Big water. High energy. Idaho’s youth and family specialists.

Adventure Idaho Rafting runs guided trips on several of Idaho’s best rivers, with a primary focus on the Main Salmon, Lower Salmon, and day trips based out of Riggins. Their trips blend big water fun with an organized, family friendly experience that works especially well for youth groups, family reunions, and first time rafters.

Well-trained guides. Clean, efficient operations.

Adventure Idaho runs a large guide team and invests heavily in training. Guides complete extensive on river training and work within a clear system for safety, communication, and guest care. Behind the scenes, logistics are dialed in so guests can focus on the river while the team handles gear, shuttles, meals, and camp setup.

Built for youth groups and big trips.

While they are a great fit for families and small private groups, Adventure Idaho is best known for handling big youth trips. Their Salmon River High Adventure Base near Riggins can host groups of up to 120 people, and their Lower Salmon multi day trips are popular for youth conferences, girls camps, and reunions that want a classic wilderness river experience.

Riverfront home base in Riggins.

Adventure Idaho’s base sits on the banks of the Salmon River in Riggins. Many Main and Lower Salmon itineraries start or end here, with guests enjoying lunches or dinners on the riverfront deck, easy access to the water, and a relaxed small town atmosphere before and after their trip.

Contact Adventure Idaho Rafting

• Website: https://www.adventureidahorafting.com
• Email: [email protected]

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After living in the Turrialba Valley for several years and exploring many of its nearby rivers, I’ve put together a simple, fun itinerary that makes sense logistically and gets you into great water without crisscrossing the country. It is just a small sampling of what Costa Rica offers, but in one week you will paddle different rivers and spend most of your time in your boat.

Before you go
This itinerary assumes a few things:

• You have whitewater experience. This is not a beginner packrafting route.
• You will fly into SJO (San José). There are two international airports in Costa Rica, and this plan works best from San José.
• You will need a truck or 4×4 vehicle. Four-wheel drives are common to rent here.
• This plan is for dry season only, roughly January through April. Even during these months, double-check water levels, as rain is always possible.

Day 1 – Arrival and Transfer to Turrialba Valley
Fly into SJO and drive to the Turrialba Valley. Stay in the Sitio de Mata or Silencio area to be close to the Río Pejibaye and Pacuare rivers. Turrialba proper is fine too, though it can be hot.

Day 2 – Rio Pejibaye
Lap the Rio Pejibaye twice. At low or normal flows, it is a Class II–III run. For more excitement, start higher up than the school to include the Los Juntos section. You can usually find someone at the takeout to drive you back to your vehicle for around $5, or hire a driver for the day. For lunch, paddle to La Roca (have it pinned on your phone because it is easy to miss from the river).

Day 3 – Upper Upper Pacuare
Cross the ridge and explore the Upper Upper Pacuare. You will need to hire a driver for this day. The scenery is spectacular, the water is clear, and the rapids are fun.

Day 4 – You choose
If water levels are low and you are feeling good in your boat, run the Lower Pacuare as a day trip. You can stay in your same Airbnb and do it as a day trip. Or for a more relaxed experience, book a night at one of the Pacuare lodges. You can raft the first section of the Lower Pacuare today and the second section the next. The lodges handle vehicle logistics, and they are beautiful places to stay.

Day 5 – Lower Pacuare and head back to San Jose
Run the second partof the Lower Pacuare, either from your lodge or as another day trip. Afterward, drive from Siquirres back to San José. It is possible, but not recommended, to paddle the Pacuare and fly out the same day.

Day 6 – Fly home
And come back soon!

Why Wilderness Aware Rafting

Since 1976, Wilderness Aware has been the go-to outfitter in Colorado for expert guides, high-quality gear, and authentic whitewater adventure. Based in Buena Vista in the heart of the Rockies, they bring decades of experience on five major rivers across Colorado. Their team is built around passion for the outdoors, personal service, and safety, making them a perfect fit for both first-time rafters and experienced paddlers.

What Sets Them Apart

• Deep local expertise. From their Buena Vista base, they guide trips through iconic terrain including the Gunnison, Arkansas, and other Colorado rivers. Their familiarity with flows, conditions, and logistics lets guests focus on the experience.
• All-levels friendly. Whether it is your first time rafting or you are looking for a challenge, they have options that range from calm family floats to Class IV and V adventures.
• Safety and professionalism. With decades of guiding and a strong culture of excellence, Wilderness Aware provides modern equipment, highly trained guides, and smooth logistics.
• Committed to conservation. Their respect for wilderness settings and outdoor ethics is clear on every trip. On remote runs like the Gunnison Gorge, they manage all the details so guests can simply enjoy the river.

Ready to Book?

Explore Wilderness Aware’s full list of river trips, check departure dates, and reserve your space directly on their website. With limited availability on premium runs, early booking is recommended.

Contact Wilderness Aware Rafting

• Website: InARaft.com
• Phone: 1-719-395-2112
• Email: [email protected]

Send a message

The bill, titled “Law for the Environmental Safeguarding of the Main Channel of the Pacuare River in the Upper and Middle Basin” (Expediente No. 25.189), was authored by Walter Pereira, a cartographer and geographer from Turrialba, and introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Representative María Marta Padilla Bonilla (Alajuela).

If approved, the law would prohibit all hydroelectric development on the Pacuare River and its main tributaries without expiration.

“Passing this law would be a historic step: it would ensure the protection of the Pacuare River beyond the current decree, which expires in 2040 and could be revoked at any time.” – RAFA press release

To raise awareness and build support for the bill, RAFA is organizing an in-person event on the Pacuare River on October 31. The gathering will bring together community members, river guides, and conservation supporters at the river’s entrance, with coverage from national media and news outlets. Afterward, participants, including several legislative representatives, will join a rafting trip down the Pacuare, experiencing firsthand why protecting this river is so vital, just as it was safeguarded during the administration of President Luis Guillermo Solís. Additional event information will be shared on the RAFA website at a later date.

The bill is linked here (Spanish) and a summary of the bill is located below.

Bill: Environmental Safeguard Law for the Main Course of the Pacuare River (Bill No. 25.189)

Date: September 22, 2025
Published by: Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica

Overview

The bill proposes the creation of a legal environmental safeguard for the main course of the Pacuare River (in its upper and middle basins) to prohibit the construction of hydroelectric dams or other physical barriers that could affect its ecological, cultural, and touristic value.

Key Points

• The Pacuare River is described as one of Costa Rica’s most valuable natural assets, flowing 136 km from the Talamanca mountain range to the Caribbean coast.
• It hosts rich ecosystems, including montane rainforests and tropical lowland forests, and is home to indigenous Cabécar communities whose culture is closely tied to the river.
• The river’s hydrological system is abundant, with over 5,000 mm of rainfall per year and more than 240 rainy days, making it highly sensitive to large-scale human interventions.
• The area supports around 38,000 inhabitants, with eco-tourism and rafting as key economic activities — Pacuare is ranked among the world’s top five rivers for rafting.
• Hydroelectric dams are identified as a major threat, as they would disrupt sediment transport, river connectivity, biodiversity, and tourism appeal.

Legal and Social Background

• 2005 Plebiscite (Turrialba):
  97.3% of voters rejected the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Pacuare River.
• Executive Decree 39,199-MINAE (2015):
  Declared a 25-year environmental safeguard banning hydroelectric projects (≥500 kW) on the Pacuare and Savegre Rivers.

The new bill seeks to extend and strengthen this protection through law, making the safeguard permanent rather than temporary.

Main Articles of the Proposed Law

Article 1 — Scope of Application
Defines the protected area: the main channel and all tributaries of the Pacuare River, from its origin in the highlands to coordinates 10°07’08.0″N, 83°28’18.0″W, marking the start of the lower basin near Siquirres.

Article 2 — Environmental Safeguard
Explicitly prohibits hydroelectric projects within this protected area to preserve the river’s natural flow and environmental balance.

The law will take effect upon publication.

Sponsors (Legislative Deputies):
María Marta Padilla Bonilla
Cynthia Maritza Córdoba Serrano
Geison Enrique Valverde Méndez
Alejandro José Pacheco Castro
Andrés Ariel Robles Barrantes

While many of these updates are photos (now brimming at over 200 photos), we have pushed out waypoint changes to many rapids, including Hells Half Mile, Velvet Falls, and Sulphur Slide. Additionally, we have pulled a camp (Across from the B) and made a few other waypoint modifications. And finally, numerous typos and grammar issues have been patched. There’s always more, though.

Special thanks to Skip Volpert of Idaho River Journeys for help with some of the rapids and scouting locations.

Keep in mind, the commenting feature is your friend as it helps the community out at large with immediate updates the moment you’re back in cell phone service.

And it’s not just your personal consumption you need to consider; it’s a collective effort. This post will share some ideas so you hopefully finish the trip with the perfect amount – not driving out of Diamond Creek with cases of beer, and not running out four days before Lava Falls.

The formula itself is simple. Some people complicate it by height, weight, and age…don’t do that. Take the average daily consumption of the group and then add a little extra. Now multiply that total by the number of days of the trip. That’s it. If you’re worried, bring more; you will have the space.

Perhaps more importantly than the formula are these essential tips:

1. Overshoot strategically. It’s better to have a surplus than to run short. This not only eliminates the stress of rationing but also gives you something to trade with other groups.
2. Shared resources are the way to go. While individual beverage budgeting is an option, it can lead to uncomfortable situations. The scenario of someone running out early and watching others enjoy their drinks for the remainder of the trip is a recipe for resentment. I’ll never forget a winter Grand Canyon trip where the group ran out except for four people, and we saltily watched them enjoy their final bottles of wine.
3. Hard liquor goes a long way. On my recent Grand Canyon trips, we would designate each person to provide and make a cocktail for the group on one night of the trip. This significantly cut down on beer and seltzer drinking.

It’s hard to write this post without acknowledging how somewhat ridiculous the whole beverage calculation is. The Grand Canyon is an incredible space even without alcohol. A guide friend of mine preaches the benefits of a dry trip – you simply see and experience vastly more of the canyon. You hike, you explore, your brain is sharp, and you feel good every single day of the trip. On moderate to heavy drinking trips, you pull into camp, and you consume. And that’s often it. While sharing drinks with the best of friends can be great, there is so much more to this place, and rivers in general, than getting blitzed with your canyon pals. The elephant in the room is that there’s a significant, darker side in the river community where alcohol has caused more harm than good. So, while you’re figuring out your beverage math, remember that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with running out, bringing less, or even none at all. The canyon itself is the main event.

Wear a life jacket

Whether you call it a PFD or a life jacket, it is critically important that you wear one while tubing on the Kern River. Even though wearing a life jacket while tubing might seem like overkill, keep in mind that a tube can easily deflate, or if you accidentally flip over, separate from you entirely. A PFD on the other hand, won’t pop, can’t separate from you, and is Coast Guard approved.

The vast majority of serious river incidents involve someone not wearing a life jacket. Just wear one and don’t become a statistic.

Only go during low water

Kern River tubing is a low water activity. You shouldn’t go during medium or high river flows. The rule of thumb for the Lickety Split section of the Kern River is when the water is between 200 – 500 CFS. Nothing higher. Below 200 CFS it can still be fun, but be prepared to get stuck quite a bit. Below is a river gauge showing you the flow.

Where to go

Lickety Split section – shuttling required

The tried and true Kern River tubing run is the Lickety Split section of the Upper Kern river. At any water flow, you should avoid the Lower Kern. It’s just not set up well for a tubing run and the numerous trees present a real strainer hazard. Sections besides the Lickety Split of the Upper Kern should be avoided as well. The best part of the Lickety is it’s easy to arrange a shuttle and there are usually many others out there with you.

Click here for a Google Map of the Lickety Split shuttle.

Riverside Park – no shuttling required

If you don’t want to deal with a shuttle, or want a more leisurely tubing experience, then an option is to go to Riverside Park in Kernville and simply walk up to the bridge, float down and then finish at the bottom of this Class II rapid. Want to ride again? Simply walk up the path and hop in. Obviously, this is a much shorter ride of just a minute or two, but this can be a good option if you don’t want to commit to a long Lickety Split tubing run, or if you don’t want to set your own shuttle.

Click here for the Google Map of Riverside Park.

Which tubes to buy

You can buy tubes for less than a tube rental offered by local companies. The ones below are very popular.

• River Run 1 (one person) $21
• River Run 2 (two person) $45

2025 season outlook

River flows will likely be good for tubing starting at some point in July or possibly the end of June. Keep in mind the date of this forecast, May 4, as a lot can change based on temperature.

Final pointers

• Kern River tubing is not a solo activity. Always take a buddy with you (or more.) Safety in numbers is a real thing and should be followed here.
• Alcohol and rivers don’t mix. Don’t drink alcohol before or while tubing.
• It can’t be said enough: Wear a life jacket. It could save your life.
• Go during the correct river flows. NEVER when the water is too high.
• Use a decent tube. Leave the old leaky tube at home. We’ve had good luck with these tubes here.
• Download the Kern River guidebook onto your phone. This will show you where the rapids are on the Lickety Split section of the Kern.

Have a question? Leave a comment! And a special note on comments…

This post has become the information board for tubing the Kern River. If you have any questions at all, feel free to leave a comment and I will respond. Your question might help the next tuber out!

A special note on comments and water flows: If you’re reading the comments and come across one about water flows that isn’t from the current year, it should be ignored. This is because flows change dramatically every single year based on snowpack and the subsequent melt. While this doesn’t change the guidelines for safe water flows, it does change what dates tubing is safe.

Mileage

The Middle Fork from Boundary Creek to Cache Bar is just under 100 miles. The Main Salmon begins just a few miles after the Middle Fork takeout at Corn Creek and runs 81 miles to Carey Creek. However, at lower water levels on the Middle Fork, trips often start by flying into Indian Creek, which shaves off approximately 25 miles from the upper section, resulting in a roughly 75-mile trip

Length of trip

The length of the trip is related to the mileage. Most groups spend 5 to 6 days on the Main Salmon. The Middle Fork has a larger range, but 6 to 7 days is normal.

Difficulty

The Middle Fork of the Salmon has rapids that are Class II, III and IV at most flows, whereas the Main Salmon, at most flows, is Class II and III. However, like other rivers, the degree of difficulty significantly changes based on water level. Both rivers are difficult at high flows and require you to be excellent at reading water and maneuvering a raft.

Quantity of rapids

The MFS has more rapids than the Main. This is because the Main Salmon is a pool-drop river, meaning there is a long calm pool between the rapids, whereas the Middle Fork tends to be more continuous. Additionally, towards the end of the trip, the Main Salmon enters a calm section of the canyon, known as The Lake. While the river isn’t actually entering a lake or reservoir, there are significantly fewer rapids or gradient for 20 miles.

River volume

The Main Salmon is a high-volume river, and the rapids and characteristics of the river reflect that. Rapids tend to have splashy waves and not many rocks. The waves make it fun, especially on hot days. If you jump out and swim, the odds are you won’t be able to feel the river bottom (not that you should since you shouldn’t be standing). The Middle Fork of the Salmon is mostly the opposite. Towards the beginning of the trip, the river gradient is steeper, so there is current stacked between the rapids meaning you don’t get much of a break if you’re on the oars. The river is low volume so it can be shallow meaning you will be spending a lot of time rowing away from rocks or if it’s later in the season, getting your raft stuck on rocks and then pushing off of them. As you continue downstream, the Middle Fork picks up numerous side creeks and tributaries, eventually adding to the river volume to the point where it’s hard to believe it’s the same river you started on five days ago.

Permit odds

It’s difficult to win a permit on either river. Both are part of the 4-Rivers Lottery which is the Main Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Hells Canyon, and the Selway. The permit odds were calculated by dividing the number of applicants by the available permits. While this is a simplified approach, it effectively illustrates the generally low probability of securing a permit for either river Here is a link to the USFS PDF.

Water temperature

This is also one of those categories that depends on when you go. If you go peak summer (July, August) then the water temperature on the Main Salmon is warmer than the Middle Fork of the Salmon. How warm is it? We have a blogpost dedicated to Main Salmon river temperatures here. It averages 67 degrees in July and August. Still chilly, but easy enough to swim in and enjoy. The Middle Fork of the Salmon doesn’t have any gauges measuring water temperature, but it is cooler (maybe not by much in July and August) than the Main.

River beaches

Some people love beach camping, others don’t care for it. The division is usually based on age. The Main Salmon has tons of beach camping and it gets really good towards the end of the trip. Kids love this. The Middle Fork has far fewer beaches and they are all located in Impassable Canyon. Elk Bar and Otter Bar are the two that come to mind.

Hot Springs

If you ask anyone what makes the Middle Fork of the Salmon so cool, hot springs will be near the top of the list. There are a lot of hot springs on the Middle Fork. Some of them are small pools, big enough for a couple of people to sit in, others are larger, like Loon Creek hot springs which can fit many people and is situated alongside a beautiful creek. Not to be outdone, the Main Salmon has one of the best hot springs in Idaho, but it has only one.

Fishing

The Middle Fork of the Salmon has good fishing. Especially so in September when temperatures cool down. President Carter famously caught 59 trout in a single day on the Middle Fork in 1978. The fishing on the Main Salmon isn’t nearly as good. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll catch some fish, but if you’re a beginner, you’ll be doing a lot of casting. The exception to this on the Main, is the side creeks. I’ve had good luck fishing these confluences.

Hiking

There’s a trail that follows the Middle Fork of the Salmon from Boundary Creek all the way to Big Creek, the start of Impassable Canyon. So technically, there is a hiking opportunity at most camps. That doesn’t necessarily mean the hiking is fantastic at every camp, but it’s available. (Hard to beat hiking along a river though.) Additionally, you have trails that shoot up drainages such as Big Creek, Loon Creek and Camas Creek, for example, which adds variety. The Main Salmon, on the other hand, has some hiking up drainages, the most popular being the South Fork of the Salmon or Indian Creek, but it doesn’t have a river trail that follows it for the majority of the river. My asterisk to this is that even though there aren’t as many trail opportunities, that doesn’t mean you can’t hike and explore the area where your camp is located. We used to hike all over the Main Salmon, we would pick out a good viewpoint and simply hike to it.

Jet boats

Jet boats aren’t allowed on the Middle Fork, while there are some jet boats on the Main. You’ll encounter more jet boats as you float downstream on the Main, but it’s not like Hells Canyon or the Lower Salmon which see a lot of jet boat activity.

Backcountry air traffic

The Middle Fork of the Salmon sees more backcountry air traffic than the Main Salmon. When the water gets low, many commercial and private groups opt to fly into Indian Creek or Thomas Creek on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Due to the Main Salmon always having enough water, there is no need to fly in. Additionally, there are far fewer public airstrips on the Main, just one, in fact.

Conclusion

If you like relatively easy rafting with splashy rapids, beach camping and / or there are kids in the group – the Main Salmon is a great option. If you’re into fishing, hiking, lots of rapids, and hot springs, the Middle Fork of the Salmon is awesome. And if you are supremely lucky – extraordinarily lucky – you can try to win a Middle Fork of the Salmon to Main Salmon combo permit and see both on the same trip.

Measured near Copco, California the Upper Klamath has water temperature data going back only a few years to 2022. During the summer months, the average water temperature on the Upper Klamath gets as high as 73 degrees. Below you’ll find the average water temperature by month. All temperatures are in Fahrenheit.

• January: 38 degrees
• February: 44 degrees
• March: 44 degrees
• April: 53 degrees
• May: 60 degrees
• June: 66 degrees
• July: 73 degrees
• August: 70 degrees
• September: 63 degrees
• October: 56 degrees
• November: 48 degrees
• December: 60 degrees

Average highs and lows at Copco, California

Taken at Copco, California the average monthly highs and lows for air temperature are below.

• January: 43° / 30°
• February: 45° / 31°
• March: 49° / 33°
• April: 57° / 37°
• May: 66° / 44°
• June: 76° / 50°
• July: 88° / 58°
• August: 87° / 58°
• September: 79° / 52°
• October: 64° / 42°
• November: 49° / 34°
• December: 42° / 29°