Salmon River: Itinerary & Highlights Idaho       4 or 5 days     July - September Class III to IV       Book a Salmon River Rafting Trip Salmon Rafting Trip Schedule & Prices

First morning

We meet at 7:30 AM on the day your trip begins in the lobby of the Red Lion Hotel, 621 21st St, Lewiston, Idaho.  Lewiston is roughly 325 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and about 95 miles south of Spokane, Washington. (Please have your breakfast before our meeting time, and arrive in your river clothes.) Our Lead Guide will meet you in the motel lobby. If in doubt about where to find us, ask at the desk, and they will direct you. After a brief orientation you will pack your things into our river bags, and park your vehicles at the motel. We will then go by van or bus to our launch site. Depending upon trip length and water level, we begin our river trip at either Hammer Creek or Pine Bar. (A start at Pine Bar shortens our trip by 10 miles -- appropriate for low water trips.) Once we arrive at our launch site, you’ll meet the rest of our guide crew, and they’ll conduct a short safety and orientation briefing, which will include instruction on paddle and rowing techniques as needed. We’re normally on our way downstream by mid-morning.

A typical day

Each day is a bit different. But a typical day on the river begins with freshly brewed coffee around 7 AM, and breakfast by 8 AM. After breakfast we’ll pack our bags and load the boats. Then, after a brief orientation to the day’s adventures, we’ll head downstream.

We’re on the river an average of four to five hours per day. Along the way we stop for a riverside picnic lunch. We may also stop to swim, to explore historic sites, or to scout rapids. We usually arrive in camp by mid to late afternoon, and while the guides prepare hors d’oeuvres and dinner, you’ll have time to swim, fish, read, or nap. (There are a few places to hike, but for the most part hiking opportunities are limited.)

Last day

We typically arrive at Heller Bar, our take-out point, between 2:00 and 3:30 P.M.. Once we’ve unpacked, you’ll board a van or bus for the ride back to Lewiston. (On small trips, we completely de-rig the boats, and our guides will accompany you back to town. On larger trips, you will say good-bye to the guides when you leave Heller Bar, as they will stay behind to finish de-rigging.) The ride back to Lewiston takes about an hour. You'll arrive back in town between 4:00 and 6:00 PM.

Trip Highlights

Until recently the Lower Salmon has been less well known than other Idaho river trips. But it is becoming increasingly popular, for good reason. The Lower Salmon offers clear water, hot sunny weather, fun roller coaster style waves, and huge sandy beaches that are perfect for camping and swimming.

During the course of our 72 mile journey we'll wind our way through open canyons, and float through four scenic wilderness gorges. These are Green Canyon (at mile 7), Cougar Canyon (mile 19), Snow Hole Canyon (mile 24), and Blue Canyon (mile 47). Each has a distinct character, but all are spectacular.

Our first day on the river begins with mild rapids which are ideal for a warm up, especially for those behind the oars or paddling an inflatable kayak. Over the course of the next several days we'll encounter numerous exciting rapids. The Lower Salmon is a large volume river. This means the rapids are large, at most water levels, too: big, rolling rapids with towering waves. Demons Drop, Half and Half, Lorna's Lulu, Snow Hole, and China are a few of the more exciting drops, but there are others, as well. At midsummer flows most of the rapids are class III, with one or two class IV drops. Early in July during a high water year, many of the rapids become class IV thrillers. (Rapids are rated I through VI. Class I indicates the smallest possible rapid, while VI indicates steep, turbulent, highly dangerous rapids and waterfalls.)

After four days on the Salmon we meet the Snake River at the edge of Hell’s Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America. We'll encounter a few rapids on the Snake, but for the most part this section of river is placid. For this reason we'll hook our rafts together to form a group "barge" on the Snake, which the guides will maneuver downstream with the aid of a small outboard motor. This segment of our journey presents us with a great opportunities to unwind, socialize, watch for golden eagles and bighorn sheep, and gaze up at the canyon walls.

Weather and Climate

The weather in the Salmon River canyon is usually very pleasant. This is a semiarid environment: hot and dry summers are the norm. The river water itself is cool early in July, but as river levels drop the water warms to the high 60’s.