Idaho Rafting Companies, Whitewater

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)...

Which river offers the best whitewater, The Middle Fork or the Main Salmon?

Each of these spectacular river canyons in Idaho offers wonderful wilderness and whitewater rafting experiences. Nevertheless, there are differences between them. The Middle Fork is what we call a "continual gradient river." The headwaters are at approximately 6,000 feet and it drops to an elevation of approx. 3,000 ft. Because of the constant drop, the Middle Fork has water activity from top to bottom. The Main Salmon is referred to as a "drop and pool" river. You float along quietly until you drop into large rolling rapids. The Main Salmon and the Middle Fork offer Class IV whitewater during the early part of the season with the Middle Fork offering Class V during those early June high water years. There are more rapids listed on the Middle Fork, but the "Big Six" found on the Main Salmon are some of the best whitewater rapids anywhere!

Which is the best river for me?

Family with children ages 5 and older - The Main Salmon
Families with children ages 9 and older - The Main Salmon, The Middle Fork
Adults - The Main Salmon, The Middle Fork
"Diehard" Whitewater Enthusiasts - The Middle Fork in early June
Seniors - The Main Salmon or The Middle Fork mid-June through September
Fishers - The Middle Fork mid-July through September

When is the best time to go?

There are three things to consider when deciding when to take a Middle Fork or Salmon River rafting trip in Idaho:

1. Water classification - in Idaho we use the following classification system

CLASS V - very difficult - long rapids with wild turbulence requiring complex maneuvering
CLASS IV - difficult - long rapids with powerful, irregular waves requiring precise maneuvering
CLASS III - medium - numerous waves that are high requiring expertise in maneuvering
CLASS II - easy - small waves with some maneuvering required
CLASS I - very easy

The Main Salmon and The Middle Fork are not "dam-controlled" rivers. This means that the water is at a higher classification during the early season than later in the summer. The Middle Fork is a CLASS V to IV in June, a CLASS IV in July and a CLASS III with some IVs in August. The Main Salmon is a CLASS IV in June, a CLASS III in July and a CLASS III with some IIs in August.

2. Idaho's weather - June has unpredictable weather. We get rain along with the sunshine in June. Temperatures range from 55 to 80 with nighttime temps dipping into the 30's. July and August are summertime. Mostly hot and dry with an occasional thunderstorm. Temperatures range from 75 to 95 with nighttime temps in the 55 to 65 range.

3. Fishing - if you are coming to enjoy the fishing then mid-July through September is the best.

What are your group sizes?

Private Charters - Mackay Wilderness River Trips, Inc. provides for a standard trip size of 24 guests on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon.

To book a Private Charter on the Middle Fork or Main Salmon we require a minimum of 22 guests.

How many rafts do you take per trip?

We run four types of boats per standard trip. Below are listed descriptions of the boats we run:

Sweep Boat - this is the supply boat. No guests ride on this craft.
3 Oar Boats - usually there will be from 3 to 4 guests on each oar boat.
2 Paddle Boats - the paddle boats carry 6 to 8 guests
6 Inflatable Kayaks - there is one guest in each kayak

As you can see, there are plenty of seats for the 24 guests. Remember, you can change from one craft to another anytime the float party is stopped - lunch, breaks for hikes, etc.

What are the restroom facilities?

On the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon we provide deluxe custom designed private porta-potties. We provide a hand wash at all the restrooms. We also offer hot showers each evening. We are very aware of how personnel this issue is with our guests and we have developed a wilderness restroom that offers sanitation and privacy.

What about transportation? Where do we fly into? How do we get to the river?

Our office is in Boise, Idaho. Guests coming to Idaho via commercial airlines will want to fly into Boise. United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Horizon, Continental and Delta all fly into Boise. For those wanting to fly American Airlines, you can fly to Salt Lake City and then take a shuttle flight to Boise.

Once in Boise, most of our guests take advantage of the Pre-Trip Lodging and Round Trip Air Charter Package. For guests driving to Idaho, they can come to Boise and do the lodging/air charter package or drive to either Stanley or Salmon for their trip. We provide ground transportation when the river is accessible by vehicle. Nevertheless, some trips will still require a one way flight to or from the river.

Can you accommodate my special diet?

Yes, we can handle any dietary requirements you have. After you book a trip with us you will receive a "Trip Questionnaire." It will ask you to list any dietary concerns or requests. Then we prepare ahead to insure your concerns and requests are met.

If you have any other questions, you can reach us by e-mail at: