Quiz time! (This one’s easy.)
When is the most popular time to go rafting in Hells Canyon, Idaho:
- May/June
- July
- August
- September
Drumroll, please…
If you guessed July or August, you are correct. The middle part of summer is when we see the bulk of our guest volume. July and August are popular for obvious reasons – school is out, the weather is predictably hot and dry, and the river levels are friendly, especially for younger children.
However, as summer temperatures continue to rise and our favorite spots on the river are becoming favorites of others, too, we’re seeing a trend with guests opting for earlier season trips. Read on to learn more about why planning a rafting trip in May and June shouldn’t be overlooked.
Sunrise in Hells Canyon never disappoints.
First, a little background on early season rafting:
The Salmon River is incredible because it is totally undammed and free-flowing. Flows are at the whim of Mother Nature. In Idaho, our snowpack begins to melt off in the early spring months and peaks any time between April and early June (every year is different). The unpredictability of the Salmon River in the early part of the rafting season is what makes it so unique – however, that unpredictability makes it exactly that! Planning for an early season river trip on the Salmon River can be tricky because it is difficult to predict what the river will do, especially when we we and our guests are doing our summer planning during the winter months.
As such, we tend to prioritize our more predictable river section during the early season – Hells Canyon. Rafting on the Snake River through Hells Canyon is incredible all year round because the river is dam-controlled. Flows are regulated, and we take advantage of that predictability to offer consistent adventures all season long.
Here are some of the many perks of early season rafting in Hells Canyon:
The canyon is green.
Have you ever seen Jurassic Park? That is what Hells Canyon looks like in May and early June. The canyon walls are green, the wildflowers are popping, and there are even little waterfalls from remaining snowmelt trickling down into the creeks and drainages. It’s truly magical. Temperatures are usually cooler and we can sometimes get some rain. However, our crew is fully prepared for all types of weather. We set up shade/rain flies at camp, and have the flexibility to get to camp early if needed. Roasting s’mores around the fire in the evenings is always a fun option to stay warm in the evenings, too!
Crowds are non-existent.
May and June is the perfect time to join us if you like smaller groups and not seeing many others on the river. While we are so lucky with our commercial permit to have organized, well-spaced launches with other groups so we rarely leapfrog with others and always get our first choice camps. However, the solitude is even more magnified in the early weeks of the summer season. It’s not uncommon to float the entire four days without seeing another raft!
Solitude in Hells Canyon, Idaho.
Big water.
Even though the Snake River through Hells Canyon, Idaho is dammed and flows are controlled, the snowpack and spring runoff still has to find its way downriver. Hells Canyon dam lets out an impressive amount of water in the early spring to start the process of regulating the river for the remainder of the year. All of that water creates some huge waves in some of our favorite rapids – Wild Sheep (IV), Granite (IV), Bernard I (III) and II (III), Waterspout (IV), Sluice Creek (III), and Rush Creek (III). The classification of these rapids can even go up based on extra high early season flows! Hells Canyon trips are designed for all adventure levels, however if you plan to join us in May and June, we recommend preparing for some significant whitewater and extra adventure. Reach out with specific questions if you are joining us with kids.
More time to explore.
It goes without saying at this point, but early season runoff means more water flowing downstream. We can’t slow down the fast-moving water, so we take advantage of the extra time during the day to make sure we cover all the stops on the 34 mile journey from Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing. Historic stops, Native American pictographs, hikes, and lots of fishing are built into the structure of each day. With extra time to explore, your experience becomes more than just a whitewater experience – our guests have the opportunity to dive deeper into the rich history of Hells Canyon.
Bird’s eye view of historic Sheep Creek ranch in Hells Canyon, Idaho.
Discounts!
A major perk of early season rafting in Hells Canyon is the 20% discount for the month of May. Join us before the crowds, when the canyon is green, and get the full Salmon Raft experience in North America’s deepest gorge – for less!
We are counting down the days until our first trips go out in May. We hope you can join us.
– Lauren