St. Joe Rafting

MEETING PLACE: Gold Creek Campground, Avery, ID
MEETING TIME: 10:00 am PST
RIVER RATING: Class II-III
TRIP MILES: 12-16 miles depending on water levels
PUT-IN: varies based on water levels
TAKE-OUT: Eagle Creek*
*Subject to change based on water levels
RETURN TIME: 4:30 pm PST
Due to the nature of these trips, times can vary depending on variables outside our control
TRIP LENGTH: 1 day
AGE LIMIT: 16. (12-15 on approval or after high water season)
BOAT TYPE: Paddle Rafts
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 & water access fee.

10:00 AM PDT: Meet at Gold Creek Campground, Avery, Idaho

11:00 AM: After a safety talk and demonstration you'll hit the river! 

12:00-1:00 PM: You'll stop for lunch on the beach and then back to floating. 

4:00-4:30 PM: Back to your vehicles.*

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

Driving Directions

Our meeting location is now at the Gold Creek Campground on the St. Joe River.  We will meet you at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

There are two ways you can drive to Gold Flat. Coming from Spokane or Coeur d’Alene.  Either way takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on your starting point, how many stops you make, and how fast you drive.

Via St. Maries:

• Drive to St. Maries, Idaho

• Take the St. Joe River Road (FS Road #50) heading east along the St. Joe River.  It is about 76 miles and 2 hours from St. Maries to our meeting point at Gold Creek Flat.  You pass by Calder and Avery hamlets.

• About ½ mile, after you pass the Conrad Crossing camping area there will be a sign pointing to the right for Red Ives Ranger Station.  Turn right and proceed about ½ mile to a large dirt flat on the right that has a vault toilet and perhaps some people camping.  Meet the ROW Vehicle and guides here.  (If you get to Simmons Creek, or Fly Flat, you went too far upstream.)

Via I-90:

• Take I-90 east through Wallace, over Lookout Pass (Idaho/Montana border), and on to the St. Regis exit. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp.

• Go under the freeway to the stop sign.

• Turn left and pass the St. Regis Travel Center.

• Proceed about ½ mile to St. Regis St/Little Joe Road and turn left.  Road #282.

• This will pass over I-90 and becomes a winding unpaved road that climbs to a summit that is the Montana/Idaho border.  At the border the road becomes paved and you continue downhill on the Idaho side on FS Road #388.  After about 30-40 minutes you will arrive at the St. Joe River.  Be careful not to miss this turn!  (If you miss this turn, you will come to Conrad Crossing Camping Area. Turn around and go back upstream.)

• Gold Creek Rd. is not maintained by the State of Montana; this road may be closed and inaccessible due to snow.

  • You may call the St. Regis Forest Service, (406)822-4233, to inquire about road conditions or call the ROW Main office, (208)770-2517.

• There is a brown USFS sign pointing left to the Red Ives Ranger Station. Turn left and proceed about ½ mile to a large dirt flat on the right that has a vault toilet and perhaps some people camping.  Meet the ROW Vehicle and guides here.  (If you get to Simmons Creek, or Fly Flat, you went too far upstream.)

If you are driving from CdA/Spokane we would recommend you drive on I-90 in the morning via St. Regis and then return home via St. Maries (provided Gold Creek Rd. is open). This makes for an enjoyable trip without repeating the same driving route and takes about the same time.

The closest airports are in Spokane, WA and Missoula, MT.

When to Go: We run the St. Joe from early June through early July, depending on water levels. All participants should be in good health and comfortable in water. The minimum age is 16, ages 12-15 on approval after high water season. We use 13' paddle rafts so everyone is a participant. Each raft has a professional, licensed guide and the order of the day is FUN!

Accommodations:

Super 8 Motel
Motel Rooms
1-800-848-8888 | 406-649-2422
1 hour, 30 Miles

Campground St. Regis
Private Campground
888-247-8734 | 406-649-2470
55 minutes, 29 miles

Wallace Inn
Hotel
208-752-1252
1 hour 30 minutes, 76 miles

If you are looking for camping accommodations; there are too many to name in the St. Joe National Forest. They range from established campgrounds with pit toilets to dispersed camping.

Shuttle Logistics: We will take a bus from Gold Creek Campground to the boat put-in, up river. Then from the takeout, we will take a bus back to your vehicles at Gold Creek Campground.

You can find local weather here.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & Essential Eligibility 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 multi-day 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 Provided by ROW
PFD, Helmet, Farmer John Wet Suit, 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.

What You Should Pack

• Swimsuit or non–cotton underwear to wear under the wetsuit
• Water bottle
• Running shorts/swimsuit to wear over wetsuit (optional). These keep you from sliding around on the raft and protect the wetsuit
• Sun hat/ball cap
• Towel/change of clothes for end of the day
• *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.
• For cool days and for people who tend to get cold easily:
• Synthetic or merino wool socks
• Synthetic or merino wool  cap (like ski hat)
• Synthetic, merino wool or wetsuit gloves
• Synthetic or merino leggings/tights

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.

 

St. Joe River Country, Outdoor Idaho PBS

Best Things To Do In Coeur D'Alene Idaho: Nearby activities if you are in the area

St. Regis Forest Service, (406)822-4233

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