Snake River 3
and 4 Day Details
Snake River whitewater rafting trips in
Hells Canyon are first class adventure vacations. In Hells Canyon, the Snake
River separates Idaho and Oregon by cutting America's deepest canyon. The
staggering 8,000 foot drop from He Devil Mountain to the Snake River creates
one of nature's most breathtaking gorges.
3 & 4 Day
Expedition : (3 Days/2 Nights or 4
Days/3 Nights, 32 River Miles, Hells Canyon Cr. to Pittsburg
Landing)
Click Here if you are taking the 5 or 6 day
trip
Headquarters & Pre-Trip Meeting
The Frontier Motel, P.O.
Box 178, Cambridge, ID. 83610. (208)257-3851 -
www.frontiermotel.net. Meet at the Frontier about 8:00
p.m. the evening before the trip. During the meeting, we will discuss
the trip, check out trip gear, and handle any last minute details.
Hunter's Inn also offers lodging in
Cambridge. Hunter's Inn offers a mix of standard motel rooms and
old fashioned hotel rooms, and located 2 blocks from the Frontier
Motel. Hunter's Inn, P.O. Box 313, Cambridge, ID 83610. (208)257-3325.
We recommend that you make
reservations at the Frontier Motel or Hunter's Inn at the same time you reserve
spaces on your river trip.
Getting to
Cambridge
If you are driving, you can
reach Cambridge, Idaho by taking Highway 95. Cambridge is 100 miles north and
west of Boise, via Interstate 84 and Highway 95.
If you will not be driving your
own car, you have three transportation options:
Option I: Arrive
in Boise and rent a car at the Boise Airport. (Avis, Hertz, National, Budget,
etc.)
Option II: Arrange for Diamond Express Shuttles to
meet you at the Boise Airport and provide van service between Boise
and Cambridge, before and after your trip. Diamond Express. 800-250-5815.
Check with Diamond Express for exact cost. Their 2007 rate was $150.00
for the van plus $15.00 per person. Yellow Cab also offers service
between the Boise Airport and Cambridge. Their flat taxi rate for
2007 was approximately $212.00. You can also arrange for vans that
carry up to 7 passengers for the same $212.00 rate. Yellow Cab -
208-345-5555.
Option
III: Large groups can arrange charter bus transportation between Boise
Airport and Cambridge, before and after your trip. Check with Hughes office for
cost and details.
The
Trip
Morning the 1st
day, we provide bus transportation to put-in at Hells Canyon Creek. The drive
is 60 miles on a paved, winding road. We leave Cambridge about 8:00 a.m., and
arrive at put-in about 10:00 a.m.. The Forest Service provides an orientation
on low impact camping and rules of the road. We launch about 11:00
a.m.
During early afternoon the last
day, take-out is at Pittsburg Landing, and we provide bus transportation back
to Cambridge. About 140 road miles. Plan to arrive in Cambridge at about 5:00
to 5:30 p.m.
The drives into and out of Hells
Canyon are spectacular.
Fishing
Fishing for trout, smallmouth
bass, channel catfish, and white sturgeon is usually good from early summer
through fall. Late summer and early fall fishing is often excellent. An Idaho
and/or Oregon fishing license is required depending on which shore you fish
from. You can fish from the rafts with either an Idaho or Oregon
license.
You can purchase an Idaho
fishing license and tackle in Cambridge before the trip. You can also
purchase an Idaho license by contacting the Idaho Fish & Game 800-554-8685,
or www.state.ID.US/Fishgame.
Cost is $11.50 for the first day, and $5.00/day for each additional day.
Juniors (14-17 years of age) can purchase a junior fishing license for
$13.75/teen/season.
You can purchase an Oregon fishing
license by calling 503-947-6000 or www.dfw.state.or.us. Cost
for 2007 is $12.00/daily, $22.50/2 days, $33.00/3 days, $43.50/4
days and $43.75/7 days.
We provide a few fishing rods,
tackle and sturgeon fishing gear for the group. Sturgeon fishing is "catch
& release". Serious fishermen should bring their own gear.
Spin Casting is usually the most
successful technique. We recommend light weight gear with 6-8 lb. test line.
Recommended Lures: Spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tails, Dare Devils); Crank Baits
(Killer B's, Rattletrap, Fat Wrap, Crawdad, Perch, etc.); 5" Grub Worms with
leadheads (motor oil, pearl, purple, blue, black, etc.)
Fly fishing is also available.
We recommend 5-6 weight rods, double taper floating lines & sink tip lines.
Recommended Flies: Joe's Hopper, Dave's Hopper, Elk Hair Caddis, Wooly Worm,
Wooly Bugger, Muddler Minnow, Clouser Minnow, etc. Recommened Bass Poppers:
Black/yellow, yellow/red, chartreuse/olive, mouse, etc.
Raft
Configuration and Group Size
Most Snake/Hells Canyon trips
number a total of 24 people. (18 guests, 5 crew & 1 camp helper). A typical
trip has 1 supply pontoon, 3 oar rafts, 1 paddle raft, and 3 inflatable kayaks
(kayaks can be used as solo or tandem boats) -OR- 1 supply pontoon, 2 oar
rafts, 2 paddle rafts, and 3 inflatable kayaks. Be sure to let us know the type
of craft(s) you prefer.
The Forest Service, Hells
Canyon National Recreation Area, limits our total number of rafts & kayaks
per trip to a maximum of 8 craft.
Vehicle
& Luggage Storage
You can safely store your
vehicle and luggage at the Frontier Motel or Hunter's Inn B&B during the
trip.
Weather
Spring and Fall in Hells Canyon
bring warm days, cool nights, and possible thundershowers. Daytime temperatures
may range from 55-90 degrees. Summer is very warm. Daytime temperatures may
range from 70-105 degrees.
Trip
Insurance and Responsibility
We encourage the purchase of
Trip Cancellation, Accident, and Baggage Insurance Policies. These policies
cover cancellation, personal property, and personal injury. Many insurance
companies offer such policies.
HUGHES RIVER EXPEDITIONS, Inc.
spares nothing to assure that all trips we outfit are the safest and best
outfitted expeditions available. Our safety record is excellent. However, river
running is not without some risk, and you as a potential river runner must be
willing to assume some risk. HUGHES RIVER EXPEDITIONS, Inc. assumes no
responsibility whatsoever for your personal safety or for damage or loss of
your equipment.
Snake
River Through Hells Canyon Books and Maps
Available through the
Hughes
Company Store
GEAR LIST
SNAKE RIVER
TESTIMONIALS
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