Idaho rafting combines the wilderness beauty of the Northwest US with excellent Class II to V excitement. Iconic rivers like the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Snake River through Hells Canyon make Idaho truly the whitewater rafting capital of the world.
Try a family trips on the upper and lower Main Salmon River full of sandy beaches, warm water and huge rolling waves! Looking for a fish and raft combo, the Clearwater, Coeur d’Alene, Bruneau or Owyhee Rivers in Idaho are your best option.
If one-day trips are what you are looking for, Idaho might have more one day rafting rivers than any other state in the country. In fact, one of the best one-day whitewater rafting trip in the world is found on the Lochsa River in North Central Idaho.
With over 3100 miles of whitewater ideal for Idaho rafting, kayaking and canoeing trips with over 570 designated as either National Wild, Scenic or Recreational Rivers, it's no question that Idaho is a rafters paradise!
Idaho is home to many iconic rivers of the West, and the largest roadless wilderness in the lower 48 states. The lower, wider portion of Idaho is generally referred to as "Magic Valley" for it is fertile farmland, famous mostly for potatoes, but rich in many agricultural fruits. The mountains that make up most of Idaho were essentially melted flat by the super-volcano known today as Yellowstone. The massive magma bubble traveled in a smiling arc shape across the southern half of the state, clearly visible from satellite images. This obvious channel is where the Snake River, snowmelt from Yellowstone, flows today. Idaho Falls, Star Falls and spectacular Shoshoni Falls near Twin Falls mark the Snake River's descent toward the Idaho border, and Hell's Canyon. Hell's Canyon is about a 5 day whitewater journey through some of the largest whitewater rapids in the entire northwest.
The Payette River flows southward from the mountains of McCall and Cascade toward Boise at the base of the mountains, and there joins with the Snake River before Hell's Canyon begins. The Payette features amily friendly day trips near Cascade, and again at the bottom of the canyon. In between, it is a raging world-class kayaking whitewater wonderland, with Class IV - VI rapids - many slots just wide enough for a kayak.
The young Sawtooth Mountains, crowning the north rim of the Magic Valley, marks the beginning of mountain lands as far as the rest of Idaho can see. Green forest land adorns every mountain slope. This is the land of Lewis & Clark's "Rivers of No Return" and the Frank Church Wilderness. In these mountains we find the Main Salmon River running almost directly from east to west, terminating in the Snake River at the western border. The Main and Lower canyons of the Main Salmon are great family friendly runs, each about 5 days long.
Not quite in the middle of that east to west run is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. This is often dubbed one of the top ten classic whitewater river runs in the world. It is a constant flow, and especially white in springtime runoff, tapering off in the later season, making for a great Blue Ribbon fishery. The Middle and Main Salmon River system collects at the western border, also to merge with the Snake River.
Northward, toward Couer d'Alane you'll find the mighty Lochsa River flowing (raging) westward from the Lolo Pass, outside of Missoula Montana. The Lochsa is an intense whitewater challenge for a day. The Clark Fork, coming westward from Montana is a contrast to the Lochsa, with family friendly rapids and wider canyons through the Alberton Gorge. We're still not done with whitewater in Idaho! The Clearwater and St. Joe Rivers, and the Moyie.
Take your pick of any of these spectacular day trips in Idaho, or go for multiple days on bona fide river expeditions in the middle of the state. Idaho has whitewater perfect for anyone, just take your pick!
