We just completed 4 days on the Snake River with the HCR team. 10/10 all round. The staff were awesome (just great people), the hospitality (food and support) was amazing, and the rafting, rapids and fishing was incredible. Safety is a priority and nothing was an issue. Totally exceeded expectations and made for an unforgettable trip. Thank you Kevin and team. We'll be back! read more

Hells Canyon Raft - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

We cannot say enough!!! 3 days on the Snake in Hells Canyon with 6 women all retired 65-77 , with variable experience--had a great time! Each guide had something unique to offer ---all put safety first. They also brought knowledge, cooking and camping skills, and great whitewater skills. This is a special outfitter from top down. We met and loved everyone! The gear list and reading suggestions were all helpful. You will want the recipes for their famously great food! read more

5-Day Snake. Exceptionally well-organized, well-run, AND well-staffed! Outstanding experience.

My Son and I just enjoyed a 3 day raft trip with HellsCanyonRaft company. What a great trip, lots of fun! This company is well run and provided all we needed for the trip. All inclusive- River gear, great meals, set up and tear down of camp and tents. I was embarrassed letting them do all the work but must admit, that was nice! Our 4 guides were truly top notch and they had so much fun themselves that it was contagious for all their guests. Recommend HCR company to anyone looking for a great adventure!! read more

Five stars doesn't begin to explain how terrific this company is. Just finished a bucket list trip and I'm so happy I chose "hcr". Curt and Heidi have this thing dialed in. They hire only the best guides and provide first class service starting from reservations through take out at Heller Bar and shuttle service to our hotel. Everyone at hcr gets "it" and I couldn't be more appreciative of the work they put in to make our trip a memorable one. Our group was mixed between three separate parties and hcr made us all feel welcomed, safe and completely taken care of. Because of hcr our groups were able to get to know each other better and create new relationships. It's as if Curt and Heidi hand picked our group. I'm not used to being pampered while camping and I have to admit it took me a day or so to fight my instincts of getting into camp, setting up a tent, etc. By the time we guests arrived at camp for the evening EVERYTHING was ready. We just picked a tent, got dry clothes and commenced relaxation or went for hike and explored. The weather was less than cooperative and we had mixed temperatures and rain and sun and clouds and even a few lightning storms. It didn't matter because hcr was prepared with rain flys, sun shades and entertainment. Food on a 3 night, 4 day trip is always a concern and when you are in remote locations with limited storage capabilities it's even more of a challenge. I was blown away by the meal prep and cooking. The whole team pitched in (Curt is a master camp chef) and Curt was training his team at every opportunity. The team at hcr made our trip. They can't control weather or the river but everything else was well handled. The knowledge they have for the area adds to the experience and it's clear that this team loves the Hells Canyon Recreation area and the environment. We didn't leave anything behind other than footprints. They made time to get to know each of the guests and answered all of our questions with warm welcoming smiles. Heidi, Curt, Jamie, Taylor, Jane, Shane and Henry - I cannot thank you enough for giving me and my friends an experience of a lifetime that we will never forget. I hope to see you all in the near future to make more memories. read more

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Over 4th of July I went on my 3rd trip with HCR and everything went amazingly well. Fun guides, gourmet food, huge white water, made for an unforgettable experience. If you have a hankering for an amazing outdoor experience, you've got to take a trip with this company. read more

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Our group of 6 recently went on a 4 night 5 day trip down the Snake river. I cant say enough about our guides : Ketti, Abby, Harry, Brice, and swamper Chris. They made our trip most enjoyable! The guides were fun, very hospitable & knowledgeable. We couldn't have asked for better guides. Ketti and Abby are awesome cooks too. The warm, chocolate/rasberry cake with chocolate drizzle on top was to die for!! ALL the food was as good as sitting at a 5 star plus restaurant. We felt pampered, yet on the boat our group liked to paddle, so we also interacted as much as we wanted. We also hiked, jumped off a rock, swam, kayaked & saw some historical cabins. Perfect vacation! Put it in your bucket list! Phil & Gina Pedraza read more

Everyone should be so lucky to experience a trip with Hell's Canyon Rafting Company. From start to finish, HCR took care of everything. Rides, shuttles, moving cars, room reservations. The owner's Kurt and Heidi are personally involved in the trip planning and communicating with clients. Packing list very helpful, hotel in Cambridge clean, and van driver was a great source of information about the area. Their dry bags, tents, boats, duckies, and paddle boards are high quality and clean. This is GLAMPING at its finest. The guides set up your tents ahead of time so when you arrive at camp, you can bath, read a book, get your bags unpacked. They even haul your dry bag up the hills to your tent. Appetizers were fantastic and meals amazingly good with a large variety of side dishes. Guides were fun to be around and insisted we relax and let them do the work -which is nice. We were so lucky to see: a mama bear and 2 cubs, 3 bald eagles, big horn ewes, big horn rams, a river otter, and countless birds. Fishing was super fun even for a complete novice like myself. I cannot say enough good things about this company!!!!! Re: lodging in Lewiston- Id choose the Holliday Inn. Our room at The Red Lion had dirt all over the windows, a black hair on the bed, an a/c packed with mold and dust. The receptionists were unhelpful and borderline rude. When we asked for a new room, she put us next to the vending machines even though it was clear the hotel was empty. Advice: buy some chacos, carabiners to attach H20 bottles to duckies and in the boat, bring phone waterproof case that goes around your neck- sounds dorky but its too difficult to try to get your phone out of the dry bag. Things I will bring next time: more bikinis, no clothes to change into right when get into camp (we all just wore bathing suits with shorts then changed into dresses, thin beach towel, for non beer drinkers, small bottles of wine or flask for the boat as watching everyone drink beer all day on the river is torture =). read more

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Second time down the river with HCR - I didn't think any trip could top our first but this second one did! Would recommend this outfitter to anyone interested in a great family vacation. read more

This is a great trip and an even better crew. First, the river. It's beautiful. Great vistas, rapids and camps. It can be as challenging or relaxing as you want. The fish were bountiful and the water cool but not frigid. More importantly, Heidi and Kurt's crew are the only choice for those who want to raft down the Salmon. They were great. Professional and personable. Attentive and thoughtful. At times it felt like were rafting just get to the next meal - the food was great. The tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and other equipment all seemed new and high quality. If you've wanted to raft, camp and/or just escape for a few days, this is the trip and crew for you. Pack a couple shirts, a swimsuit and your sunscreen. Jump onboard the raft and enjoy. read more

I started out trying to find a rafting trip for my Wife for a Christmas present, what I did not realize is that I found the Rolls Royce of all raft trips. From the time I signed us up to the end of the trip being delivered to the destination hotel, every attention to detail was taken care of for us. Heidi and Kurt have everything covered, and no question is left unanswered. We did not have to lift a finger or think at all of what to do next. The guides catered to our every need at all times, and exemplified the model of service. We could not believe the quality of great tasting food that was prepared for us, and how our comfort and safety was the #1 priority of the staff (Alternative activities can be arranged if you don't feel comfortable hiking). It actually took us two days after the trip was over to stop expecting someone catering to our every need and bringing us food:) If you want to see the most beautiful sights, and have a relaxing vacation, this is the trip for you!! P.S. The fishing on the Oregon side of the river is not as fun as the Idaho side ;) But all in all a great time!!! read more

Hells Canyon Raft is AWESOME! We did a 4 day trip down the Snake and had a wonderful trip. We had such a great adventure and the raft guides were absolutely amazing: Abby, Ari, Anica, Jamie and Taylor were all so lovely, helpful, informative, hardworking and fun. They made the trip super special. What a gorgeous place full of amazing wildness - two bears, a passel of big horn sheep, many bald eagles, osprey, rattle snake. Then a total eclipse of the sun. AMAZING - thanks Hells Canyon Raft. read more

My wife and I took a 3 day trip down the Snake River with HCR. We had a fantastic time. HCR's operation is first rate. Not only is the Snake River Canyon gorgeous, it is full of fascinating history left by homesteaders long ago. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The campsites and food were terrific. Can't say enough good things about this adventure and highly recommend it to anyone interested in a fun white water rafting trip. read more

There may not be sufficient adjectives to praise HCR! In company with 9 others, I had a thoroughly fabulous 4 day, 81 mile trip through Hell's Canyon of the Smake River, June 17-20. Yes, the scenery is superb. Yes, the rapids are exhilarating. Yet, the best part of it all...the aspect which multiplied everything else, was the people. The river guides are not merely knowledgable, they are also wonderful individuals who go out of their way to attend to every - and any - detail or request which guests may have. I have been on dozens (literally) rafting trips, and HCR is hands-down at the top of companies I have used. The equipment is top-notch and the meals are truly gourmet (I mean, where does one get pork loin with apricot chutney - made by the HRC owners from fruit picked on the canyon - grilled asparagus and a Dutch Oven choclate cake; moist and topped with raspberries and fresh mint!) Anyone considering a raft trip - first timer or experienced - cannot go wrong. read more

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We went on a rafting trip with Hells Canyon Raft this summer and it was wonderful! We did 3 nights / 4 days on the Salmon River with 4 adults and 4 children. The owners Kurt and Heidi were really helpful in planning our trip and helping us get prepared. Best customer service ever! They took care of everything from packing lists to hotel accommodations to shuttles to moving our car to advice on things to do and see while in McCall, and on and on. Our guides on the trip Eileen, Jess, Court and Cory were so much fun and made our trip perfect. They went above and beyond for us! We hated saying goodbye to them. There was never a dull moment in our 4 days. The food was outrageously good. We had a ton of fun rafting and swimming along the river every day. And our camp in the evening was set up for us every night, with fun for the kids and drinks for the adults! Highly recommend! Would definitely go back! read more

I cannot say enough about this company and our 4-day rafting trip with them last week. I have not found anything to criticize, and have been raving about it for five days nonstop. On the suggestion of a friend who had done tons of research (and was on the trip with us), my husband and I took our two kids (ages 6 and 8) river rafting on the Lower Salmon River for 4 days and it was probably the best family vacation we've ever taken. And that's saying something, because our kids have travelled a lot!! The guides were superb - knowledgeable about the geography/geology/wildlife/history of the area, great cooks, super friendly, excellent with the kids, and great at guiding us safely down the river. We had 4 guides and 13 guests in 3 inflatable rafts + 2 inflatable kayaks + a gear boat (no guests on the gear boat). Plenty of room for everyone, and the staff to guest ratio was perfect. HCR provided the water bags, tents, sleeping bags & inflatable mattress pads, AND THEY SET IT ALL UP!! No camping experience required, honestly. And they found really amazing campsites every night, with broad white sand beaches and calm water for the kids to swim and fish in. The guides made incredible meals (steak & garlic mashed potatoes with salad and chocolate cake; taco salad for lunch; cinnamon raisin french toast with fruit and eggs for breakfast - just an example for each meal). They did all the meal cleanup as well, while we enjoyed the sunset, bathed our kids in the river, relaxed with a glass of wine, etc. Each morning they tore down the tents and packed the gear boat, and then we were off for a gorgeous day of sightseeing and exciting rapids. They taught our kids how to fish, threw the football with them, and played fun games in the river. The Blue Canyon is gorgeous, and the rapids were great for us with our younger kids. That said, we are looking forward to our son being old enough to do the more challenging Hells Canyon (Snake River) Class III/IV with Hells Canyon Raft. Worth every penny. Can't believe I'm excited about going camping again, but we can't wait. read more

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Bred and Patrick made this family trip a blast! We traveled with four kids ages 7-15 and they loved it. We did the four hour tour and being able to stop midway and give the kids a snack really helped. We will definitely use them again. Thanks guys! read more

Great four dat trip down the Snake. For guides Mike, Blaze, Brice, and Harry, plus our swamper, Chris. The food was superb: trout, steak, pork loin, with tasty lunches and breakfasts. The groover was groovy...haha. We had 13 people on the trip and most of them were repeating the trip with HCR with friends or family. Heidi was right on with arrangements for RV, car shuttle, kenneling for dog, etc. I also have some balance issues and Harry watched out for me and my safety! Don't miss this adventure. read more

I recently had the pleasure of spending 4 days and 3 nights on the Snake River, in the excellent care of Hells Canyon Raft. The entire experience was extraordinary. The setting -- the deepest canyon in North America -- was incredibly beautiful, with soaring mountains surrounding the wild river. The river was exciting -- with big waves and plenty of action -- and also peaceful enough in parts for this beginner kayaker to give it a shot and overcome some fear. For a backcountry river trip, the amenities were embarrassingly luxurious. We were served gourmet dinners, delicious appetizers, hearty breakfasts, and tasty lunches, all prepared fresh, right there on the river. Each afternoon, we would arrive to find our camp all setup -- tents erected, air mattresses inflated, hangout space ready to go. There was nothing to worry about other than whether to nap or party. These guys set a mean table, and provide a wonderful camp. If that wasn't enough, the crew was about the friendliest, most upbeat group of men and women I have ever encountered. They were knowledgeable about the river, the area, the history, the flora and the fauna. They were sweet, supportive, open minded, tough, and hard working. I expected the trip to be fun and challenging, but I didn't realize just how transformative this time on the river would be. It was a wonderful experience, and I'm already looking forward to returning for another great trip with Kurt, Heidi, and the team at Hells Canyon Raft. read more

What a fantastic trip.  I am writing this from the perspective of an adventure seeking parents with younger (age 6 and 8) kids.  We did a 4 day (3 night) trip down the lower Salmon River.  This trip was so perfect.  There was just enough exciting whitewater with the option of running the rapids in an inflatable kayak to keep things interesting for me as a somewhat experienced whitewater rafter.  At the same time, I didn't feel like anything was potentially too unsafe for my younger kids who were on very stable/sturdy oar boats.  My kids had a blast and didn't feel unsafe or overwhelmed, but had enough excitement to keep them going.  Each night we had postcard perfect camps on beautiful white sand beaches with safe swimming and play options for the kids and/or the ability to hike up the canyon walls.  All of this is more of a statement in support of rafting the Lower Salmon.  Hells Canyon Raft was a wonderful outfitter to show us the way.  The guides were all very experienced, personable and fun while always having safety in mind.  They had a great number of ways to keep everyone interested through various activities along the way (swimming, cliff jumping, raft sliding, fishing, games at camp, etc...).  They set up a well equipped camp so that it was all ready to go when we arrived.  Tents were spacious and sleeping pads luxurious.  I can't say enough about the food.  I would expect less from a good restaurant, let alone being miles from the closest actual kitchen.  There were outstanding appetizers and wonderful main courses.  Desserts to die for.  There was constant availability of whatever snack or beverage you could imagine (sunup to sundown).  They even "surprised" the kids with various treats every day.  They did all this for me (standard omnivore), but also for vegan and vegetarian members of our group. Everyone was very pleased with the food.  We brought some of our own liquor and wine, but they had enough beverages that we didn't need to get into our own stash if we didn't want to.  There was plenty of ice to keep things cold despite the rather warm (90's) temperatures.  I almost forgot to mention the equally fantastic breakfasts and lunch was more simple (mostly sandwiches) but definitely hit the spot.  The taco salad (nacho) lunch was truly outstanding.  Lastly they did all this in the face of COVID restrictions.  At no time did we feel unsafe from a rafting perspective, but we also felt safe from a food handling and COVID exposure perspective (and many of us on the trip are health care providers).  I could easily go on and on, all the gear was great and comfortable, they allowed us to participate and "guide" like we were in charge of the boat, or just sit and relax, they tolerated relentless questions from the 8 kids on the trip, but suffice it to say that I've been on a number of outfitted backcountry trips and these guys knocked it out of the park.  No I haven't rafted with other outfitters in this particular region, but I wouldn't bother as I am confident you cannot improve on this perfect experience. read more

This raft trip was one of the most fun outdoor trips I've ever done, and I've been a lot of places and done a lot of trips. The water was perfect temperature (in August), the guides were wonderful, the food was spectacular, the fishing was great/easy, and the canyon itself is..well, it's big and rocky. Any photo will let you know what you're in for as to scenery--it's all the same. The water is not non-stop excitement--you do a rapids, then you do flat water for a while, then another rapids, which I like. The company takes oar boats, so you won't be paddling, but they tow inflatable kayaks and you can jump in one and run rapids by yourself any time you want--super fun and safe, and the guides provide great instruction so you don't need experience. It's a comfy trip--my wife (age 64) had never done a river trip and she felt safe. But it's not at all boring. You can make it as strenuous as you want, from complete idleness to active kayaking, hiking, swimming, fishing, and gear schlepping. There are some downsides. The shoreline is loose babyhead rocks almost everywhere, so don't come for sandy beaches, and expect to scramble over some mini-boulders to get to camp. The company told me they would be taking oar boats and paddle boats, but it turns out they only take a paddle boat if they have 4-6 people who ask for it, so don't count on it. Don't expect Grand-Canyon style erosion--it's not that kind of rock. The trip comes in a four-day and a three-day format, and you cover the same water on both, so the 4-day is at a much more leisurely pace, which I liked. Be prepared to stop and wait a lot for fishing to be done--my wife doesn't fish, and it drove her crazy. Make sure they bring several kayaks--they're in demand, and the river-running can get tedious without them. The number of boats is determined by the number of customers, and if the group is small you end up in a boat full of gear--more people means a dedicated gear boat, which means your boat is lighter and more fun. There are days when the river is closed to jet boats--try to schedule your trip to fall on those days. read more

My husband and I booked a trip with Hells Canyon Raft, Inc. in 2009 for an amazing journey on the Snake River and returned in July 2011 with our daughter and son-in law for a 4 day trip on the Salmon River. Once again, we experienced a first class operation from start to finish. There are really not enough words to describe the beauty of the river, terrain and campsites. The guides obviously make it their sole intention to provide wonderful comradery, first-rate cooking/meals and your enjoyment is a must. Once off river, we were ferried back to Lewiston and our driver asked if there was anything HCR could do to improve our experience. The four of us thought for a moment and all said, "absolutely nothing". With our return trip, it was very obvious that HCR's owners and staff work very hard to maintain the quality of their business. read more

My wife and I went on the 3-day trip with HCR in mid August. It was a great rip. My 8 year old daughter and 13 year old son loved the whole experience. The guides were top notch and very personable. Hedi and Kurt couldn't have been nicer. I can't recommend Hells Canyon Raft enough! read more

Had an fantastic trip down the Snake river for 3 days! HCR has the BEST guides! They good excellent care of us on & off the river! The food was amazing! Thank you HCR for great vacation - we had a lot of laughs! read more