Idaho Rivers & Mountains

Day 1

Please arrive at the Boise Airport by early afternoon, and we’ll pick you up in baggage claim at 3pm. You also have the option of making your way to the downtown area and to our hotel (it’s only 7 miles away). Your Canyon Calling Trip Leader will greet you and get you checked in. We will meet as a group at 4pm in the hotel lobby, then do a walking tour of vibrant and beautiful downtown Boise. Welcome dinner and overnight in Boise.

Day 2

The Boise River winds gently through the city surrounded by a beautiful 19-mile greenbelt. After breakfast we’ll hike the greenbelt trail, meandering beside the river some of the way and walk through shady parks. Walking back into town there is a very poignant stop at the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. We’ll return to our hotel, pack up, and pick up a picnic lunch. Then we head southeast to Twin Falls to see beautiful Shoshone Falls on the Snake River. Often referred to as the Niagara of the West, Shoshone Falls is a must-see attraction in Twin Falls, Idaho.  At 212 feet tall and 900 foot wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States surpassing the height of the famous Niagara Falls. Shoshone Falls is located on the Snake River as it carves its way through a deep basalt Canyon on its way to the Columbia River. We’ll enjoy our picnic lunch and a small hike. Driving north we catch our first glimpse of the foothills of the Rockies and on to Hailey. We’ll check into our lovely hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight Hailey.

Thanks for a fabulous vacation. All your pre-planning certainly paid off. I especially enjoyed my first time rafting rapids.
— Susan N, NY

Day 3

After breakfast, we’ll head to the jet-setter ski town of Ketchum. We’ll have some time here to explore the town a bit then grab a picnic lunch. We’ll drive an hour north that brings us to the trailhead for our hike to Fourth of July Lake. (Note: the drive to the trailhead is sometimes washed out. If this is the case and we’re unable to make it to the trailhead with our vehicle then we’ll substitute this hike for another.) It is named so 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 a roughly 5.5 mile moderate 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 our picnic lunch beside the lake surrounded by mountain heather. It’s an in and out trail, so we’ll head back to the trailhead, then a short drive to Stanley to check into our lodging. We’ll have dinner and get settled in for two nights. Overnight Stanley.

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll experience white water rafting on the scenic Payette River. This pristine section of the river and views of the Sawtooth Mountains make it evident why these are called America’s Alps. After our safety briefing, we’ll spend hours exploring the Class III rapids.  This is a half day trip of fun whitewater and spectacular scenery with glimpses of Idaho’s native wildlife – river otters, beaver, peregrine falcons, golden eagles and if we’re lucky, bighorn sheep. After this day of adventure, we’ll head back to town with magnificent views of the Sawtooth Mountains and the Salmon River. If we feel like it, we can squeeze in a hike this afternoon, or reverse the itinerary and hike in the morning and raft this afternoon. The pizza is great at Papa Brunee’s for dinner tonight. Did we mention the great craft brews? Overnight Stanley.

You certainly designed one great discovery experience.
— Jane G, TX

Day 5

Today we head to McCall along the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway. We arrive in Cascade to hike and zip line! Experience the adrenaline rush and listen to the cable sing as we are guided over 3,500 feet of incredible terrain. We’ll experience 8 different ziplines and 2 suspension bridges and a 110′ tree house. We’ll be soaring over creeks, canyons and through the forest canopy from one platform to another. There is also hiking on this adventure activity between the ziplines, so your packing list and your Trip Leader will make sure you’re covered. After this incredible experience, we’ll drive the short distance to McCall, a great little town of breweries, good dining, and adventure options. We check into our lodging for two nights, with a great location and an indoor pool. There is a lively downtown area around the lake with live music and good food. We’ll grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants. Overnight McCall.

Day 6

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll tandem kayak and/or SUP (your choice) on Payette Lake. It’s so pristine that seeing the bottom of the lake through the water is easy. Paddling gently along the forested edge of the lake is wonderfully peaceful. We’ll have about two hours on this gentle tributary, which is a designated “Non-Motorized Zone” that features wildlife and a wilderness experience. We may see moose, deer, geese, ducks, otter, eagles, osprey and more alongside the peaceful waters. Back in town, we’ll have lunch then the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Yesterday was a bit challenging, so we’ll enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub at the hotel, or check out the very walkable, cute downtown lakeside area and wander the shops. The ice cream shops are not to be missed. We’ll meet back up for dinner. Overnight McCall.

Day 7

After breakfast, we’ll have some time for last minute browsing in town, and we’ll pick up a picnic lunch too, before we pack up, check out and begin our 2 hour drive back to Boise along the Payette River Scenic Byway. We’ll stop on the way for a 3 to 5 mile hike in the Payette National Forest or another trail that entices us. One option is a beautiful hike on the Crown Point Trail in Lake Cascade State Park. Once we worked up an appetite, we’ll have our picnic lunch in the natural beauty that surrounds us, then it’s back to the city. Boise is a surprisingly eclectic town with something for everyone. We’ll check into our airport hotel to get cleaned up. After this exciting day, we’ll relax and laugh at all the fun stories we’ve created during our week in Idaho, as we enjoy our Farewell dinner. Overnight Boise.

Day 8

Enjoy the other hotel amenities in the morning before hopping on the complimentary hotel to airport shuttle or stay and play in Boise!

• 7 days/ 7 nights fully guided tour by a Canyon Calling Trip Leader
• Hotel accommodations, double occupancy
• All land transportation as outlined in the itinerary
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 7
• All activities and excursions as noted in the itinerary
• Activity guide gratuities for all activities
• All entrance fees, park passes and permits

• Round-trip transportation to/from Boise
• Alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to your Trip Leader at the end of the tour