Phenomenal! We were in Salmon recently for a family reunion and rented a raft and life jackets and…read moredid a family float down the river accompanied by a family local in their own boat. We found the prices to be reasonable, on site service was wonderful and personal, and the river itself a joy--scenic the entire way (we saw deer!), gently rolling waters with a few fun spots to really paddle the light rapids--def worth it for the whole family (we had from ages 7-54 along for the ride!). At the end Everett gave us a quick ride back to home base and brought us up to speed on the company history--thanks for a great time, we def will be back in two years as part of our next family reunion!

My husband, 9yo, 6yo, and I went on a 3/4 day whitewater float adventure today. The staff was very…read morefriendly, professional, knowledgeable, and passionate. The scenery was gorgeous and we even saw a bald eagle. Shuttle service was efficient and lunch at the end was excellent. Jamie was our guide and he was awesome. It was a lot of sun and we all enjoyed it. My sons now want to come back for the longer trip with more rapids--just need to save up for it. But I expect we will be back if we find ourselves in this area again. Highly recommend!

I was apprehensive when my wife scheduled the 6-day raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon…read moreRiver for us. I would not consider myself an outdoorsman but I do enjoy the beauty of the mountains and wilderness areas. It is an understatement to say that our excursion with Adventure Sun Valley exceeded our expectations. We were met at the Boise Airport by Brad, the owner of ASV. He took us to Salmon, ID where we checked-in to the hotel. Unfortunately, winter weather delayed our departure for the river. However, the ASV team took us to Redfish Lake for a hiking trip. They also arranged for us to fly to the alternative put-in spot. Spending an extra night in Salmon, ID was also not an issue because the people are very friendly and several good restaurants are within walking distance. The next day we flew to our put-in spot and were on our way after a safety briefing. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River was exceptionally high, so safety was emphasized throughout our trip. Upon arrival at our camping spot, tents were ready with cots, a pad on the cot, and a sleeping bag, sheet, and pillow (which were assigned to us for the entire trip) were waiting for us. This was the procedure every night. The guests were admonished if we even attempted to pitch-in to help the crew. Next on the itinerary was the first of many (all) fabulous meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with appetizers, main course, and dessert - along with a bit of wine to share) were served every day. Many thanks to Brad, John, Dawson, Elliott, Cody, Meg, and Sparky for extraordinary service and safe rafting throughout our trip! If you are even THINKING about a raft trip and want beautiful scenery, fun excursions, and great people, don't hesitate. Look no further than the website for Adventure Sun Valley. When you get home you will recommend it to all of your friends.

If you've never been to the Sawtooth Mountains NRA (National Recreation Area) before, you're really…read moremissing out. It's the best "non-National Park" in the continental 48, and in an ideal world would long ago have been elevated to gold-standard, national park status like Yellowstone or Yosemite. Except ... then things would change, and perhaps not for the better. Until that happens, you can continue to enjoy tried-and-true local establishments like the MVR, which is the closest thing to a one-stop shop you'll find in this remotely beautiful part of a state that abounds in remote beauty - especially the Salmon River watershed (aka the "River of No Return"). While I tend to frequent the local campgrounds in better weather in summer and fall, MVR excels at offering clean, affordable rooms with all the necessary amenities: comfortable beds, fluffy towels, working bathrooms, card-reader locking doors, desks, drawers, lighting, the works. A recent renovation to the rooms is - according to repeat visitors I met - a major upgrade in terms of quality, service, and overall value. Sure, these things may strike you as obvious when in the suburbs or the big city, but out here, with millions of acres of national forests and wilderness areas at your doorstep, simply maintaining a semblance of "civilization" 12 months out of the year is ... well, a serious challenge. And truth be told, once you're here, you don't want to hang out in your room; you want to get out and explore the surroundings, and when you return - tired and weary from all that open space - you appreciate a warm shower, a soft pillow, and a heater that works to keep you from freezing in the dark hours of the night. Oh, and then there is the amenity that 5-star hotels in the city can't touch: an octagonal hot springs soaking pool on the premises that allows you to dip (briefly) into the clear waters of the Salmon River before rushing back into the warm waters for another round of hot springs therapy. Book ahead of time at the front desk when you check in. There are changing rooms at the soaking cabin, so all you need is a suit and towel and you're good to go. Internet access, available for free at the bar and restaurant, gives you a chance to reconnect with the wider world (if you really want to), and if you like local craft beer, you'll be happy at the bar, which draws a mix of locals, tourists, and random road travelers in roughly equal numbers, depending on the time of year. On a recent early June visit to the area, with rain and low 30 degree weather complicating our camping plans, the MVR front desk staff really came through with a clean room, an hour-long hot springs soaking session, a complimentary pint of draft beer, and some needed Internet access to alert friends in Montana of our arrival the next day. All for under $100, which in the grand economic scheme of things, is a pretty fair deal, indeed. Thanks for being there when we needed you! First-class hospitality can come sometimes when (and where) you least expect it, and that was very much the case with MVR.