The 10 Best River Rafting & Tubing in Idaho, United States

September 6, 2021 Tonie Szymanski

A mixture of forested mountains, alpine peaks, wildflower meadows, deep river canyons, and high plains deserts, Idaho is a paradise for golf, skiing, fly fishing, and river rafting. Boise, the capital, is the state's largest city and airline hub. North of Boise are golf, lake, and ski resorts from McCall in the south to Sandpoint and Coeur D'Alene in the north. East of Boise are the ski slopes of Ketchum and Sun Valley. East of Sun Valley are Craters of the Moon National Monument, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and the small town of Island Park just across the border from Yellowstone National Park. Boise's Basque Museum and Cultural Center reflects having the largest Basque population in the U.S. Reflecting Idaho's diverse heritage, near the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise's Julia Davis Park is the Idaho Black History Museum's chronicle of the slave York who served the Lewis & Clark Expedition. After a family visit to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey and an outdoor performance at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the next stop after Boise is likely to be Payette Lake in McCall or Sun Valley and Ketchum. About 100 miles north of Boise, past Cascade Lake, McCall takes you to the shores of Payette Lake. Go golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, waterskiing, sailing, boating, or whitewater river rafting. Ski or snowshoe Brundage Mountain or Tamarack Resorts, as well as Ponderosa State Park in winter. Ice skate year-round at Manchester Ice & Event Centre. About 450 miles north of Boise, there are resort lakes near skiing and golf at Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, and Sandpoint. Golf, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting are popular in Sun Valley and Ketchum. Sockeye salmon may no longer do much spawning in Redfish Lake, but the boating and mountain scenery in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area make the short trip north to Stanley worthwhile. When the snows come the whole family will head for the slopes of Soldier Mountain, Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain, or the Sun Valley Resort. A tiny forested town of about 250 people, Island Park has a large reservoir with fishing and boating, as well as Henry's Fork of the Snake River for fly fishing. It's only 15 miles from Yellowstone as well.
Restaurants in Idaho

1. Sawtooth Adventure Company

Excellent
97%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 521 reviews

Sawtooth Adventure Company

Sawtooth Adventure Company offers One Day Adventures in the Sawtooth Valley. Whitewater rafting trips on Idaho's Salmon River of No Return, Guided Mountain Bike trips in the Sawtooths and SUP instruction.

2. Idaho River Journeys

Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 315 reviews

Idaho River Journeys

For over 40 years we have specialized in running the best multi-day rafting trips in the West. On every trip, we strive to exceed our reputation for superior customer service, careful attention to detail, and a crew of exceptional guides. We are a small, family-run outfit that focuses on personal service and providing a first-class river vacation. The reputation we hold so dear matches the high reputations of the Middle Fork Salmon. We look forward to sharing the experience of a Middle Fork Salmon trip with you.

3. The River Company

Excellent
96%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 369 reviews

The River Company

The River Company specializes in one-day rafting and fishing trips on the Salmon River in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. We are located roughly one hour from Sun Valley in Stanley, Idaho.

4. Cascade Raft & Kayak

Excellent
97%
Good
1%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 228 reviews

Cascade Raft & Kayak

Idaho whitewater rafting and kayaking trips departing daily. Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. Adventure for all ages and skill levels with half and full day whitewater rafting trips. Located less than one hour from Boise!

5. Mountain River Outfitters

Excellent
92%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 176 reviews

Mountain River Outfitters

Idaho Whitewater Rafting trips on the Salmon and Snake Rivers. Premier adventure vacations for the entire family in the Idaho wilderness. 5 day river trips on the Main Salmon - River of No Return wilderness and Hells Canyon. Great Fishing adventures for trout, bass, steelhead and sturgeon.

6. White Cloud Rafting Adventures

Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 534 reviews

White Cloud Rafting Adventures

White Cloud Rafting Adventures offers premier one-day white water rafting trips and guided fly-fishing trips on the Salmon River. We are located in Stanley, Idaho just one hour north of Sun Valley, Idaho.White Cloud is a family owned and operated river rafting business offering a variety of rafting trips on the Salmon River. Whether you're looking for a premier one-day white water rafting trips or guided fly-fishing trips on the Salmon River, White Cloud as the longest continually operating permit on the Salmon River (since 1971 is your best choice. Types of trips you can choose from include one-day rafting trips, high adventure white water rafting, kayaking trips, scenic trips, fly fishing trips, and group rafting.Share a day with our family and friendly staff and experience for yourself the excitement, and the adventure of River Rafting in Stanley, Idaho. White Cloud Rafting Adventures is located North of Sun Valley in Stanley, Idaho.

7. Payette River Company

Excellent
98%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 408 reviews

Payette River Company

Payette River Company offers day and overnight trips on the South Fork Payette In Idaho. Our multi-day trips treat you to PRCs private camp for a night on the river. The Canyon section has 25 class 3 & 4 rapids and a portage around a waterfall. Join us and make it the highlight of your summer.

8. Solitude River Trips

Excellent
99%
Good
1%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 130 reviews

Solitude River Trips

We provide everything except your personal clothes. There are no strangers here, just folks we haven't met yet

9. Salmon Raft

Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 138 reviews

Salmon Raft

Single day and multi day whitewater rafting excursions on the Salmon River! Trips leave daily from downtown McCall, with round-trip transportation included. Fun, splashy, and playful rapids for all adventure levels. Gourmet meals, white sand beaches, crystal clear and warm water. What more could you ask for?

10. ROW Adventure Center

Excellent
91%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 192 reviews

ROW Adventure Center

The ROW Adventure Center is the leader in outdoor activities in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and the surrounding area. From whitewater rafting the Spokane River to lake kayaking the Coeur d'Alene...ROW Adventure Center has the activity for you! Since 1979, RAC's parent company, ROW Adventures, has delivered unique, innovative adventure travel tours worldwide. During this time ROW has have served over 200,000 guests from sea kayaking in the Galapagos Islands to whitewater rafting in the Northwest. ROW has been named annually by National Geographic as one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth"...and we are right in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho! The ROW Adventure Center was an idea of the founders, Peter Grubb and Betsy Bowen, for many years. "We wanted to bring our years of experience in adventure travel home!" explains Peter. The ROW Adventure Center now operates all of the local activities in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene for ROW Adventures. We offer both guided and and self-guided whitewater rafting, lake kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, biking, and fly fishing trips, equipment rentals, and guided walking food, wine and history tours of Spokane and Couer d'Alene.

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