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

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.

I recently returned from a 6-day wilderness whitewater rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the…read moreSalmon River through Aggipah and it was amazing!! For a city gal like myself, it was something completely out of my comfort zone but our Aggipah river guides and crew (Steph, John, Bill, Lexie and John) were absolutely phenomenal in every aspect of their job! Not only did they enjoy working with one another, each guide was extremely knowledgeable about the work they do as well as shared great stories and in-depth knowledge about the area. Because this is a family-owned and operated business, the guides took a lot of pride in what they did and the quality of the trip was second to none! Most of the rapids we went down the week we went (July 11-16) varied between Class II through IV and the guides took every precaution to ensure that everyone was safe but had fun. We were able to choose between paddling on individual inflatable kayaks, paddling with a group on a paddle boat or taking a break on the oar boats as we made our way up the 100+ miles from Stanley, ID to Salmon, ID. The trip not only included rafting, but we did short hikes, learned A LOT about the history of the area and the natives & pioneers that settled the area, viewed wildlife, visited a lodge, bathed in a hot spring, viewed some pictographs dating back 800+ years, etc. Since my group opted to partake in the true wilderness experience, we had to set up and break down camp each night. Some of us even opted to sleep under the stars on some nights. The hearty homemade meals they provided were absolutely delicious and varied everyday without a single repeat! The gear they provided were top-notch (e.g. Marmot, Therm-A-Rest, NRS, SR, etc.) and it added to the overall high-quality experience my group and I had. While I cannot foresee myself being an avid wilderness camper, I would absolutely return for future trips with Aggipah again and look forward to introducing my family and friends to this fantastic outfitter!

Our family just returned from our second trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with this…read moreamazing outfitter! They are the real deal. Their experience on the river is beyond extensive and their knowledge of the area is impressive. We love that Aggipah is a family owned and operated outfitter who works alongside their amazing and hardworking crew. As they guided our boats, transported our gear, cooked our five-star meals, and did so much more, they always made time to sit down and talk with us, laugh with us, answer our questions and tell us stories about the river and their experiences. I can't say enough great things about Aggipah. We hope this is one of many more trips on the river with them. If our family is in the River of No Return Wilderness, we'll be with Bill, Stephanie and John and the amazing Aggipah River Trips crew.

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.

Absolutely beautiful and peaceful Campground. We found a pull through for our large rig right on…read morethe lake front for $14 a night, around 2:00 PM on a Tuesday. Breathtaking views of mountains, water, birds, and a lovely breeze on a warm day. Such a wonderful surprise to find a quiet place to spend the night. Full Hookups, clean bathrooms, picnic area with covered tables, paved road, clean gravel sites, such a delight! We camped at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site in a Travel Trailer.

Solitude. What does…read moreit mean to you? To me, solitude is a snow-covered ski trail framed by dense pine forests on top of the North American continental divide, located 7300 feet above sea level. A light snow is falling and there are six inches of fresh wet powder covering everything. I glide silently through forests, ridges, and meadows, accompanied by the sound of the wind and the occasional scent of spruce. At times, animal tracks cross the trail but otherwise all is empty and white. The snow absorbs everything but my steady breathing and elevated heartbeat. I am alone on historic ground near to where Chief Joseph and a party of 800 Nez Pierce men, women, and children retreated across the Bitterroot Mountains in 1877, chased and hunted by U.S. federal troops. I finish the Lost Trail loop and turn left up Broadway towards a two-story log cabin in the woods - the Gordon Reese warming hut, which is staffed in winter by a succession of eager volunteers. They keep the fire going and kitchen stocked with hot drinks and water. It's like something out of a Robert Frost poem, except on a Western scale, not a New England one. Inside the cabin, a trio from Spokane are sitting around the communal table playing cribbage. I hang my wet clothes to dry by the cast-iron wood stove and ask to join them. We play a round together and share stories. I finish my tea ("Montana Gold," a rooibos, orange peel, and cinnamon blend) and head out for another circuit, past Windy Corner, along the Timber Trail, through the Sunny Meadow Loop, and back on Broadway to the parking lot. My car is covered in a thick layer of snow by the time I return. The skies have cleared a bit, and I change clothes for the 90 mile drive home, down the Bitterroot Valley back to Missoula. This is not easy country. It's a high mountain pass above 7000 feet from which the head waters of the Columbia and the Missouri flow in opposite directions to reach their Pacific and Atlantic destinations. On my drive up in the morning, I literally saw falling rocks tumbling down the steep cliff to my left, and on the way down I passed an SUV upside down on the shoulder, its passengers thankfully uninjured on the side with state police and a tow truck to assist them. The trail network at Chief Joseph is 25 kilometers long, well marked, mapped, and maintained by volunteers of the Bitterroot Ski Club. On good weather weekends, there might be a few dozen skiers on the trails, which are restricted to classical (Nordic) only and snowmobiles are not allowed. But, if you crave solitude the way that I do, you'll find a way to come on a Friday morning when the rains fall in the valley and snow piles up in the mountains, where your tracks will be covered by the time you return, and where you will disappear into the trees heading down narrow, single-track trails. But you're not really alone: the warming hut is always open, and a few hardy solitude seekers are bound to appear by mid-morning or afternoon. Solitude does not mean seeking separation from the world, but the opposite. It's when you discover a deep connection to the land around you: to the remote but accessible places on our common planet that are steeped in history and inhabited by wild creatures. Places like Chief Joseph Pass, where you are always welcome to visit, because it belongs to us all as national forest. Even the warming hut. In some parts of America, they are eagerly anticipating the start of spring. Here, in Montana, we're celebrating the last days of winter in solitude, but in style. Come ski with me next time, at Chief Joseph. Solitude loves company. There is snow enough for everyone, and the cabin's fire is warm.

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!