PLANNING YOUR RIVER TRIP
HOW TO GET HERE
America’s Rafting Co is located in Cambridge, ID in the Gateway to Hells Canyon:
85 S Superior St Cambridge, ID
Travel days are best scheduled at least one day before your trip starts and one day after the trip ends. It’s not recommended to drive more than a few hours after the trip.
FLYING in
For ALL trips, the Boise Airport is the best to fly into. The start of the trip in Cambridge is just under a 2 hour drive from the airport. Here’re the recommended transportation options:
- Rent a car from the airport. There’s safe and free parking available while on the river trip
- Schedule a taxi. Approximately $280 for a one-way ride for up to 6 people. This is a great option for 5 or 6 day Hells Canyon Trips and all Salmon River Trips. Contact us for details!
FLYING OUT
3 OR 4 DAY HELLS CANYON TRIPS: Ends at the starting location, right back in Cambridge. The Boise Airport is the most convenient place to fly out of. Please scheduled flights at least 1 day after the trip ends.
Trips usually arrive back in town around 4-7pm MST but please be aware that it is not guaranteed. Rivers don’t abide by schedules no matter how hard we try.
5+ DAY HELLS CANYON TRIPS: Most trips end in Lewiston, ID. Please contact us at 208-347-3862 to discuss specific trip details, or refer to your confirmation email if you’ve already booked. Flying out of the Lewiston Airport is the easiest. If you have a car, it can be shuttled to the boat ramp or a hotel in Lewiston.
ALL SALMON RIVER TRIPS: End in Lewiston, ID. It’s easiest to fly out of the Lewiston Airport. Transportation to your hotel in Lewiston is included in the trip. Please scheduled flights at least 1 day after the trip ends or confirm with us about an evening flight. If you have a rental car, it will need to be shuttled to Lewiston while you’re on the trip. We partner with a local shuttle service and it costs approximately $200 to have one vehicle shuttled. Contact us and we can schedule a convenient shuttle for you!
DRIVING HERE
There’s free and safe parking for your vehicle while you’re on the river, even for big rigs like RV’s.
3 OR 4 DAY HELLS CANYON TRIPS: End at the starting location, right back in Cambridge at your vehicle.
Trips usually arrive back in town around 4-7pm MST but please be aware that it is not guaranteed. Rivers don’t abide by schedules no matter how hard we try.
5+ DAY HELLS CANYON TRIPS: Mostly end right back in Cambridge after a jet boat ride back up the Snake River. Due to some logistical constraints, some trips may end in Lewiston, ID and vehicle shuttles may be required. Please contact us at 208-347-3862 to discuss specific trip details, or refer to your confirmation email if you’ve already booked!
ALL SALMON RIVER TRIPS: End in Lewiston, ID. You will need to have your vehicle shuttled to Lewiston while you’re on the trip. We partner with a local shuttle service and it costs approximately $200 to have one vehicle shuttled. Contact us and we can schedule a convenient shuttle for you.
Can’t get your rig shuttled? Give us call and we can talk details.
Hotels and Accommodations
Hotels in Cambridge, ID:
Frontier Motel & RV Park | 208-257-4000 | 240 S Superior St. Cambridge, ID
The Cambridge House Bed and Breakfast | 208-257-3555 | 95 S Superior St. Cambridge, ID
Mundo Hot Springs | 208-257-3849 | 3016 Goodrich Rd, Cambridge, ID
Hotels in Lewiston, ID
Hells Canyon Grand Hotel | 208-799-1000 | 21st Street Lewiston, ID
WHAT TO PACK
Click below to find ARC’s detailed Packing Lists. The amount of clothing listed isn’t always needed but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
How to Pack for a Rafting Trip
Included in the trip is 1 large overnight dry-bag and a smaller day dry-bag per person given out during the pre-trip meeting the night before the trip.
The large dry-bag comes packed with your sleeping bag, pillow, and fitted sheet. It will be able to fit the contents of a good-sized duffle bag. Small duffle bags or backpacks can fit right into the dry-bag and large sized bags may need to be repacked directly into the dry-bag. This large dry-bag will be packed away during the day and should contain only items that you will need at camp.
The smaller dry-bag is used to hold everything you’ll want during the day: extra clothes, sunscreen, chapstick, etc. This bag will stay you all day.
If the dry-bags are packed and sealed correctly they will stay dry under most conditions, but they are not guaranteed to be completely waterproof. In order to protect important items such as cameras, medications, etc., they should be packed in dry-bags or boxes inside of the dry-bags. Less valuable items like books, playing cards, etc. can be placed in zip-lock bags inside your dry-bag to keep excess moisture out.
If planning on bringing a nice camera, there are dry boxes available to borrow for the trip.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE TRIP?
- Fun and splashy Class II-IV rapids
- Great knowledgeable guides
- All rafting and camping gear from dry bags, tents, sleeping bags, thick pads, and pillows to life jackets and fishing equipment
- Great fishing for smallmouth bass, trout, and sturgeon
- Hikes to old homesteads, beautiful vistas, and pictographs
- Delicious from scratch food from breakfast on the first day to lunch on the last
- Beverages from soda, coffee, and water to local beers and specialty cocktails
- Transportation to the river from Cambridge, ID
- Transportation to either Lewiston, ID or Cambridge, ID depending on the trip
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP?
- Personal gear (we’ll send out a very specific packing list with recommendations when you book)
- Hotel the night before and after the trip
- Transportation to Cambridge, ID
- Gratuities for guides
- We take care of the rest!
Cancellation Policy
All payments made to America’s Rafting Company are non-refundable. Please understand that by booking, your seat is held and cannot be reserved by other guests.
We highly recommend purchasing trip insurance (through a third party) in order to mitigate the potential loss due to cancellations for personal reasons.
If you find the need to cancel your reservation for personal reasons (emergencies or otherwise) and notify us more than 60 days prior to your departure, all payments will be applied as a credit to a future trip within the next year. Guests are responsible for any price differences for the rescheduled trip. Trip reservations can be transferred to others without any additional fees. Cancellations within 60 days of departure will forfeit all payments.
If America’s Rafting Company cancels your reservation due to river flows, extreme weather, Forest Service/BLM/other government agency mandates, or other conditions beyond our control, and America’s Rafting Company does not offer an alternate trip*, then all payments made to America’s Rafting Company will be returned. If you choose to not accept an alternate trip and/or choose to not reschedule your trip for a future date, your cancellation will be treated as a personal cancellation and will be subject to the “personal reasons” cancellation policy above. Unfortunately, we cannot be held responsible for expenses incurred as a result of such cancellations or date modifications (i.e. travel expenses, lodging reservations, etc.).
America’s Rafting Company reserves the right to choose or modify all launch sites and take-outs, trip mileage, as well as watercraft choices without notice.
*America’s Rafting Company reserves the right to offer an alternate trip that will fit within your originally reserved itinerary. These terms, conditions, and policies are subject to change without notice.
TRIP INSURANCE
Since 2004, Global Rescue has been the worldwide leader in field rescue, evacuation, security extraction, and virtual health services. We strongly recommend protecting the cost of your trip and other non-refundable travel expenses with a travel insurance. Global Rescue’s Signature Travel Insurance allows you to insure all of your expenses. While a Signature Travel Insurance policy can be purchased at any time, purchasing a policy within 20 days of making your initial trip deposit gives you the widest range of policy options including cancel for any reason coverage. Purchase a policy online or call +1-617-459-4200.
Have questions?
Give us a shout!