Take a Tour and

Baptize your Free Spirit

Without water, life would not only be impossible, but

really boring. Thankfully, Idaho rivers provide ample

opportunities to float, drift, and careen your way to a

memorable day or multi-day trip. It’s no wonder that

Idaho is home to more miles of whitewater than

anywhere else in the lower 48 states. Thing is, once you

start playing in Idaho rivers, you can’t stop. Good thing

we’ve got plenty of H2O thrills to go around.

Bragging rights included.

Class 5 Fun. 4 Star Accommodations.

Whether you enjoy camping under the stars or

prefer the comforts of resort-style lodging, there’s

nothing like living it up after roughing it on

the river. Idaho’s rivers carve their way through

diverse, scenic landscapes that are home to some of

the Northwest’s most luxurious accommodations.

Throughout the state, you’ll find topnotch lodging

complete with spas, shopping, and other activities.

All a stone’s throw away.

Book your tour and call

1-800-VISIT-ID or see: visitidaho.org

Idaho Rivers: Endless miles of smiles

Idaho’s rivers truly are all things to all

people. Whether you like the extremes of

whitewater adventure or a relaxing drift on

an urban river, Idaho is the water enthusiast’s

destination of choice. An outfi tter or guide is

offered for every river providing an experience

unlike any other. Check out www.ioga.org

for more info.

Multi-day Trip

Day Trip

Camping Nearby

Lodging Nearby

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Boise River.............................pg 8Season..............Late June – AugustRating............................Class 1-2 Miles.......................................8Trip length...........................1 day

Hells Canyon..........................pg 9 Season...................May – OctoberRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles.................................35-79 Trip length......................3-6 days

Hells Canyon Jet Boating.........pg 10 Season.................April – OctoberRating...........................Class 1-4Miles.................................35-79Trip length.....................1/2-1 day

Jarbidge-Bruneau Rivers.........pg 13Season......................April – JuneRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles................................40-65Trip length......................3-5 days

Lochsa River..........................pg 11Season................April – early JulyRating...........................Class 3-4 Miles......................................9+Trip length...........................1 day

Moyie River............................pg 12Season........................May – JuneRating...........................Class 2-3 Miles..................................11-15 Trip length...........................1 day

Owyhee River.........................pg 13Season......................April – JuneRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles.....................................45Trip length......................3-5 days

Payette River..........................pg 14 Season..............April – SeptemberRating...........................Class 1-4 Miles...................................5-12Trip length...........................1 day

Salmon River, Day Trips.........pg 15Season................May – SeptemberRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles...................................7-15Trip length..........................1 day

Salmon River, Main...............pg 16 Season................May – SeptemberRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles.....................................80Trip length......................5-7 days

Salmon River, Middle Fork......pg 17Season...............June – SeptemberRating...........................Class 2-4 Miles....................................102Trip length.....................6-8 days

Salmon River, Lower Gorge.....pg 18Season...............June – SeptemberRating...........................Class 2-4Miles.....................................50Trip length.....................4-5 days

Salmon River Jet Boating........pg 19Season.............March – NovemberRating.......................... Class 1-4Miles..................................185+Trip length.....................1/2-1 day

Selway River..........................pg 20Season....................June – AugustRating..............................Class 4 Miles.....................................50Trip length.........................5 days

Snake River, Day Trips............pg 21Season.....................May – August* May only for Milner and MurtaughRating..........................Class 1-4+Miles..................................6-20Trip length..........................1 day

St. Joe River...........................pg 12Season........................May – JuneRating...........................Class 2-3 Miles.................................12-16 Trip length..........................1 day

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Payette River Company

Multi-day Trips Check out the Cream of the Crop – deluxe week-long or three-day wilderness river trips.

Spend quality time on the river with friends or family in a gorgeous wilderness. No cell service. Camping on the beach. Let the gentle purr of the river current put you to sleep while you gaze at stars bright as diamonds. Raft with an outfitter who has all of the essential gear or put together your own trip.

Idaho’s premium multi-day rivers: • Middle Fork of the Salmon River*• Selway River*

• Main Salmon River,* the famed “River of No Return”• Lower Salmon Gorge• Hells Canyon*• Owyhee River• Jarbidge-Bruneau River

*Permit required by the U.S. Forest Service

Joshua Roper Photography Kookaburra Rafting

Cascade Raft & Kayak

Day Trips Idaho not only offers relaxing floats

but also big-time whitewater rapids

and everything in between.

On guided trips, outfitters offer half-day or

full-day trips. These trips typically include a complimentary

lunch, wet suits, helmets and a professional licensed guide.

On self-guided trips, it’s always good to go with someone

who has solid equipment and experience. Solo kayakers

will often find boaters to tag along with just by hanging

out at a launch site on a popular river.

Idaho’s best day trip rivers:

• Boise River

• Payette River

• Salmon River – Riggins

• Salmon River – Shoup

• Salmon River – Stanley

• South Fork Snake River

• Snake River – Murtaugh

• Snake River – Hagerman

• Clearwater River

• St. Joe River

• Moyie River

• Coeur d’Alene River

• Spokane River

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When the temperature hits 90 degrees in July, it’s time to fl oat the Boise River, a clear mountain stream which winds through Idaho’s capital city. The main route runs for 8 miles from Barber Park, where rental rafts and tubes are available, to Ann Morrison Park. Avid anglers and whitewater boaters also fl ock to the South Fork and North Fork of the Boise River (no guided trips available). The lower Boise from Glenwood Bridge to Eagle is a lesser-known urban jewel for canoeists or infl atable kayakers.

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Ann Morrison Park in Boise (bus shuttles available)

Season.............Late Jun–AugRating....................Class 1-2

Miles................................8Trip length...................1 day

Boise River

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Hells Canyon of the Snake River, the nation’s deepest gorge, features the biggest whitewater in Idaho. Run through 16-foot waves in Wild Sheep Rapids, a giant Class 4 drop, which makes the largest of rafters feel small. Steep black-rock cliffs border the river, turning to grassland and forest at higher elevations. The fi shing in Hells Canyon can be spectacular for rainbows, bass, catfi sh and steelhead as well.

* A Forest Service permit is required.

Hells Canyon Dam, near Cambridge

Pittsburg Landing or Heller Bar

Season...................May–OctRating...................Class 2-4

Miles............................35-79Trip length.................3-6 days

Hells Canyon

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Jet boat tours of Hells Canyon on the Snake River are extremely popular from either Lewiston or Riggins. It’s the quickest and easiest way to tour the 80-mile canyon. Large horsepower jet boats have the advantage of being able to go either upstream or downstream at the same speed. Half-day or full-day trips are available, along with wine tasting and overnight tours with one night’s stay at a backcountry lodge. Fishing trips are available for trout, steelhead, bass, sturgeon and Chinook salmon.

Lewiston, Pittsburg Landing or Hells Canyon Dam

Lewiston, Pittsburg Landing or Hells Canyon Dam

Season...................Apr–OctRating...................Class 1-4

Miles............................35-79Trip length................1/2-1 day

Jet Boating in Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon Adventures

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Lochsa means “rough waters” in Nez Perce, and it’s an appropriate way to describe the experience of running the Class 3-4 river along U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho. Springtime weather on the Lochsa can range from heavy rain to 90-degree heat, but the whitewater action on the river always proves to be fun and eventful. The climax of the trip is running Lochsa Falls, a major cataract that can fl ip rafts and kayaks with ease. Test your skills on the Lochsa and see how you measure up.

Fish Creek, near Lolo Pass

Split Creek bridge, near Lowell

Season.............Apr– early JulRating...................Class 3-4

Miles..................................9+Trip length.......................1 day

Lochsa River

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Bearpaw River Expeditions

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In the spring, mountain snowmelt brings the Moyie River and the St. Joe River to life for exciting Class 2-3 adventures through cedar-lined rocky canyons. Both rivers reside in remote locations, making for an intimate experience between boater and nature. The Moyie and the St. Joe are the premium whitewater day trips close to Coeur d’Alene. Both guided and unguided trips are available. But you need to seize the day in May or June when the whitewater is running in the fun zone.

Gold Flat Quartz Creek, near St. Maries

Season...................May–JunRating...................Class 2-3

Miles..............................11-16Trip length.......................1 day

Moyie and St. Joe Rivers

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ROW Adventures

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True adventure-seekers watch the weather and river levels closely in the springtime to pull off a trip in the Owyhee River system or on the Jarbidge-Bruneau River. The challenge is to plan a trip when river levels and weather coincide with your personal schedule. If it works out, the rewards are high. The red-rock canyons are spectacular, the rapids challenging, and side hikes and camping are outstanding. A seasoned guide and a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle are crucial for these river trips.

Hot Springs Near town of Bruneau

Season...................Apr–JunRating...................Class 2-4

Miles...........................40-65Trip length.................3-5 days

Owyhee and Jarbidge-Bruneau Rivers

Rome, Ore. Birch Creek or Leslie Gulcho

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The Payette River, located just 30-45 minutes north of Boise, is an ideal whitewater training ground for kayakers and rafters. Novices start out on the Class 2-3 Main Payette River below Banks and work up to running Class 4 rapids on the South Fork, and possibly Class 5 on the North Fork. The Cabarton section of the Payette is a Class 2-3 secluded jewel near Cascade and Smith’s Ferry. Park-and-play kayakers fl ock to the “Gutter” in Horseshoe Bend and other play spots on the Payette to practice their tricks in holes and waves.

Banks

Season...................Apr–SeptRating...................Class 1-4

Miles...............................5-12Trip length.......................1 day

Payette River

Garden Valley or Deadwood River confl uence.

Beehive Bend

Banks

Smith’s Ferry

Cabarton Bridge

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Cascade Raft & Kayak

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In three key areas of Central Idaho, the Salmon River emerges from the wilderness and provides Class 2-4 day trips near civilization. In Riggins, loosely dubbed the “Whitewater Capital of Idaho,” hundreds of people fl oat a 12-mile section full of big waves and rapids near U.S. 95. Below Stanley, upper Salmon provides chills and spills near the old Sunbeam Dam along Idaho 75. Near the town of Salmon, a great whitewater day trip exists near Shoup and U.S. 93.

Riggins, Sunbeam or Pine Creek

Lucile, Torrey’s Landing or Panther Creek

Season..................May–SeptRating...................Class 2-4

Miles...............................7-15Trip length.......................1 day

Salmon River Day Trips

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Adventure Guides

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The Main Salmon River plies the 2.3-million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, moving east to west through the heart of Idaho. The Main Salmon is considered the quintessential river trip for families because it fl ows more gently than the Middle Fork or the Selway. Also, there are big sandy beaches and deep pools for the kids to play in.

* A Forest Service permit is required.

Corn Creek, near Shoup

Carey Bar, near Riggins

Season..................May–SeptRating...................Class 2-4

Miles.................................80Trip length.................5-7 days

Main Salmon River

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Whitewater Expeditions

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Watch a wild cutthroat trout leap out of a turquoise pool to catch a mayfl y. Feel the exhilaration of running Rubber Rapids, a big whitewater drop in the Impassible Canyon. Sift the sand between your toes on a riverside sandy beach while sipping an evening beverage. Let your body melt in a natural hot springs pool while you watch an eagle circle in the sky overhead. These are just a few of the things you can do while enjoying a week-long wilderness river trip on the Middle Fork, one of the most popular river trips in America.

* A Forest Service permit is required.

Boundary Creek near Stanley

Cache Barnear Salmon

Season...................Jun–SeptRating...................Class 2-4

Miles................................102Trip length.................6-8 days

Middle Fork of the Salmon

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The Lower Salmon Gorge is a close cousin to the Main Salmon, but since no permit is required it’s more accessible. Families and kids love the giant sandy beaches on this trip – it’s a great place to bring horseshoes and a volleyball set. It’s also a great place for people to learn how to kayak in mid-summer.

Lower Salmon Gorge

Hammer Creek, near Whitebird

Heller Bar, near Lewiston

Season...................Jun–SeptRating...................Class 2-4

Miles..................................50Trip length.................4-5 days

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If the chills and thrills of a rafting trip aren’t for you, then perhaps a river tour in the comfortable cockpit of a large aluminum jet boat might be more suitable. Twin-engine jet boats have the distinct advantage of being able to run upstream or downstream and charters can be booked in Riggins. Fishing from jet boats during steelhead and Chinook salmon season is a real highlight of the trip.

Corn Creek, Vinegar Creek, or Hammer Creek

Season...................Mar–NovRating...................Class 1-4

Miles...............................185+Trip length................1/2-1 day

Jet Boating on the Salmon

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Buckle up and get ready for a rip-roaring whitewater adventure on the Selway River which has many challenging whitewater rapids. Expert guides are essential. The Selway cuts a 50-mile swath through the 1.2-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. A cedar and ponderosa pine forest adorn the river bank, and elk may be seen grazing in high-mountain meadows above.

* A Forest Service permit is required. Only one river party is allowed to launch per day.

Paradise Guard Station, near Darby, MT

Selway Falls, near Lowell

Season...................Jun–AugRating......................Class 4

Miles.................................50Trip length.....................5 days

Selway River

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The Snake River, as it cuts a crescent-shaped path across southern Idaho, features several dynamite scenic fl oating sections, as well as action-packed whitewater. The South Fork of the Snake River is a gorgeous day trip in Swan Valley with outstanding trout fi shing. Near Twin Falls, two sections of the Snake, the Class 4+ Murtaugh and Class 3 Milner, are great fl oat trips when water is available. Scenic fl oats below Shoshone Falls and in the Hagerman area are available all summer long. Guided trips are available on the South Fork Snake and Middle Snake River areas near Twin Falls.

Swan Valley; Twin Falls area; Hagerman

Heise; Twin Falls area; Bliss

Season.................May–Aug*

Rating..................Class 1-4+Miles..............................6-20Trip length.......................1 day

Snake River Day Trips

* May only for Milner and Murtaugh

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ROW Adventures

Bearpaw River Expeditions

Whitewater Adventures

European Rating Scale

Class 1 – Flatwater with no obstacles

Class 2 – Small waves and riffles; easy navigation

Class 3 – Large waves with clear navigation channel; can swamp a canoe

Class 4– Technically challenging rap-ids with multiple maneuvers required

Class 5 – Extremely violent rapids with multiple hazards and high chance of boat-flips

Class 6 – Unrunnable waterfall

Source: American Whitewater

No matter the class, all moving water presents

some risk. Always wear a life vest and remember to

raft responsibly. Also consider using one of the many

available & experienced outfitters when enjoying

Idaho’s rivers.

World-class boaters fl ock to Idaho in the spring and summer to test their skills on some of the most challenging Class 4+ to Class 5 whitewater trips in the nation. The end of the North Fork of the Payette River, with 15 miles of continuous Class 5 rapids, is considered to be one of the toughest rivers to tackle top to bottom in one day. The South Fork of the Clearwater is considered a close cousin to the North Fork, with equally gnarly Class 5 drops, but with a much shorter season. The South Fork of the Salmon, a little-known Class 4+ gem, is a favorite among locals for 2-day trips.

* No guided trips are available on any of these streams and are recommended for experts.

S. Fork Salmon - near Yellow Pine Mackay Bar

Season...................Apr–SeptRating..................Class 4+-5

Miles..............................5-40Trip length..................1-2 days

Gnarly Class 5 Rivers

S. Fork Clearwater - near Elk City Kooskia

N. Fork of Payette - Smith’s Ferry Banks

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How to apply for a permit:

The U.S. Forest Service has one application form for all

four rivers in Idaho where a permit is required: Selway

River, Middle Fork Salmon River, Hells Canyon or Main

Salmon River. Go to the web site for the Four Rivers Lot-

tery: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/recreation/4rivers/ to

download the application form. Applications are due

by Jan 31 each year, and the lucky permit winners will

be notified by late February or early March. People who

pay an outfitter to take them on a permitted river don’t

need a permit of their own.

Information and Resources

How to find a river outfitter/guide:Go to www.ioga.org, the web site of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association.

How to find lodging near your river trip:Go to www.visitidaho.org and search for lodging near the river you are running.

Helpful web sites:

• Overall resource:

www.allaboutrivers.com

• Idaho river flows:

www.idwr.idaho.gov/water/supply/riverflow.htm

• Idaho Whitewater Yahoo Group:

groups.yahoo.com/group/idahowhitewater

• Kayaking in Idaho site:

www.kayakidaho.com

TIP: Check with a local outdoor store that sells river gear for all the latest local river info.

1-800-VISIT-ID visitidaho.org

08-43160-5000