Snake River Hells Canyon Rafting 5-Day Travel Planning

Travel from your home to either Boise (transportation from the Boise airport to Cambridge is provided) or drive directly to Cambridge, Idaho. Meet your team leader at the Frontier Motel at 8:00 PM (MST) for a one-hour orientation meeting to answer last-minute questions. You'll also receive your waterproof gear bags. Dinner on your own.

Check out of your hotel, meet your guides at the designated time and place given the night before at the orientation meeting. There is a two-hour bus ride to the Hells Canyon Dam, where your rafting trip begins.

On the first day, we'll tackle two major class IV rapids, Wild Sheep and Granite. By around 4:00 pm, we’ll reach camp, giving you plenty of time to hike, fish, read, or simply unwind.

You’ll wake up around 7:00 am to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and tea. Breakfast is served at 7:30, and while we pack up the kitchen, you’ll have time to pack your gear. We’ll head out from camp around 9:30 for another exciting day of Hells Canyon rafting.

After tackling more whitewater on the Snake River, the rapids ease up, giving us a chance to hop in and float alongside the rafts, all while the towering mountains loom above and the sun warms us. We’ll make stops at various points of interest along the way.

Tonight’s camp will be in the Salt Creek area. After dinner, a peaceful evening awaits. The starry sky offers the perfect setting to connect with family and friends, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories.

Today, we'll hike along the trail at “Suicide Point.” This incredible view offers sweeping panoramas some 300’ above your Snake River rafting trip. After the hike, we WILL float to our next stop at Kirkwood Historic Ranch, a historic sheep ranch.

The canyon opens up, and we crash through some big wave rapids. When we arrive at Pittsburg Landing, we will take a short hike to see one of the richest collections of Indian petroglyphs on the Snake River. After Pittsburg Landing, the river narrows, and the area's beauty intensifies.

At camp this evening, our guides may set up horseshoes or guide a hike. We'll refuel with a nutritious meal, and the night sky and fresh mountain air will help you sleep like a baby.

Short history lessons complement today’s spectacular scenery and Hells Canyon whitewater. We'll see the fjord used by Chief Joseph and the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce Indians during the famous 1877 exodus from their homeland. At China Creek, we learn about the massacre of Chinese miners who were thought to have had a large cache of gold.

On this night, we camp on a large, white sand beach. We'll have time for playing on the beach, sunbathing, and another evening of laughter and camaraderie under Idaho's star-studded sky

We continue to float and marvel at the dramatic scenery. There are some big waves and big rides on this section of the Snake River and also some long stretches of flat water. In the afternoon, we'll pass the river's confluence with the legendary Salmon “River of No Return.”

The Salmon River ends its journey and mingles with the waters of the mighty Snake in a powerful joining of forces. We now float on double the volume of water as compared to just the Snake River alone. We stop for another fine lunch on a sandy beach. After a few more miles of magnificent scenery, we reach our take-out spot below the Snake River's confluence with the Grande Ronde River. Gear is untied, and everyone carries their gear to the waiting bus.

It’s a quick 45-minute ride to the town of Lewiston, Idaho,

• Professional, licensed guides
• All meals between trip departure and return
• All eating utensils and souvenir insulated bottle
• Unlimited water and lemonade
• Freshly laundered sleeping bag and sheet
• Tent and ground cover
• Water-resistant dry bag for sleeping gear and personal duffle bag
• Custom rafts
• US Coastguard approved whitewater life jackets
• Wilderness First-Aid kit

Through several decades of experience on the river, Western knows what clothing and gear will keep you smiling every second of your adventure. Specifically, we’ve bundled “The Works” for him, for her and one for gear in general. For your convenience, you can order all these items online with Western’s retail division Red Rock Outfitters.

• Duffel bag (approx. 12”x13”x24”), packed with personal items outlined on the packing list
• Extra drinks, if desired. (Water is available in unlimited quantities on the boats and in camp. Beer and wine in limited amounts are available in camp)
• Extra snacks, if desired. (Snacks will be provided during the trip)
• Photo ID, a major credit card, and cash for gratuities.
• Camera(s) - Phones as cameras in waterproof cases/sleeves (Cell service unavailable)

• Unnecessary electronic devices (game devices for kids, etc.)
• Extra Luggage
• Valuables

You will want to have a photo ID, a major credit card, and some cash for gratuities. All other valuables and jewelry should be left at home. In addition, as a safety precaution, we suggest that you not wear rings on the river. Also, each year, a few of our guests traveling on airlines might arrive without luggage. With this in mind, we recommend keeping medications, prescription glasses, and any essential items you can't easily replace with you.

Transfer all your personal clothing and gear which you will need on your rafting trip to a small, lightweight duffle bag. Identify duffle bag with label, and leave any extra suitcases or luggage in your vehicle or at the hotel. Please DO NOT BRING SUITCASES on your river trip. As part of your camping equipment package, we provide a water-resistant bag in which you will place your duffle bag as well as the sleeping bag that we provide.