- Dates: Daily May 14-June 30*
- Rates: Monday-Friday = $135
- Saturday or Sunday = $160
- Recommended Minimum Age: 17. 14-16 on approval.
- Whitewater: Class III-IV+ rapids
- Meet: River Dance Lodge, Syringa, ID
- Time: 9 a.m. PDT
- Duration: Full Day
- Lunch Included: Yes
*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 space and we will work to place you with another group in order to confirm your trip.
*Dates subject to change due to water levels and availability.
For intermediate and expert rafters, few rivers on earth can beat the thrills of Idaho’s Mighty Lochsa River (pronounced Lock-Saw). On our classic trip, you are treated to continuous, heart-pounding rapids. While some rivers are known as big-volume, slower rivers, and others are prized for their swift, technical courses, the Lochsa manages to combine the two in a unique marriage of a fast, technical run on a high-volume river. This combination produces huge hydraulics and holes, treating rafters to an exhilarating whitewater adventure!
There are only a few outfitters who raft the Lochsa River. Be confident in our unmatched history, expertise, and quality. The season is short, so book today!
May 14-June 30, 2022*
Starting at 9:00 am
Monday to Friday: $135
Saturday or Sunday: $160
Group Special: Groups of 16 or more - weekdays - $125; weekends - $150
*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 space and we will work to place you with another group in order to confirm your trip.
*Dates subject to change due to water levels and availability.
Prices plus 8% Land & Water Access fee.
We will meet you at River Dance Lodge in Syringa, Idaho. If you plan to fly, the closest airport is in Lewiston, Idaho (about 2 hours away). The closest major airports are Missoula, MT (about 2.5 hours) and Spokane, WA (about 4.5 hours). At the airport, you will need to rent a car to drive to the Lochsa.
Please note, although we are meeting at River Dance Lodge, the lodge is closed, for sale, and not accepting reservations.
Click Here for driving directions to the Lochsa.
I've never been rafting before. Is the Lochsa an appropriate choice?
Probably not. We prefer people with previous rafting experience on the Lochsa. Of all the rivers where we run 1-day trips, the chances of falling out of a raft are higher on the Lochsa than any other river. We want your first rafting experience to be a positive one. If you fall out and find out that you're terrified, you may not want to go rafting ever again. It's better to gain experience on an easier river where you're more likely to stay in the raft all day! Here's another way to think of it. Say you had never tasted wine in your life. Someone pours you a 20-year old French Bordeaux. With no point of comparison, the excellence of this wine would likely not be appreciated. Think of the Lochsa as the French Bordeaux. Better to learn more about whitewater on other rivers so you truly appreciate the Class IV power and excitement of the Lochsa's rapids.
Can I go rafting if I don't swim?
Generally yes. Everyone wears a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and this is a more important tool than knowing how to swim. However, often people who swim are more comfortable in the water and the idea of falling out of a raft. Your best choices would be an easier river like the St. Joe or Clark Fork Rivers.
Is rafting safe?
We've taken tens of thousands of people on our trips lasting from 1 to 6 days over the past 40+ years. We do our best to mitigate the natural risks of rafting. However we are human and nature can create difficult conditions. People fall out of rafts, rafts can turn over, people can accidentally hit another person in the raft with a paddle. In the end however, outdoor adventures such as rafting are inherently risky, thus accidents can and do happen.
What is the most exciting 1-day trip you offer?
Rivers are rated by the difficulty of their rapids, with Class I-II being easier than Class III (Intermediate) or Class IV (advanced). However, bear in mind that the "most exciting" trip may not be the one appropriate for you. Previous rafting experience, water temperature and the age of those in your party determine which trips are appropriate for you. To help you decide, here's a list of rivers along with their season, water temperature, and rapid classification from easiest to most difficult. (To learn more about rapid classifications, visit our Understanding Whitewater Classifications blog.
Clark Fork - Class II-III with warmer (62-68 degree) temperatures in July and August
St. Joe River - Class III-III+ cold (50-60 degree) water in May/June
Lochsa River - Class IV - IV+ cold (45 degree) water in May/early June and cool (55-63 degrees) in late June/early July
Overall Rating
Fun trip on Lochsa
Highly recommend!!
Lunch was amazing! Exceeded our expectations. The guides are excellent cooks.
3 Days on the Lochsa
Jerry and Susie
The day of the trip I showed up alone to the restaurant meetup main place what have you and went inside. A little lost and not sure if I was in the right place as my cell phone was working only as a flashlight out there (At&T plan). Was greeted by a nice lady who showed me to the meeting where we went over safety and how to paddle the boot. Also got some hot food which was nice at that point.
On the river the guide is the most important thing next to having the boat filled with air. My guide was a great kid maybe 20 something and funny then all get out. Following instruction from the guide will be the difference in flipping the boat and not. On the trip down the two guys in front went over and I remember having to hit the deck to stop the boat from high siding. The guide and I gave each other a high five as his commanded saved us from all going into the river.
The lunch was sloppy joes not just PB&Js it was a full on hot meal. Which is the little things that make the experience that much better.
If you get the chance to run a river with ROW Adventures take it. You are in good hands with people who love what they do so much that they live in a tent to do it. True river people that will give the best experience you can find in rafting. The Lochsa is a great river that gives you a rush not like those Carolina rivers or those floats in Florida. So put the suit on and the splash guard and the helmet and paddle paddle paddle!!!!
O and buy a shirt you will smile every time you see it !