Thank you for helping me spread my wings in 1000 things I’d never done before. I had the adventure of a lifetime.  --  Vicky M, NY

Women’s Adventure Travel Tour of Idaho

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 white-water rafting trip on the Payette River is one of the best rafting trips in the US. Paddling is a big part of this trip – rafts, inflatable kayaks, and kayaks or SUPs on a pristine lake in McCall. The capital, Boise, has a wonderful greenbelt where we hike through the parks and alongside the river and visit the Anne Frank Memorial. We’ll hike and zip line in northwest Idaho over beautiful country. We’ll hike in the Sawtooths and soak in one of Idaho’s many hot springs.  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!

Idaho Rivers & Mountains Activities at a Glance

Idaho Rivers & Mountains Itinerary

Day 1

Please arrive at the Boise Airport by early afternoon, and take the complimentary airport to hotel shuttle the few miles to our downtown hotel where 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 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 grab some lunch in town. Then we head east to Twin Falls to see beautiful Shoshone Falls on the Snake River. Driving north we catch our first glimpse of the foothills of the Rockies and on to Hailey for dinner. Overnight Hailey.

Thanks for a fabulous vacation. All your pre-planning certainly paid off. I especially enjoyed my first time rafting rapids solo. The riverside toilet with a view was the icing on the cake! -- Susan N, NY

Day 3

We’ll visit Sun Valley to breakfast in the jet-setter ski town of Ketchum. We’ll have some time to enjoy the shops and grab a picnic lunch. Then it’s another 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 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 a 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 our lodge in Stanley. We’ll check in for two nights then soak our hiking muscles in a private hot spring with magnificent views of the Sawtooth Mountains and the Salmon River. The pizza is great at Papa Brunee’s for dinner tonight. Overnight Stanley.

Day 4

Enjoy a later start this morning and breakfast at a café in Stanley. Local, organic foods are a staple here and oh so delicious. We’ll stay another day in Stanley to experience paddling our kayaks on the scenic part of the Salmon River. This pristine section of the river and views of the Sawtooth Mountains make it evident why these are called America’s Alps. We’ll enjoy a guide prepared picnic lunch by Idaho’s geothermal features and a relaxed pace this day. There are options for hiking also available in this gorgeous area of the Sawtooth Range. This evening we’ll dine on a deck overlooking the Salmon River. The trout (and the potatoes) are famous here in Idaho! Did we mention the great craft brews? Overnight Stanley.

You certainly designed one great discovery experience. Thank you for the way you melted away our diverse personality differences. -- Jane G, TX

Day 5

Today we head to McCall with stops along the way. 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′ foot tree house 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 arrive in McCall, a great little town of breweries and adventure options. We check into our lodging for two nights, with a great location. There is a lively downtown area around the lake with live music and good food. We’ll grab dinner at one of the many breweries, or something just as wonderful. 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. This gentle tributary is a designated “Non-Motorized Zone” that features wildlife and a wilderness experience. We may see moose, deer, geese, 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 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 enjoy the shops. We’ll meet back up for dinner. Overnight McCall.

Day 7

Breakfast is early today and we’ll check out of our hotel and be ready to meet our outfitter for a white-water rafting trip on the Payette River. This is a full day trip of fun whitewater and spectacular scenery with glimpses of Idaho’s native wildlife – river otters, beaver, golden eagles and if we’re lucky, bighorn sheep. Glide through twenty miles of class 2 and class 3 rapids enjoying remote forest, and stop to enjoy a riverside lunch on a pristine, white sand beach.  We continue our rafting this afternoon relaxing in the sun-warmed water. We’ll be back at the base around 4pm. You may want to catch a nap in the van as we travel the 2 hours back to Boise. Boise is a surprisingly eclectic town with something for everyone. We’ll check back into our downtown hotel to get cleaned up and after this exciting day, we’ll relax at the hotel and 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!

What’s Included

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

What’s Not Included

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