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Class
Class l-III rapids
Meeting Point
Moyie Springs, Idaho
9:00 a.m. PDT
Duration
Full Day
Meals
Lunch Included

Moyie Rafting

Known by very few people, the Moyie River is a true whitewater rafting gem in northern Idaho. ROW Adventures first pioneered the eleven to fifteen-mile rafting trip on the Moyie River back in 1981. Our trip goes through a densely forested, rugged and narrow gorge lined with Pine and Cedar and covered with blooming Syringa shrubs and wildflowers. The rapids are bouncy, big and a lot of fun and they make the Moyie River exciting for everyone!

Beginners will enjoy the Moyie as an introduction to whitewater rafting, and experienced rafters will love the Moyie for the beautiful, green scenery and remote wilderness experience. The rapids are fun, but not too intimidating, making the Moyie a great choice for family rafting trips too. In the end, the Moyie River delivers a very exciting whitewater rafting day that should not be missed.
 

Rates

Adult
$135
Group Special
Fill 11 spots, get the 12th free!
Book Online or call (208) 770-2517

Not available for the 2023 season

*Please note we require a minimum of 6 guests to run a trip. If you have less than 6 in your party, you can still reserve a spot and we will work to place with another group in order to confirm your trip.

*Dates subject to change due to water levels.

Prices plus 8% Land & Water Access fee

IMPORTANT NOTICE - ST. JOE RIVER TRANSFER POSSIBILITY: At times the Moyie River is either too high or  too low to float. Rather than cancel your trip, we have found most people prefer to be transferred to a similar trip. Thus, we reserve the right to transfer the trip to the St. Joe River if necessary. The St. Joe offers a very comparable ride and is equally scenic. Your travel time is similar as  well. We will try to contact you sometime within 12-48 hours prior to your trip if a transfer looks likely. If you're going to be on the road during  this period, please give us a contact number or call us at 1-866-836-9340 or 208-770-2517. Note that our meeting point for St. Joe trips is Gold Creek Campground on the St. Joe River, east of Avery, Idaho.

Itinerary

This trip meets in Moyie, ID

Where to Meet:

Towards the end of this document, you’ll find directions for how to get to the Moyie Springs store, where we'll meet you at 9:00 AM Pacific Time the morning of the trip.

Driving from Spokane you should allow about 2 1/2 hours. From Coeur d'Alene allow about 2 hours. The store is busy with regular local customers in the morning, so please arrive between 8:30-9, but not earlier. If you realize you're early, stop for  a cup of coffee at the Three Mile Cafe, just 3 miles north of Bonners Ferry. Or, enjoy the scenic overlook just  east of the Moyie Springs store on the other side of the bridge.

The store's phone number is (208) 267-6266. When you arrive, pass through the metal gates to the right (west) of the store and park in the back. Here we'll welcome you and you'll change into the wetsuit provided by ROW. Then we'll drive in our bus about 45 minutes to the put-in, located roughly 5 miles below the Canadian border. We’ll have a safety talk here, and  then board the rafts.

At the end of the day, we return you to the store between 4:00 and 5:00 PM depending on group size, weather and/or water level.

Trip Details

WHAT TO BRING - PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

ROW provides wetsuits, wetsuit booties, a fleece sweater and splash jacket for your comfort. The wetsuits are Farmer Johns that have long legs but no sleeves. During hot weather, the Farmer John is worn alone. Wool or synthetic socks could be worn under the booties on cold days. Cotton makes you colder when wet by wicking away heat from your body. Do not bring  cotton on the river! Please use our gear checklist to be sure you pack all you need.

This list is based on years of experience. Even if it is sunny at home when you leave, bring all this as the weather changes often in North Idaho. You will be able to leave extra clothing on our bus.

Be sure all members of your group read this. Even on sunny days, the water is cold, so you have to dress more warmly than you do for land-based activities.

  • Swimsuit or non–cotton, long underwear to wear under the wetsuit
  • Water bottle
  • Running shorts/swimsuit to wear over wetsuit (optional), keeps keep you from sliding around on the raft and 
  • protects the wetsuit 
  • Sun hat/ball cap 
  • Towel/change of clothes for the end of day 

For cool days and for people who tend to get cold easily:

  • Wool or synthetic socks 
  • Wool or synthetic cap (like ski hat)
  • Wool, synthetic or wetsuit gloves 
  • Synthetic leggings/tights (worn under the wetsuit on cold days)

If you don't have any of these things, Army/Navy surplus and Outdoor stores are a good bet for synthetic and inexpensive wool gloves.

(If you have size 13 plus feet, please bring tennis shoes and wool socks, as our booties only go to size 13.)

ROW has an excellent safety record, but you will be required to sign a liability release before the trip,  recognizing and accepting the risks involved. If you're interested in travel insurance, please contact our office. We do not allow alcoholic beverages or any drugs on our Moyie River trips. 

*Please note we require a minimum of 6 guests to run a trip. If you have less than 6 in your party, however, you can still join in the fun! We'll be sure to place you with another group in order to confirm your trip.

Meeting Location

Driving Directions:

  • Head north on Highway 95 and travel through Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.
  • Continue north on 95 for three miles to the 3-mile junction.
  • Turn right here onto Highway 2 and follow the signs for Moyie Springs/Montana.
  • Drive about five miles and look for the Moyie Springs General Store.
  • If you cross a high bridge over the Moyie River you've gone too far.  

Map of Moyie meeting point.

The closest airport is in Spokane, WA.

When to Go: Our season on the Moyie runs daily from late May through Early June depending on water levels. As the weather warms up in early spring, snow begins to melt and the river rises. Because most of the Moyie drainage comes from the Moyie and Purcell Mountains in Canada at elevations of around 8,000-11,000 feet, the weather has to get quite warm to create any significant run-off. In a typical year, as air temperatures reach 70-80 degrees in late May and early June, this high elevation snow starts melting, and the river begins to flow adequately for rafting. Since everyone is paddling, we do have an age minimum of 16 during the highwater period and 14-15 upon approval at other times.

Accommodations: The area around Moyie Springs and Bonners Ferry is very beautiful and you may want to spend an extra day to explore. If you're camping, try the "Yaak River" Forest Service campground or the Meadow Creek Campground. Both are about 15 miles from the store. The Twin Rivers Canyon Resort is a private campground very close to our meeting point. For hotels, try the Log Inn of Bonners Ferry (208) 267-3986 or the Best Western Kootenai River Inn Casino and Spa (208) 267-8511. 

Physical Requirements:

Here at ROW Adventures, our first and foremost goal is for you to have an enjoyable and safe experience. While most of our trips are suitable for beginners, some of our trips are more active than others and it’s important that you understand the physical requirement of the trip you choose. 

All of our rafting trips are active adventures that involve some level of physical exertion and possible exposure to the elements including but not limited to wind, rain, heat, sun, cold temperatures and cold water conditions.  ROW Adventures is able to accommodate people with physical limitations, disabilities, and medical conditions; please speak with your Adventure Consultant if you think you will require any additional assistance while on the trip.  We ask that you consult your doctor if you have health or medical conditions that could impact your ability to participate in an active and outdoor adventure.  In general, all trip participants must be able to do the following:  

  • Wear all protective and safety equipment that is required by ROW Adventures and recommended/required by industry-wide standards.
  • Load and unload, on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion, the bus and/or van providing transportation for ROW Adventures activities.
  • Reach the river access points (put-in and take-out) on their own, or with the aid of a qualified companion.
  • Enter and exit the raft, kayak and/or inflatable kayak on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion.
  • Remain seated and balanced in a floating raft, canoe, kayak or inflatable kayak w/ the aid of adaptive equipment, if necessary.
  • Perform all on water activities, including following instructions that like paddling commands from the guide in class I and higher whitewater on their own or with the assistance of a qualified companion. 
  • Float on their back when entering moving and still water.  The participant must be capable of turning from face-down to face-up in the water with the aid of a Personal Floatation Device and must be able to hold their breath while underwater.
  • Remain calm and keep breathing under control in the event of a whitewater swim.
  • Get out from under a raft, whether the raft is up-right or capsized, in moving water.
  • Climb into the raft, with the help of another person, should an involuntary swim happen at any point on the river.
  • Make progress toward the shoreline or a raft by swimming in moving water and must be able to exit the river and ascend the shoreline once reached.
  • Participate as an active paddler when instructed by the guide for the duration of the trip. 
  • Move about the campsite on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion on all trips that include overnight camping and/or lunch.

Click HERE To see Terms and Conditions. 

Important Notice: ROW has an excellent safety record, but you should know that whitewater rafting is inherently risky. You will be required to sign a "Release and Assumption of Risk" agreement prior to the trip,  recognizing and accepting the risks involved. If you're interested in trip cancellation, travel or accident  insurance, contact our office. We do not allow alcoholic beverages or any drugs.

Reviews 4

Overall Rating

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Rating
Moyie Magic
February 4, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Smaller river that's got it all, mellow & scenic to wild & wooly. Don't miss this one. ROW is organized and pulls off a great trip.
Sharon D.
February 4, 2021 at 2:35 am
The Moyie River is amazing. It's beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The ROW guides were fabulous. This was my first whitewater trip and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It may have even surpassed them. I look forward to going another trip with ROW in the future!
Kelly gregory
February 4, 2021 at 12:51 am
The Moyie river in Northern Idaho has to be one of the coolest floats. It has a limited window for the float so I feel fortunate to have been able to do it. It started out as a foggy day with the river being way up in the top of the panhandle. Driving from Montana the fog started to lift with the day being a five star early June day. Not knowing much about the Moyie river it was on my cousins list of floats. The river runs fast this time of year. It was wider and faster then I expected. Running mostly through a northern cedar forest it was like being in an enchanted forest like you see in fairytale stories. We as a family try to get together and try a different float in the northwest every year. I would definitely do the Moyie with Row again and would recommend it any one who enjoys adventure.
Emily
February 4, 2021 at 12:09 am
By far my favorite one day rafting trip! A little bit cold but so worth it for the amazing views and rapids. A really good river for the first timers I brought along with me! The lunch is good and filling. The guides are fun and informative. If you get a chance, don’t sleep on the Moyie!
Book Online or call (208) 770-2517