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Hells Canyon, ID-OR
Hells Canyon Full-Day Class IV Trip with Jet Boat
Full day (long)
Only with Orange Torpedo
Day Trips
Class II
Class III
Class IV
OVERVIEW
Only with Orange Torpedo
Raft all the big whitewater in Hells Canyon in one day, then jet boat back up. Only with Orange Torpedo.
Full day (long)
Duration
7
+
Min Age
Day Trips
Trip Style
DATES
Upcoming Dates
Mon
23
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Wed
25
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Fri
27
Rogue River Lodge
8:00 AM
Highlights
Best Parts of The Trip
- Only with Orange Torpedo The only way in the country to raft Hells Canyon's biggest whitewater and jet boat back the same day.
- Huge whitewater anyone can run No experience needed for Class IV Wild Sheep, Granite and Waterspout, since trained guides run every rapid.
- Deepest canyon in North America Run 14 to 17 miles of huge scenery and wildlife, with a shore lunch along the way.
- Jet boat ride back Around 5 PM the Killgore Adventures jet boat runs you back up through everything you just ran.
- Bragging rights It is one of the longest day trips we run, and it is worth it to say you did it.
INSIDER TIP
From Our Guides
Pick the paddle raft so you are right in the action. We do not run kayaks on this trip.
Your boat
Boats on This Trip
ITINERARY
Day by day
Day 1
Meet in the parking lot of the Hells Canyon Creek Visitor Center at 9:00 AM Mountain Time. Raft all of the big water in Hells Canyon, Wild Sheep, Granite, Bernard Creek, Waterspout, Rush Creek and Sheep Creek, with a shore lunch a couple of hours in and history stops and hikes as time allows. Around 5:00 PM the Killgore Adventures jet boat picks us up and runs us back up to the dam, arriving around 6:00 PM.
Miles covered
miles
hells-canyon-full-day-class-iv-trip-with-jet-boat
1
Inclusions
What's Included
Guides and gear
- Guides, life jackets and splash gear
- Wetsuits when needed, mostly May and early June
Meals
- Shore lunch, snacks and drinks
Getting there
- Killgore Adventures jet boat ride back
Bring or rent
From $325
BOOK NOWACCOMMODATIONS
Day Trips
Nights are a mix of historic lodge rooms and guided riverside camps, depending on the launch.
Rogue River
Lucas Lodge
Sadie Lucas built this lodge around 1912 on a ranch where the Illinois River meets the Rogue, and her family has welcomed guests for seven generations since. Your last night on the river ends here with a prime rib dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Owyhee River
Owyhee Camps
Desert canyon camps on the Owyhee, set below rimrock and red rock spires that light up at sunset.
See the full stay
Lower Salmon River
Lower Salmon Camps
Every camp is a big white sand beach with a good swimming hole, and your tent is up before you arrive.
See the full stayMain Salmon, River of No Return
Main Salmon Camps
Big sandy beach camps under the pines. When you pull in, your tent is already set up, your sleeping pad is in it and your dry bags are stacked and waiting.
See the full stay
Snake River in Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Camps
Riverside camps below the walls of Hells Canyon. Your tent is up before you arrive, and evenings start with a cold drink under the shade tarps.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Rogue River Camps
Riverside beach camps on the Rogue. Your gear boater runs ahead so camp is ready when you pull in, with tents up and dinner served family style.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Paradise Lodge
Paradise has the big deck where we do movie night, with lodge cooking and a real bed. Every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Rogue River
Black Bar Lodge
Black Bar sits right on the water. You pull in at the end of Day 1 to a home-cooked dinner and a real bed, and every room has its own hot shower and private bathroom.
See the full stay
Food & Drink
What To Expect During Meal Time
A shore lunch on the river a couple of hours in, with snacks and drinks through the day.
Meeting Logistics
Where & When To Meet
Meet us in the parking lot of the Hells Canyon Creek Visitor Center at Hells Canyon Dam at 9:00 AM MT. Your guides will be waiting there to walk you down to the boats, fit your life jackets and run through the river orientation.
Around 5:00 PM MT you pull over, the guides roll up the rafts, and everyone loads onto the Killgore Adventures jet boat for the ride back up through everything you just ran. You are back at the boat ramp around 6:00 PM MT, give or take.
TRAVEL
Getting there
Drive to Hells Canyon Dam the morning of the trip. Allow extra time on the dam road.
Meeting point
Hells Canyon Creek Visitor Center
Hells Canyon Creek Visitor Center parking lot at the dam, 9:00 AM Mountain. Jet boat back to the ramp around 6:00 PM.
How to get there
Drive from Boise (BOI)
Drive north through Cambridge and Oxbow to the dam. Plan on a long morning.
Drive from Lewiston (LWS)
Drive south through White Bird and Riggins, then west to the dam.
Stay in Riggins
Stay in Riggins the night before if you want a shorter dam-road drive.
Airport transfer
No OTT airport shuttle. Rent a car and drive to the dam.
The closest towns with lodging are Riggins, Halfway, and Cambridge.
CONDITIONS
What to expect
Weather
Hells Canyon has a super mild climate. There is a low chance of rain from May through mid-June, and after that it is dry and hot for the rest of the season. Evening wind is pretty common in the canyon.
Whitewater Levels
Class II to IV, and nearly all of Hells Canyon's whitewater is packed into these first 15 miles. Class IV Wild Sheep, Granite and Waterspout, plus Class III Bernard Creek and Rush Creek. The whitewater is very consistent across the season.
Seasonal Variability
Late May to September. This one runs on set launch dates, roughly 4 days a month, so grab the date that works for you. The minimum age is 7 for most of the season, and 12 on early season trips when flows are higher.
REVIEWS
What guests say
POLICIES
Cancellation timeline
90+ days out
Full refund of the trip payment
Minus any non-refundable permit fees.
30–89 days out
50% refund
Date changes may be available if space remains.
Under 30 days
No refund
Weather holds are reviewed case by case.
Refunds depend on how far out you cancel. Weather holds are handled case by case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone are the Idaho trips on?
Mountain Time. Every meeting time on our Idaho and Hells Canyon trips is Mountain Time.
Do I have to wear a PFD and helmet in Idaho?
Your life jacket stays on any time you are on the water, and the only exception is sunscreen time. Helmets are required in the kayaks and for the little ones, and optional in the oar rafts.
Is the Hells Canyon day trip OK for beginners?
Yes. You do not need any experience, because trained guides run every rapid. Be ready for a long day, though. It is one of the longest day trips we run, and you are not back at the ramp until around 6:00 PM Mountain Time. It is worth it to say you did it.
Do we make history stops on the Hells Canyon day trip?
As time allows. Earlier season trips have more room for history stops and short hikes. Later in the season there is usually less time for them.
What wildlife will we see in Hells Canyon?
Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bald and golden eagles, osprey, chukar, black bear, deer and elk. Chukar are a partridge brought over as a game bird that took to the high desert, and they are what we hunt on the Cast & Blast.
MORE TRIPS
Our Most Booked Trips
|
4 days
|
Class
Hike the Rogue River Trail with a daypack, sleep in the lodges, and let the raft carry everything else.
|
3 days
|
Class
Run the Rogue River Trail lodge to lodge with a light vest while the raft carries your bags.
