Looking for a trip of a lifetime? Go on an Idaho whitewater rafting adventure down the Salmon river. It’s one of the best family trips you’ll ever take!
Hi Everyone!
I’m really excited to share my latest adventure with you…
Whitewater Rafting down the Salmon and Snake Rivers in Idaho!
Idaho Whitewater Rafting Highlights
Here are some of the highlights of my trip, along with some of my favorite photos…
I have to say it was definitely fun taking pictures of scenery and people as opposed to food for a change 🙂
Pre-Whitewater Rafting in Boise, Idaho
We started the trip in Boise, Idaho which is a really cool city. Last time I was there I was about 5 or 6. I don’t remember much from that trip, other than going snow shoeing, but I’m guessing things have changed a little.
We had a delicious dinner at Chandler’s Steakhouse the first night, then spent the next morning exploring an incredible local farmer’s market, along with the state Capitol Building.
Next Stop: Little Salmon Lodge
We spent two nights at this beautiful lodge nestled beside the Little Salmon River. {FYI-If anyone has any aspirations of owning a lodge by the river in Idaho, this one’s up for sale!} My family shared a room with 2 double bed and 6 bunk beds.
As excited as the kids were about those bunk beds, in the end they chose to sleep in bed with us. Oh, and not to boast, but we played a game of croquet by the river, and guess who won???
Official Kickoff of our Idaho Whitewater Rafting Adventures
Clearly a major highlight of the trip! This was my first time ever white water rafting, and it was a blast! My dad, {who invited us to go with him on the trip-THANK YOU Dad!!!!}, had been once before on the Colorado River, and Ian had done a few day trips, but the kids and I had never been before.
We did mostly class 2 and 3 rapids on our Idaho whitewater rafting trip, with a couple of class 4’s as well. I now know how people can get addicted to rafting, and I’m already thinking about where our next rafting trip should be! Any suggestions???
Time for a Break: Hanging Out on The Salmon and Snake River Beaches
Each day we spent about 5-6 hours on the river, then ended our days on beautiful sandy beaches. The setting was truly spectacular! One of the best part of the trip for me was waking up in the morning, unzipping my tent to the beautiful view, then making my way across the sand to the BEST camp coffee ever!
Oh, and it was a delight watching my kids unplug from their electronic gadgets and spend HOURS of time playing in the river, on the sand, skipping rocks, catching frogs, and simply enjoying nature!
What Do You Eat On Your Idaho Whitewater Rafting Trip?
I couldn’t write this post and not mention the food! Best camp food ever. Period. I already mentioned the delicious coffee each morning. Breakfast always include fresh fruit and fixings for oatmeal, then depending upon the day, eggs or pancakes.
For lunch, we would stop somewhere on the river for fresh fruit and a salad {taco salad…chicken curry salad…} or cold cuts, and veggies. Oh, and then there were the cookies for dessert! I couldn’t partake of those as they weren’t gluten-free, but there were always gluten-free options for me including gluten-free pasta, bread and crackers, and there were also vegetarian options every day for those on a vegetarian diet.
Around 5 pm when we were at our camp site, the appetizers came out. Tuna Poke one night, Turkey, cheese and asparagus roll-ups another night…cheese, crackers, and veggies…bruschetta…You get the picture!
Dinner was served around 7 or 7:30 and was always delicious…lasagna….enchiladas….roasted asparagus…surf and turf! And the best part of all??? I didn’t have to cook any of it! You guys know how much I love cooking, but it’s nice to take a break once in a while!
Our Idaho whitewater rafting guides were the best ever too!
The guides on our trip from Northwest Voyageurs were incredible! Their days lasted from 6 am until around 10 pm when most of us started heading off to bed. They hauled 26 people and all our gear for 5 days down the rivers.
They cooked us all our meals, rowed our rafts {we helped out by paddling some, but they really did all the work!}, set up our tents, played games with us on the beach {volleyball…washers…frisbee…raft sliding…and, last, but not least, “butt darts”-I’ll only tell if somebody asks :-). All with big smiles on their faces. Truly amazing!
And, then, of course, there were all the fabulous people and families we met and hung out with. It was truly an adventure my family and I will never forget!
Let’s Chat!
Have you ever been on an Idaho whitewater rafting trip? Do you like to camp? What has been your greatest adventure this summer? What about your greatest adventure in life???
