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Lower Salmon River, ID
Lower Salmon River 4-Day Gorges Trip
4 days / 3 nights
Our go-to family trip
Camping Trips
Class II
Class III
Class IV
OVERVIEW
Our go-to family trip
Our go-to family trip, with warm water, big sand beaches, and whitewater the whole family can conquer together.
4 days / 3 nights
Duration
5
+
Min Age
Camping Trips
Trip Style
DATES
Upcoming Dates
Mon
23
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Wed
25
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Fri
27
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Highlights
Best Parts of The Trip
- Warm water, big sand beaches Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole.
- A canyon a day Run Green, Cougar, Snowhole and Blue, one named canyon each day.
- Choose your own craft Hop between the kayak and the raft all week, and change your mind any time.
- The kayak rerun If we get the camp we want, kayakers run Lower White House, paddle up the eddy and run it again.
- Jet boat ride home After lunch at the confluence, ride about an hour and fifteen minutes up the Snake through Hells Canyon.
INSIDER TIP
From Our Guides
Bring a lot of sunscreen. And ask the guides about the raft slide, it's a kid favorite.
Your boat
Boats on This Trip
ITINERARY
Day by day
Day 1
Roller Coaster Rapid, a super fun Class II wave train, is right off the boat ramp, then unnamed Class IIs until lunch. There is an awesome pictograph stop right before Green Canyon, the first of four named canyons, and lunch in the canyon. After lunch come Demon's Drop and Rightway Drop, both Class II+. Day one is always a short day, only 10 miles, so we take it really slow and camp around Pine Bar on a big white sand beach.
Miles covered
10
miles
lower-salmon-river-4-day-gorges-trip
1
Day 2
Cougar Canyon, a steep limestone canyon, super lush, with rock in different shades of blues and greens. Deep pools of flat water split up by awesome big wave trains, Cliffside, Lauren's Lulu, and Upper and Lower White House. If we get the camp we want, the kayakers get the Lower White House rerun. There is a big pool below the wave train, so we paddle up the eddy, run it again, paddle up, run it again. You can even hike upstream and swim the rapid with safety set below. It is a great place to build your confidence before whitewater day.
Miles covered
12 to 18
miles
lower-salmon-river-4-day-gorges-trip
2
Day 3
Whitewater day. All morning in Snowhole Canyon running the named Class IIIs and IVs, Bodacious Bounce, Half and Half, Snowhole, The Gobbler and China. You touch the northernmost point of the Salmon River in there. After China the canyon dramatically opens up from steep walls into a wide valley, and it is a relaxing, slow float to camp on another big sandy beach.
Miles covered
10 to 15
miles
lower-salmon-river-4-day-gorges-trip
3
Day 4
A standard morning with some great rocks to jump off, then the steepest, most dramatic canyon of the trip before lunch, Blue Canyon, with huge basalt cliffs from the Columbia River basalt floods. A massive 1950s landslide here created Slide Rapid and pinched the river down to the width of a room. Checkerboard, Slidebox, Flynn Creek, then the last rapid of the trip, Eye of the Needle, a fun, technical big drop. Lunch is at what the guides call the center of the universe, the confluence of the Salmon and the Snake, deep in Hells Canyon. Then the jet boat up to Pittsburg Landing and the van to Riggins, around 4:00 PM.
Miles covered
8 to 12
miles
lower-salmon-river-4-day-gorges-trip
4
Inclusions
What's Included
Guides and gear
- Guides and all river gear
- Dry bags
Where you sleep
- Tents up before you arrive
- Sleeping pad in your tent
Meals
- All meals and snacks
- Beer or wine, 3 drinks per person per night, and you are welcome to bring more
Getting there
- Hotel pickup in Riggins on Day 1
- The jet boat ride out
- All shuttles
Bring or rent
- Three swimsuits, or shorts and a top (no cotton)
- Sports sandals or hard-soled wetsuit booties
- Synthetic paddling gloves if you plan to kayak
- A 1-liter water bottle with a carabiner
- A fleece and a rain jacket
- Sleeping bag and pillow (or rent them from us)
From $1,499
BOOK NOWACCOMMODATIONS
Camping Trips
Nights are a mix of historic lodge rooms and guided riverside camps, depending on the launch.
Rogue River
Lucas Lodge
Sadie Lucas built this lodge around 1912 on a ranch where the Illinois River meets the Rogue, and her family has welcomed guests for seven generations since. Your last night on the river ends here with a prime rib dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Owyhee River
Owyhee Camps
Desert canyon camps on the Owyhee, set below rimrock and red rock spires that light up at sunset.
See the full stay
Lower Salmon River
Lower Salmon Camps
Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and your tent is up before you arrive.
See the full stayMain Salmon, River of No Return
Main Salmon Camps
Big sandy beach camps under the pines. When you pull in, your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting.
See the full stay
Snake River in Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Camps
Riverside camps below the walls of Hells Canyon. Your tent is up before you arrive, and evenings start with a cold drink under the shade tarps.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Rogue River Camps
Riverside beach camps on the Rogue. Your gear boater runs ahead so camp is ready when you pull in, with tents up and dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Paradise Lodge
Paradise has the big deck where we do movie night, with lodge cooking and a real bed. Every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Black Bar Lodge
Black Bar sits right on the water. You pull in at the end of Day 1 to a home-cooked dinner and a real bed, and every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Food & Drink
What To Expect During Meal Time
Lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4. Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and the nights all feel the same, relaxed, with nothing to do except have fun, play games and have a drink.
Coffee is always out well before breakfast. While you relax, the guides pack up shop 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. Shade tarps are out, there is always a beach game going, and iced tea and lemonade are ready. A lot of people drag their chair down to the river, sit in it and crack a cold one.
Appetizers come out before dinner. Charcuterie boards, crostini, steamed mussels with toasted pita, bruschetta and artichoke hearts, 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 river books, wildlife books and geology books for the stretch you are on. We will have a campfire if we are able to. Most of the summer, late June to mid-September, we cannot, so s'mores happen over the glowing Dutch oven coals.
Meeting Logistics
Where & When To Meet
This season we are running it Riggins to Riggins. The night before, meet us at the shop in Riggins at 7:00 PM MT for a meet and greet, about half an hour, for last-minute questions, your dry bags and sleep kits, and to meet at least the trip leader. All of our Idaho trips run on Mountain Time.
On Day 1 we pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 AM MT, and we confirm the time at the meet and greet, or you can meet us at the shop. Every hotel in town will let you leave your car for the duration of the trip, and shop parking is limited, so please park at the hotel. It is about 30 minutes to the Hammer Creek boat ramp, where all the guides are waiting. Your dry bags go to the gear boat, then the river orientation, life jackets, how to sit in the boats, and which boat you are in. Helmets are required in the kayaks and for the little ones, and optional in the oar rafts. We float away between 9:00 and 9:30.
On Day 4 the trip always ends at the confluence of the Salmon and Snake. After lunch you load your dry bags onto the jet boat, say your goodbyes to the guides, and ride about an hour and fifteen minutes up the Snake through Hells Canyon to Pittsburg Landing. From there it is about an hour and fifteen minutes by van back to your vehicles in Riggins with the trip leader, arriving around 4:00 PM MT. Private trips can start or end in Lewiston, Idaho, since start and end points are adjustable.
TRAVEL
Getting there
Fly into Boise or Lewiston and drive to Riggins the day before launch. Overnight trips start with a 7:00 PM meeting.
Meeting point
Orange Torpedo Idaho shop
7:00 PM Mountain the night before at the Riggins shop, 1512 N. Main St. Hotel pickup on launch morning.
How to get there
Fly into Boise (BOI)
About 3.5 hours by car.
Fly into Lewiston (LWS)
About 2.5 hours by car.
Drive or fly private into McCall
About 45 minutes to Riggins.
Airport transfer
No OTT airport shuttle to Riggins. Rent a car at Boise or Lewiston.
Stay at Salmon Rapids Lodge and ask for the outfitter rate.
CONDITIONS
What to expect
Weather
Mild mornings and hot afternoons early in the season. By late July and August you get warm mornings and nights and hot afternoons, with highs in the 90s.
Whitewater Levels
A Class II to IV river all season, and up to Class IV, never more. The whitewater is big, high volume and straightforward, big crashing wave trains where you do not have to think too hard. There are only about three rapids where you have to be in a certain spot. That is why the guides love teaching paddling here and why it is the best multi-day for kayaking and for beginners looking for that next big adventure.
You choose your adventure level by the craft you pick, and you can change your mind. The Lower Salmon is the trip where we see people hopping in the raft and hopping out of the raft all week. There are a lot of stretches where we would put a seven-year-old in an inflatable kayak alone, and spots where we will pull them into a raft. Kids get their toes wet in the kayak without being bound to it.
Seasonal Variability
Late June to September. The first launch is the last week of June or the first week of July, set by BLM flow limits. Flow changes through the season do not really affect this stretch much. It is a Class II to IV river all season.
Short on time? A 3-day version of this trip is available by request, so give us a call and we will work it out with you.
PACKING
What to Bring
On the river
- Three swimsuits, or shorts and a top, no cotton
- Sports sandals or hard-soled wetsuit booties
- Synthetic paddling gloves if you plan to kayak
- A wide-brimmed hat or ball cap
- A polypro, synthetic or hydro-skin shirt
- A 1-liter water bottle with a carabiner
- Waterproof sunscreen
- Two pairs of sunglasses with croakies
- Snacks for the kids
In camp
- Two pairs of pants and two pairs of shorts
- Three shirts
- A fleece or sweatshirt
- A rain jacket
- A sleeping bag, or rent one from us
- A pack or travel pillow, or rent one
- A small pack towel
- Insect repellent
- Personal items, kept to a minimum
- A headlamp and a battery pack
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. No cash needed. If you want to fish, bring a rod, your own tackle and an Idaho license, which you can buy in Riggins or online. If you have an allergy that can cause anaphylaxis, bring at least one EpiPen and let your guide know.
REVIEWS
What guests say
POLICIES
Cancellation timeline
90+ days out
Full refund of the trip payment
Minus any non-refundable permit fees.
30–89 days out
50% refund
Date changes may be available if space remains.
Under 30 days
No refund
Weather holds are reviewed case by case.
Refunds depend on how far out you cancel. Weather holds are handled case by case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the jet boat ride like?
On the Lower Salmon 4-Day and the Hells Canyon 5-Day you board the jet boat after lunch at the confluence for about an hour and fifteen minutes up the Snake River to Pittsburg Landing, then it is about an hour and fifteen minutes by van back to Riggins. It is cool to see a different river from the downstream perspective going up, and a small taste of Hells Canyon on your way home.
Where do I park in Idaho?
Leave your car at your hotel in Riggins, since shop parking is limited and every hotel in town will let you leave it for the trip. On the Main Salmon we suggest Salmon Rapids Lodge.
What if I miss the pre-trip meeting?
Call or text us at 208-630-6668 as soon as you know. We will run the meet and greet checklist with you over the phone, drop your bags at your lodging, and tighten it all up in the morning.
Can we customize where the trip starts and ends?
The Lower Salmon 4-Day runs Riggins to Riggins. We can start or end in Lewiston, Idaho for an added cost, and on private trips the start and end points are adjustable.
Can we swim?
Yes. In Idaho the water is warm (the later in the season, the better) and every camp has a swimming hole, plus jump rocks at French Creek on the 2-Day. On the Rogue there are swimming holes at the Rogue River Ranch and Paradise Lodge. On the North Umpqua you will swim whether you meant to or not.
Can I fish on the trip?
On Rogue lodge trips, if there is time, yes. Bring your pole and get your Oregon fishing license first. Fair warning, between getting to the lodge, showering and dinner there is not a huge amount of off time.
In Idaho, bring a rod, your own tackle and an Idaho license, which you can buy in Riggins or online. On the 2-Day, fishing is from the oar raft only. The Hells Canyon fishing trip includes all spin tackle.
Should I bring cash?
On the Lower Salmon, no cash needed. On the Main Salmon, bring a little for ice cream and a beer at Buckskin Bill's.
Will we see wildlife in Idaho?
Your best odds are bighorn sheep, plus deer, elk, osprey and both bald and golden eagles. Black bears show up mostly in June. On the Main Salmon add mountain goats and a very small chance of a moose. There are no grizzlies on any of our trips, and birders go nuts out here.
Is alcohol included on Idaho trips?
We will have at least a beer or a glass of wine for you every night, and oftentimes more. If you would like to bring your own, feel free.
Do I have to set up my own tent?
Not on a guided trip. Idaho trips are fully all-inclusive, with no tent setup, no camp teardown, guides have the tents up with pads inside before you walk into camp. On the Rogue camp trips the gear boater has camp set up ahead of you. On a Row Your Own the tent is yours.
What time zone are the Idaho trips on?
Mountain Time. Every meeting time on our Idaho and Hells Canyon trips is Mountain Time.
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