We had THE BEST trip down Hells Canyon with the Winding Waters crew. Super competent guides who were so friendly and very knowledgeable about the natural and human history of the canyon. They are dialed and it shows! Great mix of options with something for everyone. We did a combination of relaxing on the beaches, swimming, fishing, and hiking. During the day, some of us stayed in the rafts with the guides and others ventured out in inflatable kayaks. This was a first whitewater experience for some of our group and they felt very safe and gained a ton of skills! The food was excellent too -- how often does someone cook you salmon and pineapple upside down cake while you sit in the river?! 10/10 would recommend. read more

The 5-day Lower Salmon trip this summer was awesome. Super-well-organized, smartly guided, beautiful country and tons of fun. We were a bunch of adult friends, but I'd recommend the trip equally to families of all ages, especially with kids. Robin the owner of the business is highly professional, passionate about the water and land, and very customer-oriented. Our guides Ukiah, Silas and Schy were exceptional pilots, naturalists, and cooks, as well as great listeners. We all ate and drank and slept incredibly well, sharing a wilderness experience that we'll remember fondly for many years to come. read more

As someone who is swiftwater rescue certified, a kayaker, a rafter, and run rivers all over the country, I have to recommend Winding Waters River Expeditions with the country's highest medal to be awarded to river running companies. Okay, maybe that's going a little nuts, but really, this vacation will probably be better than Disneyland or Europe, should you choose to accept it. read more

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What an amazing adventure we had! The guides were extremely knowledgeable, organized and fun! We spent 3 days on the Snake River rafting, kayaking, eating delicious meals, hiking and sleeping under the stars. Would definitely recommend! read more

If you've ever considered a white water rafting experience in the west, look no further. WWRE is the perfect balance of professional and personable (every single staff person demonstrated hard skills/soft skills). How lucky a man I was when in September 2018 the opportunity came to raft the Salmon/Snake Rivers in Idaho. Fact is, it would have been mind blowing enough even without it being a Music for Wild Places trip with Colorado's Elephant Revival (which obviously was next level). This company is top notch and will always be like family to me by virtue of how well they took care of us from Day 1. And here I am writing a review nearly 2 years later. That should say it all -- and yes I need more rafting in my life! read more

The guides are the best. The scenery is amazing - it would be hard to beat. Plenty of sun and wildlife. This is a mostly catered trip for non-experienced to well experienced enthusiasts, however you can just sit back and relax for most of the trip and enjoy frequent fun rapids so anyone at all could easily have a blast on this trip. Most of us did the 5 day trip and although that sounds like a lot of camping it went by far too quickly. The guides are without question the reason for the rating. Everything else was perfectly fine as far as preparation, travel, etc, but the gear boat staff and rafting guides made this an experience to remember. They were all great but I would like to mention the above-and-beyond efforts of Sarah and Robin - if you get either of these ladies you hit the jackpot. The other guides were well above any expectation, but both Sarah and Robin were simply exceptional. Seek them out. read more

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This was truly the trip of a lifetime. Everything was perfect. We had the best crew and we had so much fun. The food was excellent. Even with all the rectrictions and necessary changes due to COVID-19, they still made it the best trip I have ever been on! I would absolutely float down a river with them again! If you have the chance to take a trip with them, please do it! You will not regret it! read more

Our family's experience with Winding Waters was superb. The crew was incredibly friendly, helpful, communicative, and knew the river like the back of their hands. For a novice rafting family, that was very comforting and put us at ease. The River experience itself, rafting and kayaking down the salmon was so fun and exhilarating. The meals were excellent; interesting and locally produced food extremely well prepared and so tasty. The camping and fun at the end of the day on the sandy beaches on the salmon was excellent too. This was a phenomenal experience... Thank you Winding Waters and crew! read more

We got home late last night from a five day trip down the Lower Salmon with Paul and Craig (and Todd and Celia) from Winding Waters. There were 15 people in our group and 12 of them were students between the ages of 11 and 16....it could have been a really challenging trip. I don't think a single thing was less than perfect. Paul and Craig are unfailingly warm, kind, knowledgeable, and organized. I've been around a great many whitewater guides and this is who you want planning and executing your trip. Every day was filled with river fun, cozy beach camps, and we were *remarkably* well fed. I won't recount every moment of how great it was, so message me if you'd like more detail. We started planning next year's trip the very first day on the river with them. They are the kind of people you feel lucky to have met, and we can't wait to see them again. read more

What a fabulous experience! WOW!! Paul, Penny, and their wonderful crew of guides, chefs, and workers assured we were all pampered, provided historical/geological information and treated us like kings. The companionship was great with the crew and others along for the ride, like us. Their team worked hard to row us on the water, set up sites/tents before hand, and provide comfortable surroundings while preparing meals.....The food was exquisite....no pre-made anything and their meat and most other food products were from local growers. I'd do it again in a heart beat. Well worth the money spent. read more

Where can one find the deepest gorge in North America where becoming "unplugged' is given a new meaning? That place is the ironically named Hell's Canyon. Sound too difficult? Scary? Too many unknowns? What if I told you that a high caliber, professional, experienced, safety conscious river crew existed in Joseph, Oregon to ensure that, indeed, your biggest task would involve replenishing your soul and reconnecting with yourself and your family while being constantly in awe of your surroundings? Winding Waters River Expeditions surpassed all of our expectations. We wanted our young son to know the canyon and the river where his father had spent time as a child, a place so dramatically different from the Deep South where our son was born and raised. We wanted an experience that would provide memories for a lifetime, stories that no one would be able to match, if only because few people journey to this part of the Snake River to experience its wild and scenic beauty. What makes WWRE the best in their business are the people. From my initial call to ask about three day vs. four day trips (BIG TIP HERE... you will regret anything less than a 4 day trip, especially if you are traveling from anywhere in the eastern/southern U.S.; trust me on this!), to the Cessna plane flying out of the canyon to return us to Joseph, every detail has been thought of and considered. We enjoyed mouthwatering food for every single meal, locally grown and harvested, our personal farm to table restaurant for 4 days. Our son even learned how to identify and pick blackberries for our breakfast one morning (thank you, Brother Timo!). Every day of our trip involved lessons on the geology of the canyon and the history of the people who have passed through its walls. Our guides were patient, thorough, funny and cheerful, no small feat for folks who are working day and night to provide a memorable and safe experience for their clients. Many thanks to Paul and Penny (for your vision and commitment to growing a local business that has strengthened the bonds in the local community), Chef Hillary (for the incredible menus; we could never have imagined food this simple would taste this good!), Todd (for bookending our trip with your sunny smile and easygoing manner), Brian (for leading the way), Euell (for introducing E. to SUP), Jordan (for the river music), Sarah (for your patience with E's never ending barrage of questions), Timo (for the kayak lessons, sharing your knowledge of the Canyon's plant life, and for befriending E. so that he truly feels that you and Euell are his "brothers"), and Cpt. James Nash (for your grace under pressure, your tenacity in your quest to ensure the future of NE Oregon's rivers and natural beauty, and your unparalleled Wallow County sense of humor. You made my husband truly feel he was back home). Here in Georgia, we have returned to our busy lives, but thanks to WWRE, our minds and our souls are still on "river time"..... read more

This was one of the best vacations I have had in a long time. The crew served as our guides, our chefs, our hosts and our constant inspiration. The whole time I was on the river I was completely in the moment, forgetting any worries of the past or future. The food was incredible, the Salmon River beautiful and breathtaking, and the rowing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming was all right up my alley - fun, refreshing, and challenging if you want it to be. I was actually part of a band that came on the trip, and we played music each night on the warm sand after dinner. It was a pretty memorable experience. read more

I was first drawn to WWRE's farm-to-table ethos. (The bourbon and bluegrass connection didn't hurt either!) I reached out to Paul and Penny over a year ago to plan a multi-day trip for my 40th birthday and I just got home yesterday. I could not be any happier with the services they provided. WWRE crafted an EXTRAORDINARY experience for 4 straight days, that left each and every member of our party eager to return not just to white water, but to the river with them specifically. Our guides Paul, Mike, and Silje crafted a tremendously enjoyable experience while ensuring that each and every member of the party had the freedom to explore the comforts and limits of their abilities. Todd and Isabel were swamping the gear boat and setting up some of the best campsites I've ever seen, and Hillary made food that felt simply impossibly good after day after day in 100+ degree heat -- ice cold drinks and gourmet farm-to-table that left even the James-Beard-nominated-restauranteur in our group gobsmacked with its freshy goodness. As a former wilderness outfitter myself, I couldn't quite believe just how well they did it - 'it' being everything. There was literally not a single soft-spot. Every aspect was top-shelf. Thanks to everyone at Winding Waters. Next time we'll be back with our wives and kids for sure! read more