LOWER SALMON
July - September
Have an idea for custom dates - contact us
An Idaho Wilderness Adventure
The Lower Salmon River, part of the legendary “River of No Return,” is a breathtaking journey through the second deepest canyon in the United States. Over millennia, the river has carved four spectacular canyons—Green, Cougar, Snowhole, and Blue—creating a landscape of rugged cliffs, white sand beaches, and untouched wilderness. Flowing between the Camas Prairie and the Joseph Plains near the Oregon and Washington borders of Idaho, this free-flowing stretch of river offers an adventure unlike any other.
Blending thrilling whitewater with calm stretches, the Lower Salmon is perfect for all ages and experience levels. Exhilarating rapids like Demon’s Drop, Bodacious Bounce, Snowhole, and Eye of the Needle keep the excitement high, while gentler waters invite you to paddle, fish, or simply relax and soak in the canyon’s beauty. Each night brings a new riverside camp, where soft white sand, starlit skies, and the melodic song of canyon wrens create the perfect backdrop for unwinding after a day on the water. Wildlife is abundant—bighorn sheep, deer, otters, and more than 200 bird species call this corridor home.
This 53-mile adventure down the Salmon ends where the river meets the Snake. From there, boats are strapped together for a scenic 20-mile motor ride to Heller Bar near Asotin, WA, before a shuttle returns you to Lewiston, ID. With expert guides, incredible scenery, and unforgettable camps, the Lower Salmon delivers the perfect blend of wilderness, comfort, and adventure for families, first-timers, and seasoned river runners alike.
5 day salmon canyons
trip DETAILS
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Duration: 5 days / 4 nights, ~5-6 hours / day on the river
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Meeting: 6:00 PM PST (night before launch) @ Hells Canyon Grand Hotel, Lewiston, ID
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Return: Last day ~4–5 PM PST, back at Hells Canyon Grand Hotel
Included
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All meals (lunch Day 1 → lunch last day)
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Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, pad, pillow, *cots upon request)
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River gear (pfd, helmet, etc)
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Waterproof gear and day bags
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Transportation hotel ⇄ river
GuideS
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Fun, experienced, safety-trained in CPR/1st aid
Lodging
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Hells Canyon Grand Hotel (discounted rate for our guests)
What to Bring
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Swimsuit, quick-dry clothing, rain jacket, river shoes, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, H2O bottle, toiletries, warm jacket, camp shoes, headlamp
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Optional: fleece, electrolytes, towel, fitted sheet, book, preferred beverages (in unbreakable containers)
Food & Drink
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All meals on the river are included, from hearty breakfasts and riverside lunches to gourmet Dutch oven dinners.
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We provide a selection of beer, wine, soda and bubbly waters (feel free to BYO favorites).
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We’re happy to accommodate dietary restrictions (please let us know ahead of time).
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Our guides take food safety and preparation seriously, ensuring every meal is fresh, delicious, and served with attention to detail.
Other details
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Recommended age: if kids can swim they can come!
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Gratuities: 10–15% of trip cost (optional, shared among guides)
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Weather: Hot sunny days, cool comfortable nights, occasional summer rain. Dress in layers; sun protection & hydration essential.
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Travel Insurance: Recommended
Day 1 logistics
Your Trip Begins
Meet your lead guide at 7:30 AM PST at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel in Lewiston. From there, we’ll drive about 70 miles to the Hammer Creek Recreation Area near White Bird, ID.
Once we’ve loaded any last-minute items onto the rafts, one of our guides will give a thorough safety and river orientation to get everyone comfortable and ready for the adventure ahead.
On the River
Our famous rafting corgi often joins us on trips, adding a little extra cuteness to the journey!
Most guests ride in comfort on the front bench of an oar raft captained by a guide (Miss Daisy would be jealous). We provide paddle rafts for larger groups or by request. If you’re looking for a little more independence, you can also try out an inflatable kayak—just let us know in advance, we have single and tandem kayaks available.
First Day Camp
The first day on the river is a shorter one. We’ll stop for lunch and then make camp on one of the pristine sandy beaches along the Salmon. After unloading boats, our guides will show you how to set up your tent—or happily do it for you if you’d prefer. Once settled, you’ll have time to relax, explore, and enjoy your beautiful riverside home for the night. Appetizers and Dinner will be served between 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Day 2 & 3 Logistics
Day 4 & 5 Logistics
Day 2
Our first morning on the river. Each day on the river we move at our own pace, not too concerned with the time. After breakfast, we pack up our things and load the boats and go rafting. We float through Green and Cougar Canyon on our second day. We often stop to see some Nimiipuu pictographs too, evidence of human life from thousands of years before now. Sometime in the late afternoon we find a camp and settle into our second evening.
Day 3
By now we've found our rhythm. River life is becoming familiar for everyone - breakfast, float, lunch, float, camp, relax, dinner, repeat. Day 3 is our big rapid day, and as we enter Snow Hole Canyon the gradient of the river increases for several miles. With that comes several larger rapids and some spectacular canyon scenery. We exit the canyon and enter the oxbow section of the river, where the Salmon takes a huge turn from due North to due South of the course of about 2 miles. The exit of the oxbow is, naturally, a large rapid named China. Below this rapid we find a camp and relax our way into another night on the river.
Day 4
Brings us into a calmer, beautiful stretch of the Salmon. The canyon opens up again, and we'll see amazing displays of columnar basalt and castle-like features such as Rattlesnake Ridge. A great day to contemplate, chill, have some good conversation with friends and family - it's beach vibes before we head into Blue Canyon. If possible, we look to camp somewhere at or near the entrance to this final, dramatic canyon of the Salmon.
Day 5
Our final day on the water. We will get ourselves moving just a touch earlier, as we have a big day on our hands. Blue Canyon wakes us up in stunning fashion as we make our way to the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers. Somewhere a few miles down the Snake, we stop and have lunch and then build our "floatilla" of rafts. After lunch, we motor about 15 miles to the takout at Heller Bar. We generally arrive at the takeout anywhere between 2 - 4 PM PST. At this time, you will gather your things and say farewell to the majority of the guide crew. We’ll board the shuttle for the return drive to the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel, where you’ll unload your river bags and officially conclude your adventure with Three Rivers Rafting.
