Idaho Whitewater Rafting on the Payette River
Idaho is one of the most beautiful Northwestern US states. Its vast mountainous landscapes make it the perfect destination for outdoor wilderness activities.
Some of its most popular outdoor activities include camping, climbing, hiking, kayaking and whitewater rafting.
Below is my complete guide to Idaho whitewater rafting with Cascade Raft & Kayak.
Cascade Raft & Kayak
Before my trip, I had never been whitewater rafting before and wanted something exciting, but still at the beginner level.
After doing some research, I chose Cascade Raft and Kayak for whitewater rafting in Idaho. One of their full-day tours was a perfect match.
The great thing about Cascade Raft is they offer four different types of tours for beginners, families and adventure tours.
Where to Stay in Idaho
Boise is the capital city of Idaho and a really easy destination to travel to. The downtown area has a ton of great bars, restaurants and shops.
I highly recommend staying in Boise if you’re visiting for a weekend and planning a day-long Idaho whitewater rafting trip.
How to get to Cascade from Boise
The hotels in downtown Boise are only about 45 minutes from Cascade Raft & Kayak. It’s a really easy drive, as it’s mostly a straight shot north on the 55.
Types of Tours (Family and Adventure)
The great thing about Cascade Raft is they offer four different types of half and full-day whitewater rafting tours. The different tours cater to beginners and families as well as adventure tours.
For families and beginners, they offer Half Day “Splash” Main Payette and Full Day “Escape” North Fork Carbarton.
For the thrill-seekers and more advanced rafters, you can choose from Half Day South Fork “The Rush” or Full Day South Fork “The Plunge.”
Getting Our Feet Wet: Full Day “Escape”
The Full Day “Escape” North Fork Carbarton whitewater rafting tour was the one we chose. The trip is 11 miles down the river and has Class II and III rapids. You depart up river in the morning and about halfway through, stop for lunch on the side of the river before continuing on.
The whitewater rafting tour was absolutely beautiful! There were six of us on the raft (all adults) and our tour guide. Parts of the river we were just peacefully floating down through the trees. Once in the Class III rapids we definitely got completely soaked.
Our guide made sure to explain the different commands at the beginning and let us know what to do just in case we fell out of the raft. There were a couple times that it seemed like we were close to falling out, but never once did I feel unsafe.
The cost of the Full Day “Escape” North Fork Carbarton tour is $85 per adult and $60 for youth (under 12) with lunch included.
Half-Day “Splash” Main Payette
The Half Day “Splash” Main Payette whitewater rafting tour is similar to “Escape” except much shorter. The tour is a total of three hours with playful Class II and III rapids. This tour is perfect for families, first-timers and groups.
The cost of the Half Day “Splash” Main Payette tour is $45 per adult and $30 for youth (under 12) with lunch included.
Thrill-Seekers: “Plunge” and “Rush”
If you’ve gone whitewater rafting before, or if you’re looking for a thrill, the full-day “Plunge” South Fork and half-day “Rush” South Fork are great options.
The full-day “Plunge” is an 13-mile tour with class III and IV rapids. The “Rush” tour also has class III and IV rapids and is 8 miles long. The “Plunge” is $110 for adults with lunch included and the “Rush” is $55 for adults.
Booking Your Idaho Whitewater Rafting Tour
Booking your whitewater rafting tour with Cascade Raft & Kayak is easy. You can either book online or call and reserve over the phone. We booked ours a couple months in advance online.
After you book, Cascade sends you a few forms and waivers that each person in your group signs and sends back before your trip.
Rafting Pictures for Purchase
Another really cool thing that Cascade does is take photos throughout your rafting tour that you can purchase directly after your trip.
We had a few GoPro cameras aboard our raft, but it was great to be able to have group shots of us in the rapids.
The photos are reasonable in price and you can purchase them a la carte or in packages, so you’re not tied to any photos you don’t want. The images are then sent to your email within a few hours.
I definitely recommend purchasing a few photos of your trip.
More Information Cascade Raft & Kayak
- Price: $$
- Location:Horseshoe Bend, ID
- Type: Idaho Whitewater Rafting Adventure Tours
