Hells Canyon 5-Day Whitewater Trip

Do not miss the views at Suicide Point. It is the highest overlook in Hells Canyon you can reach from the river.

Coffee is always out well before breakfast. While you relax, the guides break down camp and load the boats, and we launch between 9 and 10. Healthy snacks are out all day on the water, granola bars, trail mix, fruit snacks, apples and oranges, so you are never going to go hungry on a trip.

When you pull into camp your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting. Hells Canyon camps are not sandy beach camps. Most sit up on a bench overlooking the river, and every one has good swimming, good river access and a trail up and down the river. Shade tarps are out, there is always a game going, and iced tea and lemonade are ready.

Appetizers come out before dinner. Charcuterie boards, crostini, steamed mussels with toasted pita, bruschetta and artichoke hearts, and in Hells Canyon we always do bass tacos with the Dutch oven nachos. Our rule of thumb is to serve dinner right after the sun goes behind the canyon brim, sometimes 6 o'clock and sometimes 8, because no one really has much of an appetite when the sun is shining overhead. The guides plate every meal through the serving line and we all sit down and have supper together. Dessert comes out as it gets dark, cobblers, cakes, a s'mores charcuterie board, or the river staple, pineapple upside down cake. We make a big deal out of the flip. If it comes out perfect, everyone cheers. If it does not, everyone boos.

After dessert about half the group heads to bed and the guides stay up and entertain. Some bring instruments, some tell stories, and there are always cards and the library box full of Hells Canyon books. We only have campfires in Hells Canyon in the spring and early fall, so most of the season s'mores happen over the glowing Dutch oven coals.

The night before, meet us at our Idaho shop at 1512 North Main in Riggins from 7:00 to 8:00 PM MT for a meet and greet. You will get your dry bags, go through the orientation and ask any last-minute questions. All of our Idaho trips run on Mountain Time.

On Day 1 we pick you up at 6:00 AM MT for the 3-hour drive to Hells Canyon Dam, with your trip leader along for the ride. Day 5 ends at the confluence of the Salmon and Snake. After lunch you jet boat back up to Pittsburg Landing, then it is about an hour and fifteen minutes back to your vehicles in Riggins, arriving between 3:00 and 4:00 PM MT.

Bring a sleeping bag, or rent one from us along with a pack pillow. Binoculars, because bird watchers go nuts on Idaho trips. Super-soaker squirt guns for the kids and the kids at heart. A different pair of shoes for camp so you can get your feet dry and the sand out of your toes. If you want to fish, bring your own rod and tackle and an Oregon fishing license.