Idaho Main Salmon River Rafting

August 8-13 2025

All Women Main Salmon River Rafting with OARS

The Main Salmon is a river that has it all—crystal-clear waters, exhilarating rapids, natural hot springs, golden sandy beaches, and scenic hikes, all framed by Idaho’s rugged Frank Church Wilderness.

Join Babes Outside and OARS for a 6 day river rafting adventure. This trip is all about empowerment. We’ll work on whitewater skills, such as rowing, swimming rapids, and rigging a boat. All challenges are optional, and we’re so excited to connect with other women in the outdoors!

If you’re female-identifying, looking to feel more safe, educated, and empowered as a rafter while also doing exploring the Main Salmon and building your community, this trip is for you!

See the deets below or email us for more information!

This all inclusive trip costs $2,599. Please reach out to us with questions, or find our more about this trip with OARS!

“First off, I just had the best time. Went into this trip knowing one person and feeling semi nervous about that but there was never an awkward moment. Instantly jumped into getting to know everyone and sharing stories. Laughing (lots of laughing) telling jokes and playing games! Caroline and Mia never missed a beat— yes they were our trip leaders but also were the first to keep the vibes high and make sure we all had a great time!” — Tea, Babes Outside Guest ‘24

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Badass babes, rafting, and wilderness.

  • August 8-13, 2025

    This trip includes:

    • all meals, dietary restrictions accommodated

    • backcountry flight from McCall to Salmon, ID

    • all equipment—tents, sleeping system, dry bags, PFD, etc

    • guided whitewater rafting

    • education & safe travel skills

    Participants must be 16 years or older to attend.

  • Pre-trip Meeting

    8/7 7pm, McCall ID

    This is a chance to meet Caroline, Mia, and your fellow participants. We’ll go over the trip plan and answer any last minute questions!

    Day 1

    We will meet at the airport for the first step of our journey, a backcountry flight from McCall to Salmon! This is a stunning flight and a unique experience in a small backcountry plane. We’ll then travel by bus into the Frank Church Wilderness, where we will meet the other guides at Corn Creek, the Main Salmon put-in. We’ll do a safety talk, paddle and inflatable kayak talk, and have some lunch.

    Our first day on the Main Salmon we’ll learn how our “systems” operate on the river, like how we set up our camp and what the toilet is like. We’ll float for a few miles and get a sense of the character of the river, before finding our camp for the night. We’ll serve a delicious meal and spend the evening connecting and learning about each other.

    Day 2-5

    We’ll start our mornings on the river waking up to hot coffee, tea, and yoga. Slow mornings on the river are a great time for journaling, reading, and watching the river corridor light up. After a hot breakfast, we’ll head out for several hours of river time. Depending on the day, we’ll try new challenges like rowing the boat and swimming rapids. We’ll run some exciting rapids such as Black Creek, Bailey, Big Mallard, and Elkhorn, while also having plenty of stretches of calm water for taking in the scenery, swimming and chatting. We’ll hike, explore, and soak in some natural hot springs.

    At camp, we’ll have plenty of time for reading, relaxing, and playing silly river games. We’ll further our river education with fun exercise and skill practice, like throwing a rescue bag, useful knots, and gear chats. We’ll also have some river guide favorite activities, like dance parties and costume nights!

    After a delicious dinner, we can sleep out under the stars or curl up in our tents.

    Day 6

    Our last day on the river, we’ll run the exciting rapid Vinegar, enjoy our final lunch together, and share some memories from the trip. We’ll get to the takeout after lunch, say goodbye to the guides, and head back to McCall via bus.

  • Gear

    All specialty rafting gear will be provided. Guests bring just their clothing and personal items. Upon booking you’ll get a full packing list!

    Fitness

    To get the most from this experience, we recommend guests be capable of lifting 20 lbs and hiking for 3 miles.

  • This trip departs from and returns to from McCall, ID. More detailed logistics can be provided by the OARS team, click the “Book Now” button to head to their website!

    You must have vehicle to drive to the airport, where it will stay for the duration of the trip. Please contact us if this is not an option for you and we will see if we can help you out!

FAQ

  • Absolutely! This trip is beginner friendly. Your guides will take care of almost everything. If you’re feeling up for a challenge, you can try and learn some new skills!

  • We certainly think so! The Main Salmon is an incredible stretch of river, and a very difficult permit to pull. Even if you’re an experienced rafter, you’ll have an opportunity to learn from the professionals and challenge yourself with new skills.

  • Yes! We work hard to make sure our food is friendly to everyone. We will provide meals and snacks for you, and do our best to limit cross contamination and other concerns.

    That being said, this is a backcountry trip, and if your dietary restriction is SUPER serious we need to have a discussion about it beforehand. One of our founders is celiac, we want you to come on this trip and will work with you to make it happen!

  • We highly recommend you purchase trip insurance. A customer care specialist at OARS can help you figure out which insurance is right for you.

  • Gratuity is up to your discretion. The industry standard is 20% of your trip cost.