Overview
Designed specifically for families (ages 5 and up), this multisport trip provides a rare look at the history and rich culture of the Nez Perce Tribe, one of the largest Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Highlights include; visiting the Wolf Education and Research Center, Nez Perce National Interpretive Center and Nez Perce Appaloosa Horse Camp; horseback riding in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area; and a gentle multi-day float trip on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River.
Available Activities:
At A Glance
- Trip Duration: 8 Days
- Intensity: Easy
- Season: July - August
- Minimum Age: 5
- Begins in: Lewiston, Idaho
- Ends in: Lewiston, Idaho
- Closest Airport: Lewiston, Idaho or Spokane, Wash.
- Cultural History: This family trip was designed to explore the rich culture and history of the Nez Perce Tribe. We'll visit with experts from the tribe and learn about the Nez Perce culture and traditions, from today and in the past.
- Highlights: Whitewater rafting on the Salmon River, seeing wolves, horseback riding in Idaho wilderness.
- Other Highlights: Wildlife, pristine Idaho scenery, great family vacation.
Details
As the largest Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, the Nez Perce have a long and rich culture. The traditional homeland of the Nez Perce was over seven million acres and was centered around the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Today most of the tribe lives on the Nez Perce Reservation in west central Idaho. ROW's multisport family trip provides a rare look at the history and culture of the Nez Perce tribe of today and of years past.
Journey into the Land of the Nez Perce was designed specifically for families but people of all ages will find this a life-enriching journey. Highlights include visiting the Nez Perce horse breeding program, seeing and learning about wolves, horseback riding along the Lower Selway River and rafting Idaho’s legendary Salmon “River of No Return.”
Evenings are spent in local lodges or camping along the river and children as young as five are welcome on this family adventure. The whitewater rafting portion of this trip is considered easy to intermediate, and our expert guides take care of all meals and camp set up for a luxury camping experience. This trip provides a rare look into the history and culture of the Nez Perce tribe.
If you need to purchase some gear before your whitewater rafting trip, ROW has assembled the more common items at our ROWear online store, hosted by New Headings.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Fly or drive to Lewiston, Idaho. Overnight at Red Lion Hotel (included). Evening orientation.
Day 2 - We start the day with a 20-minute drive to the Clearwater River and the Nez Perce National Historical Park Interpretive Center. Here we learn about the native peoples of the region, the Nez Perce. See one of their original dug-out canoes, learn about their lifestyle and foods and help erect a tipi. Then it’s a short drive to the town of Lapwai for a visit with the Nez Perce Appaloosa horse camp. Here families learn about the central role that the Appaloosa has played in the Nez Perce people's culture and history and how the horse changed their way of life in hunting, traveling, and trading.
We continue south to the Wolf Education and Research Center in Winchester, Idaho. Wolves have been central to the Nez Perce culture for generations. We learn about their historic role in the West and the Nez Perce program of reintroduction that has grown Idaho’s wolf population from a few dozen to over 600 in less than a decade!
After this illuminating visit and a picnic lunch, we travel to Cottonwood, Idaho to see the world’s largest Beagle that will be a highlight for some of the younger kids, followed by a tour of St. Gertrude’s Convent and Historical Museum to learn more about the Nez Perce and their early interactions with pioneering white people.
Then we travel by remote back roads from the Camas Prairie to the Clearwater River Valley, stopping at “Heart of the Monster” on route. For the Nez Perce, this is the birthplace of their people. Another 40 minutes brings us to River Dance Lodge, a lovely log cabin resort on the banks of the Clearwater. Dinner and overnight at the lodge along with evening campfire activities.
Day 3 - Rise and shine and head upriver for a fun morning horseback ride in the mountains above the Selway River, adjacent to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. After the ride, we head to a pristine white sand beach for lunch. The afternoon is spent on a gentle float trip aboard sit-on-top kayaks or rafts, on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. We float all the way back to the River Dance Lodge. After dinner we enjoy a talk around the campfire by a local Nez Perce Tribal member to learn about their relationship to the wild salmon that live in
the waters of the Clearwater, Snake and Salmon Rivers.
Day 4 - We drive southwest along traditional routes used by the Nez Perce past the town of Cottonwood, to our put-in on the Salmon River to start our 4-day adventure. We raft through fun, class III rapids and camp each night on huge white sand beaches perfect for fun and games. Water temperatures reach the low 70’s and these days are like living in a huge sandbox next to clean fresh water. This entire trip is staffed by a ROW River Jester, who leads fun, educational, nature-oriented games and activities along the way. ROW serves an early dinner for the kids with a menu that would make Dr. Seuss drool! Children are also welcome to join in the adult dinner served awhile later.
Days 4-6 - On the river. The Salmon River Canyons offers dramatic scenery alternating between sheer-walled canyons and huge mountains of golden grass with distant towering ponderosa pines. This is the vast American West at its best! This wild country is home to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear, river otter, eagles, falcons, hawks, numerous songbirds and waterfowl. There is plenty of time for hiking, volleyball, relaxing in the sun, fishing and leisurely days on the river.
Day 7 - The last 21 miles of our trip is on the Snake River through the lower end of Hells Canyon. We arrive at our take-out, Heller Bar, on the Snake River around 4pm and drive back to the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston, Idaho for a hosted farewell dinner where our trip ends.
Day 8 - Continue your travels or fly to your home.
Includes: All accommodations as noted, all meals from breakfast on Day 2 through dinner on Day 7. All rafting and camping equipment. All activities and transportation as noted in itinerary
Does Not Include: Items of a personal nature such as laundry, personal clothing, etc. Alcohol when staying at lodges. Gratuities for guides.
Full Itinerary
