Lochsa Rafting

MEETING PLACE: TBD for the 2024 Season (in or near Syringa, ID)
MEETING TIME:

• Classic Lochsa (20miles) 9:00 am PST
• Super Lochsa (30 miles) 8:00 am  PST

RIVER RATING: Class III-IV+
TRIP MILES: 20 or 30 miles
PUT-IN:

• Classic: mile marker 128
• Super: mile marker 138

TAKE-OUT: Knife Edge
*Put in and take-out points are subject to change due to water levels
RETURN TIME:  4:00-5:00 PM PST
TRIP LENGTH: 1 day
AGE LIMIT: Minimum age is 17 (14-16 upon Adventure Consultants approval)
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Rafts with stern frames

TRIP INCLUDES: Services of our talented adventure consultants and professional guides, all meals/beverages as indicated in the itinerary, all rafting gear, and transportation to/from river meeting points.

DOES NOT INCLUDE: 8% Land and water access fee

8:00 am(Super) OR 9:00 am (Classic)
Meet ROW's Team Leader at the River Dance Lodge at your designated meeting time for a brief orientation meeting to answer any last-minute questions and  About 45 minutes later you depart in our bus and travel to the rafting trip launch point. Along the way, your guides will tell you a few stories about the area.

9:00am (Super) OR 10:00 am (Classic)
Arrive at your designated put in location, our staff prepares you with a thorough safety orientation. You will divide up into your respective boat groups and get out on the water to raft through rapid like Initiation, Ten Pin Alley, and Cheese Grater!

12:00-1:00 pm
Lunch Time! Enjoy a delicious lunch and warm up with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Take a stroll around the ROW Island and listen to guides share stories about the natural history of the Lochsa before heading back on the river to run the bulk of the white water sections!

4:00-5:00 pm
Reach the take-out point, load up in the bus, and drive back to Syringa Cafe and your vehicles.  

Please note that due to the nature of the trip times may vary.

Closest Airports:

Lewiston, Idaho
Spokane, Washington
Missoula, Montana

Local Lodging Accomodations:

Reflections Inn
Lodge Rooms
6873 Highway 12
Kooskia, ID 83539
innkeepers@reflectionsinn.com
5.4 miles, 6 minutes

Three Rivers Resort
Cabins, A-frames, & Motel Rooms
115 Selway Rd
Kooskia, ID 83539
208-926-4430
3RiversResortii@gmail.com; reservations can be made online
6.7 miles, 8 minutes

Lewis & Clark Resort
Cabins, Motel rooms, RV & tent sites
4243 Highway 12
Kamiah, ID 83536
208-935-2556
info@kamiahkoa.com
21.9 miles, 24 minutes

Wilderness Gateway
RV & tent sites
Fenn Ranger Station, 831 Selway Rd
Kooskia, ID 83539
208-926-4258
33 miles, 45 minutes

Clearwater 12 Motel
Hotel rooms with a full hot breakfast
108 E 3rd St, Highway 12
Kamiah, ID 83544
208-935-2671
26 miles, 25 minutes

Hearthstone Lodge
Lodge Rooms
3250 US-12
Kamiah, ID 83536
208-935-1492 or 714-658-4532
26.1 miles, 30 minutes

Best Western Lodge at River’s Edge
Hotel Rooms
615 Main St
Orofino, ID 83544
208-476-9999
46.7 miles, 54 minutes

Lochsa Lodge
Lodge buildings/cabins
115 Powell Rd
Lolo, MT 59847
208-942-3405
71.8 miles, 1 hour, 33 minutes

There are various campgrounds in the Highway 12 corridor found on recreation.gov and through the Forest Service.

Click here to view National Weather Service's weather forecast for Syringa, Idaho.

Weather on the Lochsa is completely unpredictable. It can be rainy and/or cold in May in early June. In late June and July the weather is warmer and dryer, although you must come prepared for cold weather. You may not use all of the gear listed below, but we recommend bringing it all! If it's a hot day, you can remove some layers

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Here at ROW Adventures, our first and foremost goal is for you to have an enjoyable and safe experience. While most of our trips are suitable for beginners, some of our trips are more active than others and it’s important that you understand the physical requirement of the trip you choose. 

All of our rafting trips are active adventures that involve some level of physical exertion and possible exposure to the elements including but not limited to wind, rain, heat, sun, cold temperatures and cold water conditions.  ROW Adventures is able to accommodate people with physical limitations, disabilities, and medical conditions; please speak with your Adventure Consultant if you think you will require any additional assistance while on the trip.  We ask that you consult your doctor if you have health or medical conditions that could impact your ability to participate in an active and outdoor adventure.  In general, all trip participants must be able to do the following:  

• Wear all protective and safety equipment that is required by ROW Adventures and recommended/required by industry-wide standards.

• Load and unload, on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion, the bus and/or van providing transportation for ROW Adventures activities.

• Reach the river access points (put-in and take-out) on their own, or with the aid of a qualified companion.

• Enter and exit the raft, kayak and/or inflatable kayak on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion.

• Remain seated and balanced in a floating raft, canoe, kayak or inflatable kayak w/ the aid of adaptive equipment, if necessary.

• Perform all on water activities, including following instructions that like paddling commands from the guide in class I and higher whitewater on their own or with the assistance of a qualified companion. 

• Float on their back when entering moving and still water.  The participant must be capable of turning from face-down to face-up in the water with the aid of a Personal Floatation Device and must be able to hold their breath while underwater.

• Remain calm and keep breathing under control in the event of a whitewater swim.

• Get out from under a raft, whether the raft is up-right or capsized, in moving water.

• Climb into the raft, with the help of another person, should an involuntary swim happen at any point on the river.

• Make progress toward the shoreline or a raft by swimming in moving water and must be able to exit the river and ascend the shoreline once reached.

• Participate as an active paddler when instructed by the guide for the duration of the trip. 

• Move about the campsite on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion on all trips that include overnight camping and/or lunch.

Gear ROW Provides
PFD, Helmet, Farmer John Wet Suit, Camino Wet Suit Jacket, Wet Suit Booties, Fleece Jacket, and Splash Jacket.

WETSUITS
ROW provides Farmer John style wetsuits for all our Lochsa trips (long legs, but no sleeves). These are often worn with your polypro long underwear underneath for extra warmth. Wool or fleece socks can also be worn with booties if your feet tend to get cold.

A thin layer of synthetic material (like a swimsuit or polyester), merino wool or silk could be worn under a wetsuit, but generally the wetsuit is considered a base layer that goes next to your skin. Then for added warmth you can add a layer of fleece or mid-weight layer of wool over the wetsuit.  The final layer should be waterproof.

CLOTHES & GEAR FOR THE RIVER (Recommended)

• Swimsuit to wear under wetsuit
• Hat to wear under helmet
• Polypropylene or silk long underwear (top and bottom) when it is cold
• Shorts or swim trunks to wear over wetsuit
• Wool or polypro socks to wear under booties (ski socks work well)
• Neoprene or wool gloves (optional)
• Sunglasses with "Chums" style eyeglass holder
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle with carabiner
• Bee Sting kit for those allergic to bees
• (If you have size 14+ feet, bring a pair of old tennis shoes and wool socks to wear on river)
• Dry clothes for after the river

*For any items you are wanting to keep dry like an extra warm layer or camera, EpiPens/ other medications, etc. You will need to provide your own small dry bag.

LAYERING FOR OUTDOOR COMFORT
Clothing layers are the thermostat of the wilderness. As you get ready for your river trip, think about dressing in layers. By adding and subtracting layers you can keep yourself perfectly comfortable. If you were to look into the dry bags of a well-prepared river guide you would see packing for three weather scenarios -- cold, wet days; hot, summer days; and cool evenings and mornings in camp. All of your on-river clothing should be made from synthetic fabrics with names like fleece, pile, polypropylene, Capilene™ or polyester. A cotton T-shirt is used occasionally on hot, sunny days, but cotton clothing is best saved for on-shore camp use.

Remember: Cotton is a non-water-wicking material and should never be worn on the river. Cotton holds water against you and makes it difficult to stay warm. Fleece, Pile, Polypropylene, bunting, Capilene, etc., are a few examples of the trade names for a class of synthetic materials that retain their ability to insulate when wet.

 

GRATUITIES:
Like anyone in the service business, river and outdoor adventure guides appreciate gratuities. Our guides are some of the best and most highly trained in the business. They not only guide your raft down the river, but set up camp, cook and serve gourmet meals, provide interpretation on the natural and cultural history of the area and strive to provide the highest level of hospitality. Tipping is ultimately a personal decision, however, if you appreciate the service your guides provided, then as a guideline we suggest a gratuity of 10-20% of the trip price. Tips can be given to the ROW Team Leader at the end of the trip in the form of cash or personal check. The Team Leader distributes them equally among the guides and gives a portion to ROW’s behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes like our drivers and food shoppers.

The Lochsa River follows part of the course of the Lewis & Clark Trail. You might enjoy reading about this historic journey in Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. Other fun books to read are The Lolo Trail: A History and a Guide to the Trail of Lewis and Clark by Ralph S. Space, The Lochsa Story: Land Ethics in the Bitterroot Mountains by Bud Moore, and Caulked Boots and other Northwest Writings by Bert Russell.

Visit Idaho: Natural Attractions- Heart of the Monster
Recreation.gov- camping in the HWY 12 area
Forest Service- camping & activities in the HWY 12 area
Lochsa Historical Ranger Station

Click HERE to see Terms and Conditions.