UPDATE: We have actually used this company several times since writing this post. And its an A+…read moreeach time. Best time. Staff was so much fun, informative and just gave our family the best experience! We had Gusty and Miles as our guides and they were beyond wonderful. The lunch was great (amazing cookies) and the photos after were perfect- captured some amazing shots of us on the river. No one got hurt, no one fell over (in any of the rafts). Just a perfect experience. Thank you!!!

Did a river raft trip with Scarlet. She was AMAZING. Scarlet was great and so were all the staff…read moreincluding the bus driver. The whole trip was about 2 hours plus a 25 minute bus ride to the river. We love you Scarlet! Highly recommend this company for any outdoor adventure.

The team at Mystic Saddle Ranch are amazing. Derrick lead us on the breathtaking 1.5 hour tour and…read morewas incredibly knowledgable on all fronts. Would highly recommend as it's just a quick drive from Sun Valley.

We had an incredible morning ride with Maddy as our Guide and Gage as our host. Lanny's horse,…read moreDenver took up the end of the line, while Kim's horse, Rover (appaloosa) was so smooth. We had sunshine and snow flurries. 1 1/2 he was just enough riding around a loop through the woods, along the lake, up on the ridge and back. We need to do this again.

My boyfriend is a fairly experienced fly fisherman, but wanted a little guidance on the best flies…read moreand spots to take me (a novice) so we popped into the Stanley Fly shop and met Joe. He was fantastic. He was a wealth of knowledge, super friendly, and incredibly helpful. Highly recommend stopping in to talk with them and buy some of their recommended flies!

These guys are awesome. Came in with my brother and they set me up with some flies and helped me…read morewith my map. Will see them every time I'm in the area.

We had a fantastic trip down the river. Our guide, Audrey, was very safety oriented, knowledgeable,…read morekind, helpful, funny, and really made the trip fun for all guests on our boat.

Excellent rafting trips! Our guide, Carson, was the best. Kid friendly trip and lunch was…read moredelicious. Highly recommend!

Took the Middle Fork of the Salmon trip in early July. It was amazing. Guides were top notch and…read morethe boating, camping, food and everything was perfection. Highly recommend.

Seriously, "As good as it gets!". You're likely reading…read morethis in preparation for a Middle Fork of the Salmon River adventure. You may also be reading about Rocky Mountain River Tours for the Main Salmon trip, I cannot speak to that, but I know you'll be in good hands there too! Not a river-rat? No problem! But, there is something in you that is drawn to the Middle Fork, as are thousands each year. I am here to tell you that the best crew to do it with is Rocky Mountain River Tours. I would highly recommend RMRT, they're organized, efficient, friendly and experts on the river and off the river with delicious food and comfy camps. I have done other over-night and day rafting trips in Idaho, and I will say that there is something truly magical about the Middle Fork. And, more importantly, there are many magical, fantastic things about Rocky Mountain River Tours. I don't want to give away too much about the Middle Fork itself, but I will tell you all about Rocky Mountain River Tours. First, your trip will begin in the ugly Stanley, Idaho (it's beautiful, but ssshhh, we want it to stay a secret). You will meet Jared, the owner of RMRT, he is one hell of a river-expert and is super organized. He will provide with all of the needed gear, dry bags, wetsuits, tent, etc. He is great at answering all of your questions because trust me, you will have a lot. Jared is also the best because the morning you leave for your trip, he'll let you load the bus 10 minutes before the Stanley Baking Company opens so you have plenty of time to get in line. Trust me, this is a must. Get fuel for your first day on the river! Okay, so you got your belly full of Stanley's finest, you're on the school bus and ready to go to the best classroom in the world, the Middle Fork! Jared will provide you with some of your first lessons of the trip, interpretive tidbits on the way. Forest fire information, plant identification, where to look for elk and wolves, the works. After a long bus ride through the beautiful, I mean ugly and horrible, backwoods of Idaho, you're at the famous, Boundary Creek, the put-in for the Middle Fork of the Salmon. YES! This is a busy place considering you're in the middle of nowhere. Boats, dogs, kayaks, people everywhere. Now, this is important, use the bathroom here! Then make your way to the lead guide for RMRT. Fritz was ours, and he was the best. The guide will give you all the necessary safety information and make sure you have what you need. Then, to the boats! I could on and on about the details, but for the sake of brevity, I will leave you with some important points. 1. Ride with different guides throughout the trip and day. Each guide has a specific set of skills and they all have different backgrounds that brought them to the river. Don't worry, they are all expert whitewater guides and will keep you safe. 2. Get on the paddle boat! It's a fun way to get immersed in the river, but not for a swim...maybe. 3. Hike above camp! 4. RMRT has the BEST food of any trip I've ever been on. Hot carrot cake on the Middle Fork? Yes. And it is best carrot cake you'll ever have, I promise! 5. Ask questions! The guides are all super nice, patient and want to share their information with you. With that said, dig into the library and learn more about where you are! 6. TIP THE GUIDES! These guys and gals work so hard and often live on their tips, so make sure to have some cash or a check with you at the end. 7. Have fun. Take hikes. Write. Take pictures and live it up! RMRT is your group, no need to look any farther. Enjoy the Middle Fork!

We had a great experience with the "lunch trip" rafting package. The guides and other staff were…read morevery friendly and everything went smoothly throughout the day. Staff were very conscientious about safety. The lunch was more adventurous than I was expecting--grilled chicken, tzatziki, couscous, and a vegetable salad, with PBJ sandwiches as an option, and ridiculously good, freshly baked chocolate chip or blueberry & lemon cookies. Our guide Joey was knowledgeable and entertaining. During the day we saw lots of wildlife: tons of trout jumping at caddis flies, a mink, deer, merganser ducks, and multiple bald eagles, golden eagles, and ospreys. The river itself is beautiful. A few tips: You can bring additional food or beverages and leave them on the bus, which meets the party at the lunch spot. Several groups rafting with us brought small coolers with their own drinks and snacks. Probably a great idea if you have any food restrictions. It's recommended that you leave any valuables or electronics (or other water-sensitive items) in your car or in a lockbox with the staff. The guides have some limited room in a dry bag for phones or cameras, but it's not the most convenient to be taking a phone out of the drybag and putting it back in. You will not have cell service most of the day anyway, which was actually rather relaxing. Even the town of Stanley doesn't have great cell service in areas, so you may want to set up an "away" or "do not disturb" notice for the day. Sunblock and a hat are helpful; you'll be in the open sun on the water for most of the day. Highly recommend this company for rafting in Stanley.

Stellar boat trip with Iz down the Salmon River. Iz had a great sense of humor infused with…read moreknowledge of both biological and cultural facts about the river (or perhaps I should say her delivery of fun facts was infused with a great sense of humor). I got just the right amount of splashed and enjoyed jumping off of accurately named "Jump Rock" to cool off. Iz even let one of our group members have a hand in guiding during the chill parts of the river - many smiles and laughs today - thank you to The River Company for a lovely afternoon well spent :)

Fantastic one stop shop in Stanley! We went in for some coffee but found great souvenir shirts for…read moreour kids, some new gear for ourselves, great coffee & breakfast burritos, and wonderful service and conversation with the owner. We were able to fuel up for the day and grab some new base layers & jackets too. River1 carries an incredible selection -- North Face, Cotopaxi, Patagonia, Free Fly, Oncloud. Check them out, and don't forget to try the yummy coffee & food!

River 1 is absolutely the best store in Stanley!! They kindly let us barrow tent stakes for our…read moremost memorable stay at Stanley Lake Campground. Their sticker collection, shark watches, and apparel were incredible!!! Top place in Stanley for sure, make sure to stop by!! EXCELLENT SERVICE!! Thank you River 1!

Greatest week of my life. Humbled by the beauty, power and grace of the river. Forever grateful…read moreto the guides for the gift of their leadership that included not just the requisite skill and knowledge, but also a tremendous joy and love that permeated our entire group from the start. I am a changed person and will cherish these memories for the rest of my days.

If you are interested in the most amazing river trip ever, you might want to book a trip with…read morecanyons right freaking now! The guides were the perfect hosts, keeping everyone safe on the river and wanting for nothing in the camp. Props to Wren and Chris as the mother ducks keeping us safe. Tess rules the kitchen with lasagne, New York strips, and salmon dinners. Colin was an excellent oarsman and bartender (wicked recipe on the tequila shot!) Tyler kept everyone organized and brought the Patty's! How in the hell Timmy kept up with this group at almost 80 is beyond comprehension. We enjoyed perfect weather mid June for a 6 day trip, our crew had 3 kids who absolutely thrived on all of the water activities. They can't wait to get back on the river with this group of guides. Way to go canyons crew, we love you all for life! Thank you for letting us be part of your family!

I've got to say that all the five-star reviews for Idaho River Sports are well deserved. My wife…read moreand I bought a paddle board and kayak last year. Everyone who helped was very friendly and knowledgeable giving us the information needed to make the right decision. Prices were very reasonable too. What sets them apart is their after sales support. Months after our original purchases, we came back today needing some help on how to secure the kayak to the roof of our car. Jake was especially helpful showing me how to properly tie it down. Kudos to the entire Idaho River Sports team!

This place always has the nicest, most patient staff, great classes & safety is always first! I…read morehighly recommend them for buying or renting or even education. The staff genuinely care about education & support & accessibility! I know from firsthand experience they will work with anyone of any abilities (including physical or mental limitations!) 100% recommend! And big clean bathroom & beverages are available for purchase on site too.

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!