Hell's Canyon Rafting
August 22, 2016 8:30 PM Subscribe
Planning to be in the Hell's Canyon area next summer and want to do a two or three day rafting trip but the options are overwhelming. We will be flying into Boise and then driving to near Spokane for a personal errand. How can we best work in a rafting trip?
My sister and I are going to distribute our mother's ashes in a small cemetery near Spokane, but also need to visit Weiser, ID next summer. Current plan is to fly into Boise, go to Weiser, and then drive up near Spokane. Since we will be virtually following the Snake River, we would like to work in a two or three day rafting trip, either on the way north or coming back. Which is better, the Hell's Canyon trip or the Salmon River? I'm looking for recommendations for where would be the best launch site, reputable and affordable tour companies, etc. We will be renting a car out of Boise. We are amateur-intermediate rafters and would be looking at using a tour company, not setting out on our own. Also not into fishing or hiking very much. Open to other travel arrangements as well. Thanks for your help.
My sister and I are going to distribute our mother's ashes in a small cemetery near Spokane, but also need to visit Weiser, ID next summer. Current plan is to fly into Boise, go to Weiser, and then drive up near Spokane. Since we will be virtually following the Snake River, we would like to work in a two or three day rafting trip, either on the way north or coming back. Which is better, the Hell's Canyon trip or the Salmon River? I'm looking for recommendations for where would be the best launch site, reputable and affordable tour companies, etc. We will be renting a car out of Boise. We are amateur-intermediate rafters and would be looking at using a tour company, not setting out on our own. Also not into fishing or hiking very much. Open to other travel arrangements as well. Thanks for your help.
Two or three days is pretty short for the Salmon and Snake so your options are limited. Since these go through roadless areas, there are limited access points which means river trips are typically 60, 80 or 100 miles. Most trips on the Main Salmon are a minimum of 5 to 6 days. You might be able to find a 3-day trip on the Main Salmon that includes flying in or out on a bush plane at the halfway point. Essentially, you are splitting a 6-day trip with other people, each doing half the trip.
You can get a 4-day trip on the Lower Salmon near Whitebird to the confluence with the Snake. Your best bet for a short trip is the upper Hells Canyon stretch on the Snake which is three days and about 35 miles. There are also half-day trips on the stretch of the Salmon which goes through Riggins, Idaho.
Keep in mind that these river accesses are quite remote so you need to schedule an extra half day or so each way for travel to and from the river. The outfitters provide buses for this.
Your options would improve if you could do 5 or 6 days.
posted by JackFlash at 10:25 PM on August 23, 2016
You can get a 4-day trip on the Lower Salmon near Whitebird to the confluence with the Snake. Your best bet for a short trip is the upper Hells Canyon stretch on the Snake which is three days and about 35 miles. There are also half-day trips on the stretch of the Salmon which goes through Riggins, Idaho.
Keep in mind that these river accesses are quite remote so you need to schedule an extra half day or so each way for travel to and from the river. The outfitters provide buses for this.
Your options would improve if you could do 5 or 6 days.
posted by JackFlash at 10:25 PM on August 23, 2016
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posted by paulcole at 6:46 AM on August 23, 2016