White Water Rafting on Salmon River, Idaho

Idaho's rivers access some of the most pristine terrain in all the state. They are home to abundant flora and fauna, an impressive network of hiking trails, and some of the country's best whitewater. No river displays all these characteristics quite like the Main Salmon. Perhaps the most popular rafting trip in Idaho and the main section of the longest undammed river in the mainland U.S., the Main Salmon offers a rich river experience. Free-flowing Class III whitewater that's great for any age and experience level, big sandy beaches perfect for camping and playing, beautiful mountain scenery, abundant wildlife, and a natural hot spring are among the hallmarks of the Main. Perhaps inappropriately dubbed the "River of No Return" by early river runners, the Salmon is in fact a river you'll want to return to repeatedly.

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.

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Itinerary / Highlights

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 the Holiday Inn Express – the Hunt Lodge in McCall, Idaho at 8:00 PM for a pre-trip orientation. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and ask any last-minute questions. We will give you a thorough trip orientation, then pass out your waterproof river bags so that you can pack your belongings that evening. We will also reconfirm the meeting time for the following morning.

Day 1
We’ll depart McCall for a scenic flight to Salmon (approximately 55 minutes). Upon arrival, we will drive approximately 2-hours to our put-in at Corn Creek. Along the way, we’ll stop at the North Fork Store for fishing permits, lures, and any personal odds and ends that you may have forgotten. Reaching the river late morning, we feel our excitement grow as we see the colorful boats waiting for us and meet the 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! The first day’s whitewater action includes rapids like Killum and Gunbarrel.

The surrounding scenery immediately transfixes us, and for the duration of our trip, we’re mesmerized by the beauty of the Salmon River canyon—the second deepest gorge in North America—and the 2.3 million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. This broad canyon is heavily forested with towering pines and conifers and, early in the season, blanketed with vibrant wildflowers. We may be welcomed to the river by a family of otters swimming near our boats, a herd of bighorn sheep scaling a steep canyon wall, a giant elk or moose wading in the shallows, or if we’re lucky, a black bear standing sentinel on shore.

Typically a day on the river includes a few hours on the water in the morning, sometimes stopping for a great hike, a visit to a Native American pictograph, historical site or a soak in a natural hot spring. 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 floating and 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 2-4
As we journey into the pristine heart of the Frank Church Wilderness, each day brings new discoveries: exciting rapids like Salmon Falls, Big Mallard and Growler, historical sites such as Buckskin Bill’s homestead and Jim Moore’s place (maybe you’ll find the fortune he buried in the hillside!), and the much anticipated Barth Hot Springs. Avid hikers may enjoy a challenging climb to Rabbit Point, where the beautiful views are well worth the effort of getting there. The fishing is excellent during these days, and on trips in July and August, warm air and water temperatures encourage frequent refreshing dips in the river.

Day 6
Today, as the Salmon River begins to parallel the forest service road, we say farewell to the river and our guides and travel by van from the take-out back to McCall, arriving at approximately 5:00 PM. It may be possible to catch a flight to Boise this evening, however, we recommend staying overnight in McCall and flying out the next morning. McCall Aviation offers return flights from McCall to Boise.

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.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

June 7 (Solo Travelers Trip), 14 (Photography Trip), June 21 (Family Trip), 29; July 7 -Two Trips- (Family Trip) & (Craft Beer Tasting Trip), 15, 23, 31; August 8 (Family Trip); August 16 -Two Trips- (Regular Camping Trip) & (Lodge Trip), 24; September 1, 9

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