Clearwater River Rafting

In 1968 Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protecting eight wild rivers recognized for their outstanding wilderness, resource and/or water quality values. The Clearwater River along with its major tributaries, the Selway and Lochsa, were among the first eight protected rivers. ROW Adventures is proud to offer whitewater rafting trips on all three of these national treasures.

One day rafting trips on the mellow Middle Fork of the Clearwater are offered from its beginning to the town of Kooskia, Idaho, some 22 miles downstream. Primarily a scenic float trip, the Clearwater can be floated in shorter stretches of 8-10 miles. With a couple of Class II rapids, the river is a perfect introduction to rafting and a great option for a family trip.

You can choose to ride in a raft or to paddle your own sit-on-top or inflatable kayak based on availability. No previous river rafting experience is required for this gentle float trip. 

The Clearwater River is surrounded by the 1.3 million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, portions of which are a temperate rainforest. Some of the plants found here are also found on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. A rafting day trip floats you through thick cedar, fir, and larch forest, and the riverbanks are overgrown with emerald ferns, spongy mosses, huckleberries, and mountain spray.

As you paddle, you're likely to see osprey, bald eagles, waterfowl, and maybe even a playful river otter. You'll also learn from our knowledgeable guides about the Nez Perce Tribe, the original inhabitants of this land. Traditionally these were rich fishing waters and today you can still see salmon jumping at Selway falls early in the summer.

Your rafting or kayaking adventure begins and ends near Syringa, Idaho. 

ROW is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider under permit from the U.S. Forest Service. We operate under special use permit from the Clearwater National Forest. All our operations and facilities are operated on a non-discriminatory basis.  ROW is bonded and fully licensed by the states of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. We are members of America Outdoors, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Assn., Montana Outfitters and Guides Assn., National Association of Interpretation; Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and many other effective organizations.