Strong mountain snowpack expected | 2025

Strong mountain snowpack expected to provide exciting, long whitewater season on Idaho rivers with big waves and rapids 

IOGA press release – April 15, 2025
By Steve Stuebner

BOISE - Above-average mountain snowpack ranging from 96% in the Clearwater River Basin to 129% in the Payette and 112% in the Salmon and Owyhee River Basins is expected to bring an exciting, long whitewater season on Idaho rivers, featuring big waves and rapids during peak runoff.

“It always depends on the rate of melt, but it should be a great time out there on the Salmon River,” said Matt LeCheminant, owner of Wild River Adventures in Riggins. Wild River runs trips on the Riggins day stretch of the Salmon and 4-day trips on the Lower Salmon River, starting from Whitebird and ending in Hells Canyon. “June is looking like it’s going to be big water,” he said.

That’d be perfect timing for the annual Big Water Blowout in Riggins, set for June 7.

Surfs Up! Many of Idaho’s well-known whitewater rivers like the Lochsa and the Payette are starting to crank with spring runoff right now, and hard-core kayakers and rafters are out there enjoying the fun. Check on Idaho river levels statewide here.

Idaho – known as the Whitewater State – is a major go-to destination for rafting and kayaking on nationally renowned rivers like the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Main Salmon River, Hells Canyon of the Snake River, Selway River, and other gems like the Owyhee and Jarbidge-Bruneau rivers in the Owyhee canyonlands.

Idaho’s outfitters typically start their trips on the Owyhee, Bruneau, Lochsa and Payette rivers in late April to early May. The mid-summer season is popular on the Middle Fork Salmon, Selway, Salmon River, and Hells Canyon when the weather gets hot and getting splashed with cold water is invigorating and fun! Jet boat trips are also popular throughout the summer season on the Salmon River and in Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America.

“We’re anticipating a great water year all season,” said Megan Malone with Killgore Adventures, a jet boat outfitter in Riggins.

All outfitters are taking bookings right now for the 2025 whitewater season. In general, bookings are bit slower than in recent years, outfitters say, creating an opportunity for people to book at the last-minute this year. In the last several years, rafting on Idaho rivers has been super popular, with outfitters booked out in the current year and sometimes the following year for week-long deluxe wilderness whitewater trips. That’s not the case this year. Day trip outfitters also have plenty of openings.

“We’re kind of back to a pre-covid scenario,” said Dustin Aherin, owner of Idaho River Adventures, a Middle Fork Salmon River outfitter. He’s got a few openings in July and late summer. “I think with high levels of uncertainty with tariffs and the economy, people are a little slower to book trips right now.”

Malone said Killgore is taking reservations right now for scenic jet boat trips, fishing trips and overnight trips at Kirby Creek Lodge in Hells Canyon. A two-day minimum stay is required at Kirby Creek. Killgore has large twin-engine jet boats that hold about 30 people. A short Chinook salmon season has been approved by Idaho Fish and Game in June, she said, but that could be tricky if the water is high, she said. Fishing for bass and sturgeon is hot all summer long. Steelhead season kicks into gear in the fall.

Wilderness River Outfitters still has some open seats on its Middle Fork, Owyhee and Jarbidge-Bruneau river trips. “We have availability on some prime dates,” said Seth Tonsmeire, owner of WRO. “It looks like a great season in the making. The water levels are going to be great.”

After a long winter with great powder snow in the Idaho mountains, long-range weather forecasts are calling for the weather to dry out in the second half of April and remain dry and warm in May. If that occurs, the rivers may peak slightly earlier than normal and create some fun roller-coaster rapids at big flows.

Payette River outfitters start running trips in early May. With 129% of normal snowpack in the basin, it should be a long season with some fun peak flows when the weather warms up, said Phil White, owner of Bear Valley Rafting Outfitters. “There should be plenty of exciting whitewater in May,” he said.

White purchased another Payette River rafting business, Idaho Whitewater Unlimited, last year, which will allow Bear Valley to run more trips, he said.

River floaters on the Payette River will enjoy new boat ramps at the Cabarton put-in, the Banks boat-launch site and Beehive Bend takeout.

On multi-day river trips lasting up to a week, guests enjoy running whitewater rapids, Dutch oven gourmet meals, relaxing and camping on white sandy beaches and being unplugged deep inside the Idaho wilderness.

A new trend that’s available on Main Salmon river trips is a “Row Your Own” option for people who have their own rafts and camping gear. Those trips cost considerably less than a normal trip, outfitters said. Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures, Orange Torpedo and Soar Northwest are among the outfitters that offer that option.

“This is our second year offering Row Your Own trips, and the interest has just exploded,” said Eric Weiseth with Orange Torpedo outfitters. “They can put together a group or they can come as an individual. Since they have their own boats and camping gear, we charge $750-$1,200 for a Main Salmon-River of No Return 6-day trip that normally would cost $2,299.”

Whitewater enthusiasts also should consider signing up with Idaho Guide Service to float day trips on the Middle Snake River near Twin Falls and Hagerman. Idaho Guide Service also offers day trips on the Salmon River in Riggins and multi-day trips on the Lower Salmon River.

To search for an outfitted river trip, go to raftidaho.org or the Middle Fork Outfitters Association to shop for outfitters.