White Water Rafting in Idaho

Gorges of the Lower Salmon River

Visiting Idaho is like stepping back in time to an America that existed hundreds of years ago—a beautifully wild land untouched by urban development. Idaho is one of America’s final frontiers, featuring miles upon miles of protected wilderness areas that have changed little since appearing on the U.S. map. In the mountains, valleys, canyons and forests of these wild regions lie outstanding opportunities for nearly any outdoor adventure imaginable—climbing, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and our favorite, river rafting, on the roughly 3,100 miles of whitewater that pulse through Idaho’s backcountry.

The Lower Salmon River exhibits a side of Idaho seldom seen by most visitors. Distinctive from the forests and mountains that make up much of Idaho’s wilderness, this river runs through the warmer, drier canyon country of the Seven Devils. Not confined to just one river canyon, the Lower Salmon actually flows through four separate gorges—Green, Cougar, Snow Hole, and Blue canyons—interspersed with sprawling, wide-open vistas. Bejeweled with some of the biggest and most beautiful white sand beaches of any western river, the Lower Salmon is the perfect destination for water-based fun in the sun. Warm weather, easy-going whitewater, and lots of wildlife make this a great trip for kids.


Why the Gorges of the Salmon?

This is an extremely accessible river trip - easy to get to, great for first-time rafters and children and with plenty of departures to choose from.

If you're seeking a low-intensity whitewater adventure, this trip will really float your boat! Plenty of fun Class III rapids alternate with long stretches of calm, glassy water that provide the perfect opportunity to lean back, have a quiet conversation, and marvel at the gorgeous scenery. Swimmers in the group will love the ample opportunities to cool off in the river's calm pools; they might also experience a swimmable rapid or two! For the more adventurous, the Lower Salmon offers great conditions for inflatable kayaking.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Sample Itinerary

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like.

The Day before Your Trip
We'll meet at 7:00 PM in the lobby of the Red Lion Hotel for a pre-trip meeting. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and trip leader and ask any last-minute questions. Your trip leader will give you a thorough trip orientation, and then pass out your waterproof river bags so that you can pack your belongings that evening. If you are not able to attend the meeting, please let us know in advance and then be certain to check for a message at the desk of your hotel upon your arrival in Lewiston.

Day 1
We'll depart Lewiston by 8 AM for a scenic 2-hour drive to our put-in at Hammer Creek. (Pine Bar is our optional low-water put-in.) Along the way, we may stop to visit the Nez Perce museum in Spalding. A fascinating exhibit of Native American artifacts, including beautifully woven baskets and colorful hand-made headdresses, teaches us about this tribe that factors so significantly into western history in the past two centuries.

Reaching the river, we feel our excitement grow as we see the colorful boats waiting for us and meet the rest of our O.A.R.S. crew. After an informative safety talk and some brief paddle raft/inflatable kayak instruction, we're off on our river adventure! Those of us ready to get wet might swim through Rollercoaster rapid, which marks our entrance to Green Canyon. We'll stop to visit some ancient pictographs, and then continue our whitewater action with rapids like Wright-way, Demons Drop and Pine Bar rapids.

As we float along the river, we'll keep an eye out for the wildlife that inhabits the canyon. Golden eagles, ospreys, and river otters make frequent appearances; if we're lucky, we might also see beavers, cougars, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

Our first day generally sets the pace for our trip. Typically, we spend a few hours on the water in the morning, sometimes stopping for a short hike, a swim, or a visit to pictographs, or another historical site. Come lunchtime, we pull over to a sandy beach and enjoy a delicious picnic. After feasting and relaxing on the beach (or perhaps swimming, a game of Frisbee, a nature walk), we get back in our boats for more exciting whitewater. Be sure to try your hand at the paddleboat and inflatable kayak! Mid- to late-afternoon, we stop and make camp; you grab your bags and set up your tent while we take care of the kitchen and "living room" camp chairs and the site for tonight's campfire (if permitted). Read, nap, or just sit back and laugh with friends and family as we prepare dinner. After a satisfying feast, the evening is yours to spend however you wish. Maybe music, stories, or jokes will bring us together tonight; maybe the popping of the fire, the whisper of the river and the clarity of the big, star-filled sky will encourage silent reflection on the amazing wilderness that is, for now, our home.

Days 2-3 or 4
Our journey down the Lower Salmon takes us through Green Canyon, then into Cougar and Snow Hole canyons, each offering a different perspective on the striking scenery around us. All the while, the river slowly unfolds its long and varied history, providing glimpses of old mining and ranching sites, geological displays of basalt formations, remnants of ancient Indian cultures, and remains of old Chinese stone houses. Entering Snow Hole Canyon, we face some of the biggest, most exciting whitewater of our trip: Half and Half, Snow Hole and China rapids.

Day 4 or 5
Slide Rapid marks the entrance to Blue Canyon; perhaps the most spectacular of the four gorges through which we've traveled. Hikers in the group might enjoy climbing to a vista point for an impressive bird's-eye view of the river winding through the steep and slender canyon. Further downstream, as we join the Snake River, we may have the fun of swimming a rapid. After passing the confluence with the Grande Ronde, we arrive at our take-out, Heller Bar. A 45-minute ride is all it takes to get to Lewiston, though we might feel like we have been worlds away during our memorable time in the wilderness.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Reservations and Deposits
A $250/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds
If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation fee after you’ve made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip insurance (see Insurance).

Cancellations 60 days or more prior to your trip earn a full refund less a $100/person fee. Cancellations 59 days or less prior to your trip are not refundable.

If you transfer from one trip to another, there is a $50/person charge up until 60 days before the trip. Transfers made after this time will be treated as cancellations.

Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an O.A.R.S. trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy, should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler’s policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on an adventure travel trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and O.A.R.S. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed, or stolen property.

Liability Waiver
Everyone is required to sign a standard release form before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with O.A.R.S. cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.