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.

Man, where do I start?!? I just got off a six night rafting adventure with the AMAZING crew of…read moreIdaho River Journeys, and what an experience it was! The Middle Fork of the Salmon is a living work of art, the crew that Skip's assembled is second to none, the people we met on this journey were far flung with stories of their own to tell over the campfire...and the food was simply perfect. I'd say it was the perfect "glamping" combo; they've been doing this for years and know just what to do to make us feel like we're both contributing while being catered to in a very special way. I'll never forget this adventure, nor the tenderloins that Wilson cooked up our last night on the river. A true marriage of culinary expertise and wilderness exploration. Well done, crew, well done!

This trip is incredible!!! I went down the Middle Fork of the Salmon with Idaho River Journeys in…read moreJune 2015. Here are a few reasons why I recommend these guys. The guides were awesome: We were lead down the river by Skip, Nate, and Duncan. They were all knowledgable, enthusiastic, hard working, had a great sense of humor, and made this one of the best trips I've ever been on. Thanks guys! The food was impeccable: My trip was 4 days (3 nights). We had BBQ chicken, salmon cooked on cedar planks, and filet mignon. The food was abundant and Skip cooked all the meats to perfection. We always had fresh coffee in the mornings, homemade cookies with our lunches, and beer and wine at night. This was not the normal camping diet that I'm used to; definitely exceeded my expectations. High quality supplies: The boats were all in great condition. We took two large rafts and 5 inflatable kayaks. The tents were in great condition and the sleeping bags were clean and warm. I could honestly keep typing for days about all the wonderful aspects of this trip and the guides that we went with. I will definitely use Idaho Rafting Journeys again for future trips.

Amazing trip with even more amazing people as guides. Well run organization with every detail…read morethought out beforehand. Really made community out of our group during the 5 day / 4 night trip down the beautiful Salmon river. Even my wife who was terrified about something happening to our kids and completely uncomfortable with the idea of camping had no concerns once we got there and got on the river. We were safe, comfortable, well fed, and entertained the whole trip. It was a vacation that will be hard to beat.

Our family just returned back to Chicago after an amazing 5 day rafting trip with AWA on the Main…read moreSalmon River. We have 3 kids, ages ranging from 11-14, boys and a girl. It was one of the best family adventure trips we have taken and is definitely the highlight of our summer so far. The AWA crew was knowledgeable and very engaging. Stories along the River about the local history, raft wars, teaching the kids how to raft all made for a great experience. My husband did the same trip 27 years ago with his family. We will definitely return!

I cannot imagine a better experience on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Excellent all around-…read moreguiding, fishing, food, and camp accommodations.

What an amazing experience it was being on the river with this exceptional team of professionals…read more Their talent in navigating the sometimes challenging Salmon Middle Fork for the whole day, while constantly entertaining and keeping us safe, just to then prepare the most delicious meals and make our evenings a blast, is a testament to their unique brand of professionalism. We love the entire Helfrich River Outfitters family and look forward to our next adventure!

Had so much fun rafting with North Fork! Great food, Awesome company, Even better memories…read morefloating down class III+ rapids. Can't wait until we can do it again.

From the owner: Our rafts and dories are oar-powered by our expierenced guides. However, should the more…read moreadventurous in your group desire an intimate relationship with certain rapids, they may enjoy one of our self bailing, inflatable kayaks or muster a party for a paddle raft. Let us know and we can accommodate you and your group.

Seth and WRO are the most fantastic group of humans. I went on this trip not knowing anything…read moreabout rafting, the Salmon River, Idaho, or rapids. I left with so much river and rafting knowledge, appreciation for the wilderness and the Salmon River, and a load of new friends. The WRO crew took such good care of us. They kept us safe, cooked us amazing meals, and treated us like family. We had great conversations on the river and at camp. I would highly recommend taking a trip with WRO.

I just finished a 6 day trip with WRO and they were amazing! The food was out of this world, the…read moreguides each brought experience and personality that enhanced the trip. I would not go with any outfitter other than WRO after my experience

I've been on 3 trips with Silver Cloud & loved every second of every trip, even when it was…read moreraining. Seriously. Very knowledgeable & experienced outfitter who is committed to safety, having a good time & sharing their love for the Salmon River. I wish I could raft with them all summer long, alas my lack of swimming skills would not make me a good guide. You can't go wrong with Silvercloud. You'll make memories that last a lifetime.

if you would like access to YOUR choice of beverages between breakfast and late afternoon, forget…read moreit. you can only have water and not ice water. if you want YOUR beverages semi-cold at lunch, drag them in the water. there are too many other companies that cater to their guests and not the company's overbearing policies. it is YOUR vacation and you should be ON VACATION.

A. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is atop the list of adventure vacations to take in the…read moreworld, but given that you are reading this, you likely already know that. B. Choosing a guide over the internet is risky. Especially for this big of a commitment. C. Look no further than the team of amazing people at Middle Fork Adventures! They are as good as it gets. Genuinely wonderful fun loving folks that led an amazing week long adventure for our family and many others. D. I know gear well, and their choices were top notch. From big brand-new MSR tents and sturdy comfy cots, to top-notch rafts fully outfitted in comfort....They had us dialed in. F. The menu that Allie created and the entire team prepared all week was delicious. Each meal was memorable. You will not regret choosing Dan, Allie and the entire crew at MFA! Enjoy! I'm already jealous.