main side channel on the left of the first island that puts you in a quiet area with a better chance of seeing wildlife. Don’t hit any logs or brush up against the bank where it gets tight to make turns.
As you leave the islands, you’ll see the boat ramp in Grand View on the left. That’s the end of the float.
Trip details
Length:About 8 miles.
Launch:Idaho Power’s Locust Park below the C.J. Strike Dam.
Take out:Just before the Idaho 67 bridge in Grand View.
Car shuttle:About 7.5 miles on Riverside and River roads going southeast out of Grand View.
Camping:Available at two Idaho Power Co. parks below the C.J. Strike Dam. Go to www.idahopower.com and look under recreation and parks.
Notes: Most of the land is private, except for the boat ramps and a few islands. It’s best to stay in your boat and float by.
Watch the weather carefully and cancel your trip if the wind is blowing hard. It can whip up waves on the river and make floating downriver next to impossible.
The river flow below the C.J. Strike Reservoir can fluctuate sharply during the day, so be aware of the river level and speed of the current.
The river is mostly flatwater, but you should still have intermediate canoeing or kayaking skills. There are some swirlies near the boat ramp at Locust Park below the bridge below the dam.
Do not paddle upstream between the bridge and the dam. It’s not allowed, and the water is treacherous.
The water flowing around some of the islands can be turbulent, and there can be some tight spots with brushy banks.
Snake River Water Trail
The entire Idaho-Oregon Snake River Water Trail is a 205-mile float or powerboat cruise along the Snake River Plain in southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. Most boaters do certain sections at a time and not the whole river.
Where:It begins at Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenns Ferry, the site of historic river crossings by Oregon Trail emigrants. It ends at Farewell Bend State Park in Huntington, Ore., where the Snake River is impounded by Brownlee Dam.
Information: tinyurl.com/68c4qes
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