Overview
This trip is designed for whitewater rafting enthusiasts. When one river just doesn't satisfy you, try five different whitewater rivers in five days! ROW's Whitewater Trail is a rafting trip that floats five of Idaho and Montana's best whitewater daytrips over the course of five days. You'll float the Payette, Lochsa, Clark Fork, St. Joe and Salmon River near Riggins. And each night you'll relax in a comfortable hotel or resort. ROW can provide transportation, or, if you prefer, you can arrange transportation and just meet us each day at the designated meeting points.
Available Activities:
At A Glance
- Trip Duration: 5 Days
- Trip Length: 75 miles
- Intensity: Intermediate, Class III-IV+
- Season: May-July
- Minimum Age: 15
- Begins in: Boise, Idaho
- Ends in: Spokane, Wash.
- Closest Airport: Boise, Idaho
- Highlights: Five rivers in five days, 75 miles of Class II-IV+ rapids, great scenery, abundant wildlife.
- Other Highlights: Idaho road trip, comfortable lodging, raft five of the best one-day whitewater trips in Idaho and Montana.
Details
This trip will rock your whitewater world! You'll paddle five different rivers in five days. These trips run from mid-May to mid-July on the best single day river trips in Idaho and western Montana. Raft the Payette, Lochsa, Clark Fork, St. Joe and Salmon River near Riggins while bedding down at a comfortable hotel or resort each night.
Set up your own transportation or, if you have a group of ten or more, transportation by ROW can be arranged.
This white water rafting adventure starts in Boise, Idaho on the nearby, rip-roaring Payette River. This river will start your trip off with a bang. You'll plummet down 13 miles of crystal-clear Class III-IV whitewater through a scenic mountain canyon. After a one-hour drive north through canyons and forested mountains we'll arrive in the lakeside resort town of McCall where we enjoy dinner with the locals and stay for the night.
The next day we head north for big whitewater fun on the Salmon River near Riggins. The self-proclaimed "Whitewater Capital of the Universe," Riggins is a truly a hoot. Lake Creek, Ruby, Time Zone, Lightning Creek and Trap Creek are just a few of the exciting Class II-IV rapids you'll run today. Try out your skills in an inflatable kayak to add more excitement to your whitewater day.
From Riggins, we head to the River Dance Lodge, a luxury adventure resort on the banks of the Clearwater River. We base here for two nights and spend a day on the thunderous Lochsa River - Idaho's most intense whitewater thriller.
After we maneuver through the raft-swallowing holes of the Lochsa, we head north to float Montana's Alberton Gorge section of the Clark Fork River. This is a fun, warm-water class III "pool and drop" river that passes through a quiet canyon with scenic purple cliffs. We overnight in a nearby riverside lodge.
The following day, we head over the mountains to the St. Joe River. The liquid emerald waters of the St. Joe sports paddle-bashing waves within a canyon of moss and cedar trees. At the end of our last day rafting, we drive west to Coeur d'Alene for our final overnight stay. Enjoy the local nightlife then continue home the following day.
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 - Leave from Boise, Idaho to the nearby South Fork of the Payette River, a rip-roaring whitewater stretch set in a dramatic canyon. You'll charge 13 miles of crystal-clear, fast-flowing and plummeting Class III-IV rapids. Your raft will crash through Gateway, Oxbow, Lone Pine, Blackadar, Little Falls and Surprise rapids before we drive north to the mountain lake town of McCall where we overnight.
DAY 2 - The next day we wake up early and head north to Riggins, the self-proclaimed “Whitewater Capital of the Universe.” The Salmon River near Riggins is a hoot. Lake Creek, Ruby, Time Zone, Lightning Creek and Trap Creek are just a few of the exciting Class II-IV rapids you’ll see today. Inflatable kayaks are available on this stretch of the river. Majestic mountains of ponderosa pine loom over us and golden eagles may soar overhead. Overnight at the River Dance Lodge near Idaho's Clearwater River. Soak in your private hot tub and get ready for tomorrow.
DAY 3 - Today we tackle the thunderous white water of the Lochsa River, Idaho’s most intense river rafting thrill-ride. The action on the Lochsa is almost non-stop. You’ll raft 20 miles of heart-pounding, raft-swallowing whitewater. After rafting Class IV–IV+ rapids like Castle Creek, Ten Pin, Mile Long, Otter Slide, Grim Reaper and Bloody Mary, relax and soak in your private hot tub when we overnight again at the River Dance Lodge.
DAY 4 - We rise early and head north to the Alberton Gorge section of the Clark Fork River. This is a fun, warm-water with big-volume Class III pool-and-drop whitewater. We raft 12-15 miles through a scenic roadless canyon and overnight in a nearby riverside lodge.
DAY 5 - Today we head over the mountains to raft 16-miles of the St. Joe River, a favorite amongst ROW guides. The St. Joe's emerald water holds paddle-bashing Class III-IV whitewater fun between its moss-covered, cedar-lined banks. Overnight in Coeur d’Alene, a small lake city with plenty of things to see and do. Continue home the next day.
Charter groups of ten or more can modify the itinerary to raft other rivers and/or add and subtract days.
TRIP INCLUDES:
All river daytrips including rafting gear, lunches on river, breakfasts and accommodations, as noted. The “ROW Drives” option includes all transportation from Boise to Spokane and the services of a ROW tour leader.
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Dinners, personal items, gratuities or hotel on the last night in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Full Itinerary
FAQ
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Also visit our Whitewater Resources page for additional information.
Destinations 
