Above Taylor Springs the South Fork canyon becomes much more confined with multiple cascades in the creek.
Slot Falls on the South Fork of the Payette River.
Looking across Slot Falls where the entire flow of the river (at low water) runs through this 4-foot wide crack in the granite bedrock.
Slot Falls.
South Fork of the Payette River above slot falls.
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).
A handful of the delicius Thimbleberry fruit.
Unnamed cascade on the South Fork of the Payette River.
Tree detail
Lower Fern Falls on the South Fork of the Payette River.
The gorge leading into Fern Falls.
South Fork trail above Fern Falls.
Granite spire tower over the north side of the South Fork of the Payette River.
Looking south across the placid waters of Elk Lake.
Elk Lake and the granite spire-studded north wall of the South Fork canyon.
Looking down the South Fork of the Payette River canyon. The vertical relief is 3500 feet up the north side of the canyon.
Panoramic showing Big Meadows (far left) to Elk Lake (center) and the headwaters of the South Fork of the Payette (right). The photo shows nearly 14 miles of the canyon.
Looking down onto Elk Lake from the south wall of the canyon.
Elk Lake seen from above.