Info:       

Brundage Whitewater Adventures
PO Box 505
Riggins, ID 83549

Web:
www.raft
brundage.com

Phone:
888-889-8320
208-628-4212  

Lodging/General Info

Salmon River Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 289
Riggins, ID 83549

Web:
www.riggins
idaho.com

Phone:
866-221-3901

InIdaho.com
1410 Mill Road
Box 2013
McCall ID 83638

Web:
www.inidaho.com

Phone:
800-844-3246 or 208-634-4787

Rafting Riggins                                                             

by Phil Johnson
photos courtesy Brundage Whitewater Adventures and InIdaho.com

To find Riggins, Idaho, draw a line between Key West, Florida and Homer, Alaska, and somewhere near halfway you’re there.

In many respects these destinations are all end-of-the-line spots, where some come to visit and a few decide to stay.

But Riggins has a river: the Salmon. And that means some exciting whitewater rafting, whether you have days, or just a few hours to relax and enjoy.

Our introduction to rafting Riggins came from Brundage Whitewater Adventures, one of several outfitters with offices in what the brochures call "downtown Riggins".

We traveled over from McCall, Idaho, about an hour away, to take on the river. It was a sunny day with temperatures in the high 70s. In other words, it was a perfect day to get wet. The water temperature was high 60s, so summer gear—not wetsuits—was the uniform of the day.

(Don’t forget the sunblock and water shoes, and croakies for your glasses.)

Ready, Set...                           

Brundage Whitewater Adventures manager Lisa Johnson met us at the shop along Main Street, which is Idaho Route 95 on state maps. After some lunch—I nominate Idaho as the cookie capital of the world—we signed liability waivers and were fitted for life jackets. It was just a few minutes by shuttle to the launch point for what would be our four-hour, 10-mile trip down the Salmon.

Guide Chris Imel was our captain that day. Unlike eastern whitewater rafting where the guide is stationed at the rear of the raft with a single paddle, the western set-up features a seat in back and a set of oars for maneuvering.

Before we boarded our yellow inflatable, it was serious talk time. Chris went through all the emergency procedures from what to do if you fell out of the raft, to the steps needed if you ended up under a boat that had flipped.

This is standard raft trip procedure. It can happen. But, usually it doesn’t. Chris and the other guides we met know their boats and know their river.

Still, no matter how many times you go whitewater rafting,  there's always that little feeling of unease; until you hit the first set of rapids, that is. In our case, that happened about five minutes into the mission. We all had paddles and, Chris warned, there was to be no "lillydipping" when he gave the command to dig in. There wasn’t, as everyone dug deep to get the raft into the waves.

Go!               

A minute and we were through the first set of rapids. All of us were still right where we started on the sides of the raft.  And we were wet!

And we were smiling! 

The first rapids were Class III, as were the others encountered on the trip. This means authentic whitewater, but certainly manageable with our gear and guide. (Class IV rapids are more challenging and Class V rapids should be left to experts only.)

Some rapids were a little longer than others, but what made this trip especially nice was the good flat stretches in between that gave us plenty of opportunity to dry out and stay warm. It also gave us plenty of time to catch the scenery along the Salmon— brown hillsides and some steep mature granite river facings.

We watched a deer cross one big open space, and saw a group of chucker (game birds) at the water's edge. They certainly won't be there when hunting season would start a few weeks later.

By the time the second set of rapids is behind you, it's pretty certain that surviving the experience will not be an issue. It's safe to relax and enjoy the trip. Chris helped that with his narrative along the way.

At one point, we came upon a diver with two small boats lashed together and anchored in mid-stream. It turns out this was a gold prospector. He would bring up gravel from the river bottom, and run it through a generator-powered sluice mounted between the two boats. There is no gold rush in Riggins so far as we could tell. But there must be something there by the looks of the well worn rig.

After Take Off—Take Out                     

The take out for our trip—and the day long trips that start upriver—was very civilized. There were even bathrooms, which come in handy when you have been surrounded by rushing water all day. The return trip to the Brundage Whitewater Adventures office in "downtown" Riggins took just a few minutes.

Riggins is essentially a one street town along the river with a handful of local restaurants and drinking spots. Among the lodging options is the Best Western Salmon Rapids Lodge, located adjacent to the Brundage Whitewater Adventures office.

While rafting attracts the majority of visitors on the river, trips can be made by jet boat. For the more adventure minded, kayaks can be rented, as well.   

We were commuters on our trip, staying in McCall and driving over for the  whitewater trip. McCall holds several good lodging options, and a nice selection of dining options. Two restaurants that might slip under the radar, but we found to be very good, were

• the Salmon River Brew Pub, definitely a favorite of McCall locals
• and Buffalo Gal, a modest looking but creative cooking spot in Donnely, Idaho, 10 miles south of town on State Highway 55.