The Rocky Mountains of Idaho are perfectly suited to Canyon Calling’s multi-activity vacations. Idaho is known as the Gem State because of the wealth of natural resources extracted over the years. However we think that the real gems are the rivers and mountains. Our two-day white water rafting trip through Hells Canyon is renown as one of the best rafting trips in the US. No experience is needed as the guides do the paddling! You, however, paddle later in the trip – inflatable kayaks on the Snake River and canoes on a pristine lake near Stanley. The capital, Boise, has a wonderful greenbelt where we bike through the parks and tube the river. The mountains of Idaho were the most formidable challenge of the two-year Lewis and Clark expedition and we ride horses on a portion of the trail they used. A historical interpreter will share marvelous stories of the explorer’s struggle to find a western route to the sea. We’ll hike in the Sawtooths, swim in the Snake, soak in one of the many hot springs and ride a gondola in Sun Valley. We’ll even squeeze in a museum or two for a flavor of Idaho’s history. Old homesteader’s cabins surrounded by sage and wildflowers are sprinkled throughout the mountains and are a photographer’s delight. We love the West – and you will too!
Saturday
Please arrive at the Boise Airport in the afternoon. You’ll be greeted by your Canyon Calling guide and transported to our downtown hotel. The group will all meet at 6pm and head off to our welcome dinner. Boise is a wonderful walking city and you may enjoy a stroll after dinner.
Sunday
The Boise River winds gently through the city surrounded by a beautiful 19-mile greenbelt. After breakfast we’ll bike the greenbelt trail, meandering beside the river some of the way and ride through shady parks out to Barber Park east of the city. Here we’ll switch our bikes for life jackets and inflated inner tubes. Tubing down the Boise River is the best fun in town! We’ll float a 5.5-mile section of the river, traversing gentle rapids that flow within site of the State Capitol. A shuttle bus will return us to the start and we’ll cycle back into town and lunch at an out-door café. Next we’ll visit the Idaho Historical Museum. This is a fabulous introduction to the mining and ranching culture of the state and to the two main native tribes - Nez Perce and Shoshone-Bannock. It also has a must-see exhibit of the Lewis and Clark expedition painting a vivid picture of the challenges that Idaho’s geography threw at these explorers of the West. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive up into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the small town of Cambridge for the evening. After dinner, meet with our river guides for a rafting briefing.
Monday
Breakfast is early today so that we’re ready for our 7am departure for our two-day Hells Canyon white water rafting trip. It’s a two-hour drive to the put-in on the Snake River, just north of Hells Canyon Dam. The ride will stretch across farmland and then become more scenic as the road descends into the Snake River gorge where it hugs the river and reservoirs for 22 miles. 15,000 years ago Lake Bonneville overflowed and the massive flood that ensued scoured the area, cutting the deepest gorge in the US. The Snake River today separates Oregon from Idaho. At the river, our dry bags are secured to our rafts and we listen to a safety briefing. We raft 34 fabulous miles of class 2-4 rapids with nice scenic flat water in between. Our mission today is to hang on in the rapids while our guides use oars to steer us safely downriver! Hells Canyon is a designated Wild and Scenic area with grassy hillsides and conifer forests, blooming wildflowers and cacti. Our guides serve tasty, nutritious meals and our campsite for the evening is at an idyllic location. The sound of the river lulls us to sleep.
Tuesday
In August the water is typically 72 degrees – perfect for a dip before breakfast. On this trip you often see river otters, beavers and chukar partridge and if we’re lucky, bighorn sheep. Petroglyphs of the ancients are found on riverside rocks and abandoned homesteads of the recent past are sprinkled through the canyon. Today we’ll visit Kirkwood Bar Ranch, preserved and maintained by the Forest Service. Our guides will share tales of the Nez Perce Crossing, the Deep Creek Masscare, stern-wheel steamers and unsolved murders. The rapids today are milder so we can all enjoy paddling inflatable kayaks if you’d like that option. Our river trip ends at Pittsburg Landing about 3pm where our van will be waiting for us. We will change into dry clothes and load our gear into the van before driving up an amazing road out of the canyon. Dine in Kooskia en route to Syringa and our riverside lodge.
Wednesday
Our journey this morning on the Lewis and Clark Highway winds along two rivers, the Lochsa and the Middle Fork of the Clearwater. Both are designated Wild and Scenic and travelers frequently spot elk, bear, moose, deer, otters, and wood ducks. Our route takes us into Montana for a few hours driving south along the Bitterroot River and back into Idaho. Lunch at a small café in North Fork and meet our guides at the Lemhi Pass trailhead at 1pm for a three-hour horseback ride on the actual trail used by Lewis and Clark. Little has changed on this trail since 1805 when they were here exploring the feasibility of navigating the Salmon River in hopes of reaching the Pacific Coast. Realizing that no canoe could safely navigate the Salmon River's rapids, they changed their course to an over-land route. A local historian accompanies us on the ride and describes the challenges and events gleamed from the journals of these explorers. The trail climbs gently up a forested valley into open grasslands on this beautiful ride. The smell of sage lingers long after we’ve said farewell to our horses. A short scenic drive along the Salmon River leads into the town of Salmon in the Lemhi Valley where we’ll spend the evening. This valley was home to Sacajawea who joined the Lewis and Clark expedition as interpreter and guide for 18 months. She was 16 and pregnant but was invaluable helping explorers trade for horses with the Shoshone and she collected roots and berries providing additional food for the expedition along the way.
Thursday
Stanley is our destination today and surely the most scenic town in Idaho. Pristine lakes and views of the Sawtooth Mountains make it evident why these are called America’s Alps. Gold was discovered in the area in 1860 and a brief stop at the Land of the Yankee State Park Visitor Center at Challis is a good introduction to the area’s history. Bison used to roam this land and a historic marker shows where Shoshone used to run small groups off a cliff to make their work easier. Idaho has more geothermal features than any other state. It’s fun to explore riverside hot springs and a stop at Sunbeam is a must. Just outside Stanley, we’ll drive to the trailhead for our 3.6-mile hike to Fourth of July Lake. It is named because the lake is not typically clear of snow until after July 4 and because the magnificent wildflower displays are reminiscent of fireworks. This is an easy hike at 9,500’ with a 565’ elevation gain. The trail begins in a forest in a pristine canyon, passes moss-covered springs and opens up to spectacular views of meadows, the lake and the White Cloud Mountains. We will enjoy a picnic lunch beside the lake surrounded by red and white mountain heather. Deer are often seen in the meadows. Stanley is a fun town to explore this evening after dinner and you may enjoy taking a walk along the Salmon River.
Friday
Redfish Lake was named for the red sockeye salmon that returned each year to spawn via the Salmon River. This morning we’ll paddle canoes on the crystal clear Redfish Lake with views of the Sawtooth Mountains. It’s so pristine that seeing 30 feet down into the water is easy. Canoeing gently along the forested edge of the lake is the most relaxing way to welcome the new day. Next we’ll drive south to Sun Valley, Idaho’s renown jet-setter’s wintertime playground. It’s fun in the summer too! We ride a gondola up Bald Mountain climbing 2000’ in 8 minutes and have lunch at the Roundhouse restaurant. From the restaurant, half way up “Baldy,” the views are great. You’ll have an hour to explore the funky stores in nearby Ketchum, an old mining and ranching town. This afternoon we have a leisurely drive back to Boise where there is time to relax before our farewell dinner. Our accommodations will be at the same downtown location and our hotel has airport shuttle service.
