The Snake River is well known for it’s beauty, history & geology – join us for a white water rafting adventure down Hells Canyon where we will raft, camp, enjoy stories from the past, explore canyon caves and more!
The Snake River is the longest tributary of the Columbia River and runs from Hells Canyon is the deepest naturally carved river gorge. The Snake River starts in eastern Wyoming, and travels through Idaho and then North bordering both Oregon and Idaho.
There is representation of human habitation on the Snake River dating back over 11,000 years. There are many phases of adaptive systems that have called these river banks home. Early fur trading evidence also exist along the Snake River, dating back 4,500 years back at one trading center in the Weiser area.
Native American history including the Nez Perce and Shoshone tribes occupying the Snake River Plain, although the two lived different lifestyles with livelihoods being quite different. The annual salmon run was prominently supporting the Nez Perce, who lived on the river in villages, while the Shoshone inhabited the plains and focused mainly on fur trading.
The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled these waters in the early 1800s, continuing all the way to the Columbia River, then to the Pacific Ocean. Fur trapping was prominent once the American settlers moved and beaver trapping competition from the Hudson Bay Company (out of Canada) was tough. In a short period of time the industry eradicated the beaver population, also in an attempt to keep the American pioneers away.
The Oregon Trail followed much of the Snake River, and the travelers would trade for salmon near Shoshone Falls.
Snake River rafting trips will include side hikes, swimming, fishing, but also the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the sun setting and rising each day, making it an amazing vacation.
Our all-inclusive Snake River trips are modeled after Canyon Outfitters many years of commercial rafting trips. We are honored to be taking over their operations and look forward to leading our guests on similar high quality adventures.
We meet our guests in Halfway, OR, closest airports to the Snake River are in Boise, ID and Portland, OR. The evening prior to our rafting trip beginning we will all gather for a pre-trip dinner, which was started by George and Lynette (original Canyon Outfitter owners). This is a fun meet a great with our guests, as well as a reunion with those that have come rafting with us in the past. We will give you your dry bags to pack your personal gear for the trip that evening at your leisure.
We suggest the The Pine Valley Lodge for lodging, a wonderful breakfast is included with your stay. The morning of your rafting trip you will meet us at the put in with your dry bags already packed to be loaded on the gear boat. We launch and enjoy 4 magical days exploring Hells Canyon and return, upstream via jet boat, on day 4.
This being a remote destination rafting trip, we get to meet guests from all over the United States and the world, making it a real unique experience each adventure.
The Snake River Canyon is a kids outdoor playground! Our trips are great for families and groups. Kids as young as 7 are welcome on our Overnight Raft & Camping adventures (must be 21 for our Martinis & Massages experience).
Summer fishing includes catches of bass, trout, and sturgeon and in the fall, the steelhead arrive in the river. Our special chukar hunting trips start late September and run through the end of October.
Rafting, camping, massages, martinis and meals – do we need to say anymore!?
We launch trips on many different rivers in California, Oregon and Idaho. For questions give our main office a call – we would love to talk with you about our trips and rivers.
Our vision is to create a sustainable and equitable reality where our rivers are enjoyed and protected, a place where families and friends can be inspired and challenged.
Tributary Whitewater Tours has been running rivers since we were first founded in 1978. Since we opened 40+ years ago we have expanded to include Adventure Connection, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, High Desert River Outfitters, Canyon Outfitters and are the parent company of Raft California and Raft Oregon. While some things have changed over the years, Tributary remains a family-run small business with the same passion for the river and the mission of leading others to experience it.
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