Pathways of the Nez Perce - An Adventure by Raft, Kayak and Horse
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Pathways of the Nez Perce - An Adventure by Raft, Kayak and Horse:

This multisport trip combines a number of activities, while also learning about the Nez Perce, 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; two nights at a log cabin resort and finally, a fun four-day whitewater rafting trip on the Salmon River.

We'll have Nez Perce guides with us during the trip providing a unique opportunity to learn. The Nez Perce are perhaps best known for having developed the Appaloosa Horse as a breed. The Lewis & Clark expedition was saved by the Nez Perce and in an 1806 journal entry, Lewis specifically remarked on the excellence of their horses. In addition to learning about their history, we'll also learn about their contemporary culture, including their important role in protecting and restoring the region's rivers with salmon and steelhead which have long been an important part of their lives.

Overview
At a Glance
  • Duration: 6 Days
  • Intensity: Easy
  • Season: July - August
  • Minimum Age: 5
  • Begins In: Lewiston, Idaho
  • Ends In: Lewiston, Idaho
  • Airport: Lewiston, Idaho or Spokane, Wash.
Trip Highlights
Whitewater rafting on the Salmon River, seeing wolves, horseback riding in Idaho wilderness.

Pathways of the Nez Perce

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.

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.

Miscellaneous:
Wildlife, pristine Idaho scenery, great family vacation.

Pathways of the Nez Perce -  An Adventure by Raft, Kayak and Horse
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Dates & Rates
Below you will find all available instances of this trip. Roll over departure dates to see a complete list of departures. Roll over the demographic icons to get a brief overview of the demographic group.
Title DATES OFFERED Intensity Departures Adult Youth For Whom?
Pathways of Nez Perce 06/2013-08/2013 Beginner View Dates $1,995 $1,595 Everyone Welcome
Why ROW

The ROW Difference

We have coordinated this trip with the help of the Nez Perce Tribal Tourism Department in Lapwai, Idaho. This trip is a rare example of tourism interacting and supporting native peoples’ here in the USA. There will be a direct economic impact for the Nez Perce Tribe as we visit their facilities as well as hire Tribal members as local guides and speakers. ROW Adventures has been working with the Tribe to develop a guide training program to provide more economic opportunities for individual Tribal members and this trip will further this program and goals.

During the stay at River Dance Lodge we have a Tribal member from the local Kamiah area speak to us in the evening. Historically the Nez Perce had bands defined by where they lived. For example, the bands on the Clearwater have their own stories and history that is distinct from those bands that lived along the Salmon or in northeast Oregon.

Also, a Nez Perce Tribal member accompanies us on the river as we float through the canyons of the Tribe’s ancestral home. During the evening campfire she or he will share stories of tradition as well as what it means to be a Nez Perce today. We pass by some historically significant sites along the way, including a rock art site, pit house sites and sites from the Nez Perce war of 1877. Discussions about the significance of salmon to the Nez Perce will also be a highlight of this immersion into Nez Perce culture.

Most of our ROW staff is local to the region as well, including guides, drivers, etc. Because most of our guides are local from Idaho or the West, they provide an authentic connection to the culture and wilderness we experience. For many people witnessing the alternative lifestyle choice that guides have made is illuminating and can even be life changing. Their love of the land and river canyons is real and tends to quietly create an atmosphere that in turn helps our guests connect to the resource.

Also unique is that over 80% of ROW Adventures’ river guides are “Certified Interpretive Guides” with certification through the National Association for Interpretation. No other adventure company can make this claim.

Pathways of the Nez Perce -  An Adventure by Raft, Kayak and Horse
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Itinerary

The day before the trip, fly or drive to Lewiston, Idaho. Overnight at the Nez Perce Tribal owned Clearwater River Casino and Resort. There is an evening orientation with your ROW Adventures guide.

Day 1 - We start the day with a 10-minute drive to the Nez Perce National Historical Park Interpretive Center to learn about the culture and history of the Nez Perce. See one of their original dug-out canoes and learn about their lifestyle and foods. A highlight for all comes when we help erect a tipi. A short drive brings us to the town of Lapwai for a visit with the Nez Perce Appaloosa horse camp. Here we 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. Anyone who wants may enjoy a short ride.

We continue south to the Wolf Education and Research Center in Winchester, Idaho. Wolves have been central to the Nez Perce culture and 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 900 in less than a decade!

After this illuminating visit and a picnic lunch, 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 and we listen to the story told in their native tongue.

We continue east, and if there is time we will stop at the Clear Creek fish hatchery for our first introduction to salmon biology and their role in the tradition of the Nez Perce, as well as learn about the 1877 “Nez Perce War.”

By late afternoon we arrive at River Dance Lodge, a lovely log cabin resort on the banks of the Clearwater Dinner. We enjoy dinner and overnight at the lodge along with evening campfire activities.

Day 2 - 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 3 - 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. In addition to our guide staff, the ROW River Jester 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. A Nez Perce Tribal member will also accompany this part of the trip and be available for discussions and further learning about the Tribe.

Days 4-5 - 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. Our Nez Perce theme continues as we visit the sites of ancient pit houses and pass by the historic Billy Creek crossing of 1877.

Day 6 - 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 Clearwater River Casino and Resort in Lewiston, Idaho for a hosted farewell dinner where our trip ends.

Includes: All accommodations as noted, all meals from breakfast on Day 2 through dinner on Day 6. 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.

Pathways of the Nez Perce -  An Adventure by Raft, Kayak and Horse
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