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Overnight Rafting Trips
Blue river with small rapids winding through a valley of grassy hills and pine trees.
Grassy hills and scattered pines line the river.

Idaho · Salmon River to the Snake

Lower Salmon River rafting trips

No lottery, summer trips and Class II to IV water. Compare every Lower Salmon outfitter we could find, side by side.

2 to 5 days / 1 to 4 nights
State
Idaho
Trip length
2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights
Whitewater
Class II to IV, per the BLM
Season
June to September, by outfitter
River miles
52, Hammer Creek to the Snake
Permit
Free self issue, no lottery
Compare outfittersGuided trip or lottery?

Quick answer

Guided Lower Salmon River rafting trips run 2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights, most from July to September. Trips run from Hammer Creek to the Snake River, then out by road or jet boat. There is no lottery. We list 19 outfitters, and prices start at $600 per person (checked September 2026).

The route

Hammer Creek to Heller Bar

The hardest rapid, Slide, comes near the end, just above the Salmon's meeting with the Snake. Many trips finish with 20 miles on the Snake to Heller Bar.

  1. Mile 0Hammer CreekLaunch
  2. Mile 31SnowholeClass IV
  3. Mile 51SlideClass V
  4. Mile 52Snake confluence
  5. Mile 72Heller BarTake out
  1. Day 1
  2. Day 2
  3. Day 3
  4. Day 4

Confluence and Heller Bar miles from the BLM's mileage table, counted from Hammer Creek; rapid miles and classes from American Whitewater, which puts the confluence at 55. Shown for a 4 day, 3 night trip. Camps are set by the outfitter.

Compare outfitters

Every Lower Salmon outfitter with public overnight trips

The BLM publishes its list of authorized Lower Salmon outfitters (April 2026). This table covers the float outfitters whose own sites list public overnight trips, listed alphabetically.

Lower Salmon River rafting outfitters with trip lengths in days and nights, boats, season, minimum age and lowest listed price
OutfitterTrip lengthsBoatsSeasonMin ageFrom, per adultBook
Adventure Idaho4 days, 3 nightsRaft; kayak optionJune to September6 typical$1,2952025 rate; jet boat back to Hammer Creek included. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Adventure Idaho
America's Rafting Company4 days, 3 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakSummer7$1,7752024 price, the latest shown. Checked Sep 2026See dates with America's Rafting
Barker River Trips2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nightsNot listedJune to SeptemberNot listed$6002 day, 1 night Slide trip; year not shown; 3 day, 2 night trip from $1,100. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Barker
Exodus Salmon River Rafting2 days, 1 night to 4 days, 3 nightsSelf bailing raftLate May to early September7$6002 day, 1 night trip; year not shown; 4 day $1,500. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Exodus
Hells Canyon Raft4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddleJuly to September7 (10 at high water)$1,8254 day, 3 night trip, 2027. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Hells Canyon Raft
Hughes River Expeditions5 days, 4 nightsPaddle, inflatable kayakLate July to late SeptemberNot listed$2,3002026; jet boat to Hells Gate State Park included. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Hughes
Idaho River Adventures3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsRaftNot listed5$1,3954 day, 3 night trip; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Idaho River Adv.
Minam Store Outfitters4 days, 3 nightsNot listedNot listed8$1,685Pine Bar to Heller Bar; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Minam Store
Mountain River Outfitters3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle boardJune to September7$1,4503 day, 2 night trip, 2026; jet boat return. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Mountain River
OARS4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, dory, inflatable kayak, paddle boardJuly to mid September7 (12 at high water)$1,7994 day, 3 night trip, 2027. Checked Sep 2026See dates with OARS
Orange Torpedo Trips3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nightsInflatable kayak, paddle, oarJuly to SeptemberNot listed (ages 4 to 11 ride oar rafts)$1,3993 day, 2 night trip; year not confirmed. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Orange Torpedo
Oregon River Experiences4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayak, cataraftJuly to September7$1,5354 day, 3 night trip, 2027; jet boat to Lewiston. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Oregon River Exp.
Ouzel Outfitters4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsRaftJuly to September7$1,6594 day, 3 night trip; year not shown; jet boat to Clarkston. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Ouzel
ROW Adventures4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakJuly to September5 to 10 recommended$2,0902026; $2,190 in 2027. Checked Sep 2026See dates with ROW
Salmon Raft2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nightsRaft, inflatable kayakSummer 20267 on 4 and 5 day trips$9502 day, 1 night trip, 2026; 4 day from $1,400 in September 2026. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Salmon Raft
Three Rivers Rafting4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakJuly to mid SeptemberNot listed (children who can swim)$1,7954 day, 3 night trip, August 2026. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Three Rivers
Wild River Adventures4 days, 3 nightsRaftDates on request6$1,3952025 rate; optional jet boat for a fee. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Wild River
Wilderness River Outfitters5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle boardJuly to SeptemberNot listed$1,500Listed as $1,500 to $2,000; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Wilderness River
Winding Waters River Expeditions4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakJuly to September5$1,6854 day, 3 night trip, 2027, plus a $30 fee. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Winding Waters

"Not listed" means we could not find it on the outfitter's site in September 2026. Where a site gives days only, nights are days minus one. Prices are the lowest adult rate we found. Confirm when booking.

Not shown: authorized outfitters with no public overnight trip details online (many are youth groups, schools or fishing guides), and Orange Torpedo's row your own trip. Western River Expeditions sells a Lower Salmon trip but is not on the BLM's April 2026 list. Missing an outfitter? Tell us.

The no lottery way in

Guided trip or private trip?

There is no lottery on the Lower Salmon. Private groups fill out a free BLM permit and go. What a guided trip adds is the gear, the meals, the shuttle or jet boat, and guides to run Slide and Snowhole.

No lottery

Book a guided trip

How you get a spot
Pick a date with one of the outfitters above and book it.
Getting out
Road shuttle from Heller Bar or a jet boat, depending on the outfitter.
Trip length
2 days, 1 night to 5 days, 4 nights on the trips we checked.
Boats and food
The outfitter brings the boats, guides, meals and camp.
Compare Lower Salmon outfitters

Private permit

Self issue a free permit

Permit
Free, self issued at the launch, the BLM office in Cottonwood or online.
When it applies
Below Hammer Creek July 1 to Labor Day, and all overnight trips year round.
Group size
Up to 30 people from Hammer Creek to the Snake.
Camp rules
Carry out human waste and use a fire pan.
See the lottery calendar

Sources: the BLM Lower Salmon boater guide, the BLM Lower Salmon page and the BLM permit details sheet.

On the river

What a day on a Lower Salmon rafting trip looks like

Summer trips on the Lower Salmon mix rapids with long calm stretches, and the hardest water comes near the end.

  1. Morning

    Breakfast in camp, then everything packs back onto the boats.

  2. Midday

    Rapids and swimming, with lunch on a beach.

  3. Afternoon

    An inflatable kayak on calmer water or a side hike, then camp.

  4. Evening

    Dinner cooked by the guides and a night on the beach.

What outfitters list as included

  • Guides, boats and life jackets
  • Meals on the river
  • Camp gear
  • The road shuttle or jet boat out, on many trips

Hughes, Salmon Raft and Adventure Idaho include a jet boat ride; Wild River Adventures offers one for a fee; Winding Waters adds a $30 fee. Check each outfitter's list.

Worth checking before you book

  • Jet boat add ons
  • Travel to Lewiston, Clarkston, Riggins or McCall
  • Sleeping bags
  • Guide tips

More on camp life, meals and the toilet in river camping, and on tips in tipping your guides.

When to go

The Lower Salmon rafting season

The BLM says the floating season begins in June above Hammer Creek and in July below it. Most outfitters run from July into September.

The BLM warns that Slide can reach Class V to VI at flows of 20,000 cfs and higher, and several outfitters raise minimum ages at high water. See when to go rafting.

43 float outfitters are authorized on the Lower Salmon, according to the BLM's April 2026 list.

Who it suits

Which Lower Salmon trip fits you

Families

Several outfitters take kids from 5 to 7 in summer. See family rafting trips.

Short on time

Barker, Exodus and Salmon Raft run 2 day, 1 night trips. See 2 day rafting trips and 3 day rafting trips.

Dory fans

OARS brings dories on its Lower Salmon trips. See dory trips.

Questions

Lower Salmon rafting trip questions

How much does a Lower Salmon rafting trip cost?

On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, 2 day, 1 night trips list from $600 with Barker River Trips and Exodus, and most 4 day, 3 night trips list from $1,295 to $1,825. Prices without a year are marked in the table. Confirm when booking.

Do I need a permit to raft the Lower Salmon?

There is no lottery. The BLM requires a free self issue permit for private trips below Hammer Creek from July 1 to Labor Day, and for all overnight trips year round. On a guided trip, the outfitter handles its own permit.

How long is a Lower Salmon trip?

Most guided trips run 4 days, 3 nights or 5 days, 4 nights, and a few run 2 or 3 days. By the BLM's mileage table, Hammer Creek to the Snake confluence is 52 miles, and Heller Bar is 20 miles farther down the Snake.

How hard are the rapids?

The BLM calls it Class II to IV whitewater. American Whitewater rates Snowhole Class IV and Slide Class V, and the BLM says Slide can reach Class V to VI at flows of 20,000 cfs and higher.

When is the Lower Salmon season?

The BLM says the floating season begins in June above Hammer Creek and in July below it. Most outfitters run from July to September.

How do trips get back from the Snake?

It depends on the outfitter. Some take out at Heller Bar and drive to Lewiston, and several use a jet boat: to Lewiston or Clarkston, to Hells Gate State Park, or upstream to Pittsburg Landing.

What is the minimum age?

Idaho River Adventures and Winding Waters list 5, several outfitters list 6 or 7, and Minam lists 8. OARS and Hells Canyon Raft raise the minimum at high water.

How many outfitters can guide the Lower Salmon?

The BLM's April 2026 list authorizes 43 float outfitters, plus 4 that run both float and jet boat trips. Our table shows the ones whose own sites list public overnight trips.

Keep planning

Ready to book

Pick your Lower Salmon outfitter

Compare trip lengths, boats and minimum ages, then check dates directly with the outfitter.

Compare Lower Salmon outfittersMore Idaho rivers

Written by a Moab river guide and Wilderness First Responder.Last checked