Salmon Raft’s four and five-day river trips float through the Lower Salmon River canyons, a super remote section of the prestigious Salmon River. Escape from reality for four days on 63 river miles, or gain 12 miles on our five-day trip and start farther up river to cover 75 river miles. The take-out point is the same for both trips, Heller Bar, near Lewiston, Idaho.

You will float through pristine, roadless wilderness, in awe of the diverse terrain that ranges from steep canyon walls to open, rolling valleys. Unplug from day-to-day stresses and immerse yourself in a place completely unpolluted. Being the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 gives the Salmon River spacious, white sand beaches, rapids that change with the seasons, and a healthy and protected ecosystem. Wild critters like Rocky Mountain big horn sheep, mule deer, black bears, river otters, and over 200 species of birds can be spotted on our trips. Our guests become our friends on the river, with a super low guest-to-guide ratio. Pick their brains for river stories and facts about the region, and take a peek while they prepare dinner – the riverside cuisine is impeccable.

One of the most remarkable wonders on our four and five-day trips is the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers. You’ll float through the meeting place of America’s two deepest river canyons and it is not only a spot for excellent fishing, but truly a sight to be seen. The forces of these two huge rivers coming together is nothing short of amazing.

The remoteness of the Lower Salmon River Canyons is why this trip is our most popular. There is truly nothing like getting into the rhythm of the river for multiple days – your sleep will follow the cycle of sun and moon, and allowing yourself to totally unplug from technology reminds us why we are so grateful to live in such a beautiful place. See it for yourself – you will not regret it!

What is the difference between the four and five-day trip?

Our four and five-day trips float through the Lower Salmon River canyons, which is a different, more remote section of river from our shorter duration trips. These are Salmon Raft’s ultimate multi-day river excursions that cover dozens of miles of pristine wilderness. They are fully catered expeditions, with a super low guide-to-guest ratio, diverse cuisine, and impeccable service.

Our four-day trip covers 63 river miles and our five-day trip covers 75 river miles.

Four & Five Day Itinerary

Click to the right to download detailed itineraries for both four and five-day trips.

All of our multi-day river excursions begin the night before you launch. Please plan to be in McCall no later than the evening prior to your trip for our 6:00pm meeting at our Boathouse. At the orientation, we’ll distribute dry bags and go over details for your time on the river with us. After the orientation, you’ll take the dry bags with you back to your hotel so that you can get organized before heading out the next morning.

We’ll depart from our Boathouse at about 7:30am on Day One. You can expect a 1.5 hour ride to the put-in for five-day trips and 2.5 hours to the put-in for four-day trips. Your vehicle will be safe in our parking lot for the duration of your trip. Round-trip transportation from our Boathouse to the river and back is provided and included with your trip. On the last day, you can expect to be off the river by around 2pm after having our last river lunch together, and then return to our McCall Boathouse by around 6:30pm (it’s roughly a four-hour drive including time for goodbyes at the end plus a pit stop).

Note: For guests heading towards Seattle or anywhere north of McCall, you have the option to have your vehicle shuttled from the put-in to the take-out so that your car is waiting for you at the end (near Lewiston, ID). Please contact us for pricing and details.

Each day of your river trip will be a little different, as the Lower Salmon River is famous for its four distinct canyons. We raft from about 10am to 4 or 5pm, and the days are filled with a perfect mix of leisure and excitement. The rapids on the Lower Salmon are varied, dynamic, and exciting. Some of the smaller rapids are fun for the kids to “ride the bull” or try out the inflatable kayak, and the bigger ones will include a scout from shore before navigating the biggest waves. The fishing is excellent on these trips, too, and there is lots of time for swimming, cliff jumping, a hike for those who are interested, and plenty of time to get to know your guides and fellow guests. At camp, Salmon Raft provides beach games, shade, and steady stream of delicious cuisine, all prepared riverside by our guide staff. Your time at camp is yours – the beaches are huge, so there is lots of room to spread out. Read a book, take a river bath, nap in the shade, or play some bocce ball or horseshoes.

Our four and five-day river experiences are designed for all adventure levels, and rafters as young as 7. Every detail is taken care of by our crew, so you can enjoy your vacation without being in the driver’s seat. For detailed questions about what to expect, it’s often easiest to chat on the phone. Feel free to contact us, as we are always happy to walk you through the trip from start to finish.

We look forward to sharing the Lower Salmon River with you!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Salmon Raft has a variety of watercraft options to choose from. As you can probably imagine, there is a ton of gear that is required to pull off a fully catered multi-day trip. All of the kitchen equipment, your overnight bags, and most of the food will ride on our gear boat, while you (our guests) ride on a guest boat or inflatable kayak, your choice. Click on the photos below to expand.

Please note that you will receive a comprehensive and detailed packing list when you book your trip. Here is a brief snapshot below:

All of the equipment to keep you safe and comfortable on your overnight trip is included and provided by Salmon Raft. A dry bag will be provided to keep your personal items dry and safe while you’re on the water. Salmon Raft provides all camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and food beginning with lunch on Day 1 and ending with lunch on the last day).

Items for your overnight dry bag (this will not be accessible during the day – it will be waiting for you at camp when we arrive late afternoon):

  • Extra pair of dry shoes for camp
  • Layers of clothing for camp to adjust to the mild temperature swings in the canyon (a jacket is nice as the sun goes down behind the canyon walls)
  • Clothes for the next day(s)
  • Biodegradable soap (if you want to bathe in the river)
  • Toiletry items
  • Towel
  • Small pillow
  • Headlamp or flashlight

Items for your day dry bag (you will have this with you in the raft for easy access during the day):

    • Reusable water bottle (we will bring LOTS of water in big water jugs to refill bottles, but we bring a VERY limited supply of bottled water)
    • Sunscreen
    • Chapstick
    • Camera
    • Rain jacket (just in case!)
    • Medications*
  • Fleece jacket or light layer in case you get chilly

What to wear during the day on the water:

  • Quick-drying or breathable clothing
  • Swimsuit
  • Hat with a brim
  • Sunglasses with Chums or Croakies-type retention straps
  • Sturdy footwear (please no flip-flops! Teva, Chaco, or Keen-style sandals are best)

Please try to avoid bringing valuables, like jewelry or fragile items.
*Are you allergic to bees? Please remember your EpiPen and any other medications that you might need!

2024 Season Rates

Prices valid for trips booked between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024:

Trip DurationAdultYouth
Four days / Three Nights$1550$1250
Five days / Four Nights$1750$1400

Prices do not include optional guide gratuities, pre- and post-trip lodging in McCall, or a 3% River Usage fee from the governing bodies.

In order to provide our clients with the most current and accurate trip schedule, please view available dates by visiting our online booking calendar.

  1. Click on the big, gold BOOK ONLINE button. Select your choice trip from the available options.
  2. Once you enter the number of adults and youth in your party, the trip calendar will appear. The highlighted (darker blue) dates correspond to the first day of your trip. Example: Clicking on June 26 means that your trip will begin on June 26. If you don’t see your preferred date highlighted, please contact us. We can often accommodate variations with advance notice.
  3. When you settle on your preferred launch date, our secure system will prompt you to enter your reservation details and process your deposit. We sell out quickly! Your deposit confirms your spaces. You will receive a confirmation email containing more information once the reservation is confirmed. Reservations can also be processed over the phone: 800-350-6654.

If you prefer a list view of our available launch dates, please send an email request to info@salmonraft.com.

Click HERE for printable PDF of the following information.

Our Promise to You

Salmon Raft values each and every guest and we promise to work our hardest to gain and keep your trust for your first and future river adventures. We promise to communicate with efficiency and clarity. Your confirmed reservation implies that you have read and agree to the following terms, conditions, and policies.

Deposits & Balance Due

Trip DurationDeposit AmountBalance Due Date
Single Day20% of trip cost30 days prior to launch date
Two & Three-Day30% of trip cost60 days prior to launch date
Four & Five-Day30% of trip cost60 days prior to launch date

A non-refundable deposit confirms and secures your space on a trip. If reservations are made within the balance due date timeframe, full payment is required to secure your space. Deposits are applied towards the final balance.

River usage fees are applied to each trip (3% to the BLM on Salmon River trips; $10/person/day to the USFS on Snake River Hells Canyon trips). Fees go to governing bodies to help pay for river management, facility maintenance, and river cleanup.

Cancellation Policy

Deposits and payments made to Salmon Raft are non-refundable. Please understand that once you commit to a trip date, we lose the ability to sell those reserved spaces to other guests. We strongly encourage the purchase of trip insurance (through a third party) in order to mitigate the potential loss due to cancellations for personal reasons.

If you find the need to cancel your reservation for personal reasons (emergencies or otherwise), payments made to Salmon Raft will be treated as a credit that can be used for future trips, subject to the following policies: 1) Reservation credits can be used for up to two years after your initial reservation date; 2) Guests are responsible for the difference in cost if prices change from the time of booking to the new scheduled trip date; 3) You are welcome to find a replacement for yourself on the existing reservation for no charge or penalty.

Planning ahead is imperative to the smooth operation of our business; thus, cancellations made for personal reasons within 24 hours of the scheduled trip launch date will not be treated to a credit or rescheduling option.

If Salmon Raft cancels your reservation due to river flows, extreme weather, BLM/Forest Service/other government agency mandates, insufficient bookings*, or other conditions beyond our control, and Salmon Raft does not offer an alternate trip**, then all payments made to Salmon Raft will be returned. If you choose to not accept an alternate trip and/or choose to not reschedule your trip for a future date, your cancellation will be treated as a personal cancellation and will be subject to the “personal reasons” cancellation policy above. Unfortunately, we cannot be held responsible for expenses incurred as a result of such cancellations or date modifications (i.e. travel expenses, lodging reservations, etc.).

Salmon Raft reserves the right to choose or modify all launch sites and take-outs, trip mileage, as well as watercraft choices without notice.

*Minimum group size restrictions are applicable to each trip, and vary by day and trip type.

**Salmon Raft reserves the right to offer an alternate trip that will fit within your originally reserved itinerary.

Respectful Conduct

Guests much treat the guides and fellow trip guests with kindness and respect. Harassment of any nature is not tolerated at Salmon Raft. Failure to adhere to this policy can result in removal from the trip at your expense.

Evacuations

Salmon Raft trips take place in remote locations, where evacuations can be challenging and expensive. It is our guests’ responsibility to carry appropriate insurance coverage, and additional coverages such as LifeFlight, or be prepared to cover the cost of any evacuations yourself. Evacuations and removal from trips can take place for emergency medical reasons or for not adhering to Salmon Raft’s policy for respectful conduct while on the river. Salmon Raft is not responsible for costs associated with these evacuations. Salmon Raft will cover the cost of evacuation if the river or weather poses an emergency threat to the trip.

Group & Charter Rates

We offer group discounts for group sizes of 12 or more guests. Please call in advance to arrange group discounts.

Private charter trips are available. Please call for rates and availability.

Our Licenses & Permits

Salmon Raft is an equal opportunity recreation service provider and operates under Special Recreation Permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest Service (USFS). Salmon Raft is fully licensed and bonded by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board (IOGLB) and Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB).

All above terms, conditions, and policies are subject to change without notice.