The North and South forks of the Payette River meet at Banks, which makes it a popular destination for rafting and kayaking. The "Main" run of the Payette River begins at Banks and parallels Highway 55 down to Horseshoe Bend, while the "Staircase" run on the South Fork ends at Banks.
This climatic region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Banks has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
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