Rafting the Salmon River and a Classic Western Ranch Stay
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: North America
Region: Rocky Mountains
Trip Price: $5,500
Duration: 12 days/11 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Boise, Idaho / Boise, Idaho
National Parklands:
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
Fly into Boise and check in to the Red Lion Downtowner, with easy access to both, the vibrant downtown area and the Boise River Greenbelt. Tonight, a river trip orientation prepares you – and gets you excited for – your Salmon River rafting adventure. Gear up and sleep well!
Soar over the Sawtooths in a small plane from Boise, landing in the tiny town of Salmon, Idaho. From there, meet your guides and fellow rafters and head for the put-in, where you’ll launch on a four-night, five-day whitewater wilderness adventure down the Main Fork of the Salmon River – the River of No Return!Your guides, the wilderness, the fresh air, and the Salmon River offer up pure, old-fashioned fun! The Main Salmon River is characterized by a perfect blend of fun whitewater, stunning scenery, remote wilderness, and picturesque white-sand beaches. The water is warm and excellent for swimming. Natural hot springs dot your way, and wildlife sightings are a given! Each day brings fun on and off the river, with opportunities for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, beach volleyball, hiking, and relaxing. Each evening, dine on incredible riverside meals, prepared by your guides, before crawling into your cozy tent – weary with fun in the sun and eager for more!
Glide along one last stretch of river before reaching the take-out and flying back to Boise. Pick up your rental vehicle, then make your way to the iconic ski town of Sun Valley, the nation’s first destination winter resort. Stay at the Sun Valley Resort, where it all started, as evidenced by the wall of black and white photographs depicting some of the first resort fans – Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Lucile Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedy family – to name a few!Each day, choose from myriad activities – excellent hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, natural hot springs, trap shooting, and resort activities, such as golf, tennis, swimming, and even ice skating. There is a robust trail system along the Wood River, and the neighboring town of Ketchum is run to walk around.
Drive over Galena Summit to the tiny mountain enclave of Stanley, Idaho, situated near beautiful Redfish Lake and the headwaters of the Salmon River. Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is your wonderful retreat, offering rustic elegance in the wilds of Sawtooth National Forest. On the ranch property is a rustic swimming pool, horseback riding, and trails for hiking. Superior mountain guides can take you out for a day of rock climbing, or on a guided hike high up into the Sawtooths. Day’s end brings delicious meals, cozy common areas, a front porch with a view, and an inviting cabin to retreat to at day’s end.
Travel along the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway en route to Boise, the perfect farewell before catching flights home.
Conveniently located near the Boise Airport, the Red Lion Downtowner is the perfect option for a quick stopover. One of the only full-service hotels in Boise, the Red Lion offers 182 guest rooms with plush pillow-top beds, free Wi-Fi, and private balconies. There is also a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and a free airport shuttle for those guests needing to get to or from a flight.
Stay in the pristine wilderness on your rafting trip down the Salmon River!
The legendary Sun Valley Lodge has been reborn. Guests are presented with an entirely new experience with 108 new and much larger guestrooms, a 20,000 square foot destination spa, a world class fitness center and yoga studio, a glass enclosed outdoor pool and pool café, and all new re-imagined and re-appointed restaurants, lounges, lobbies and event space.
Opening their doors in 1930, The Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch combines the living history of the Old West and the serenity and peace of their 900-acres of beautiful terrain. Located in the Sawtooth National Forest, the largest protected wilderness area in the continental US, the ranch offers an opportunity to truly step away from the hustle and bustle of life. They provide an array of activities including hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, whitewater rafting, swimming in the natural hot springs or sitting outside and enjoying the serenity and beauty of the property. At the end of each day enjoy a wonderful home cooked meal and relax by fire before you head out for another day of adventure! You have the choice of lodge rooms or cabins that both offer private bathrooms with a shower or deep bathtub, plush bedding, and electric heat. With a maximum of 50 guests you are sure to receive impeccable service and have a memorable stay at the ranch.
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