Whitewater Rafting Adventure on Idaho's Lower Salmon River

This trip was awesome. The ORE team took great care of us and I had a blast. I plan to do more trips that use ORE in the future.

I was looking for a challenge for someone my age. This program definitely fit the bill. I got to experience a totally different part of the USA than I have ever seen. The float down the Salmon River was relaxing and challenging at the same time..I liked that you had options each day - - ride while a guide rowed, paddle with fellow participants with a guide or paddle by yourself in an inflatable kayak. We were off grid for the duration of the trip. No stops for fast food or Starbucks coffee along the way. Our guide did have a satellite phone in case of emergency. Due to the organized staff, we had everything we needed. I highly recommend this trip to those interested in a challenge. You do have to pitch in with unloading and reloading the rafts, setting up your tent and taking it down ,etc. Otherwise, you can customize your rafting experience to your comfort level. Go for it!

This rafting/Glamping trip was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. We had an incredible group of 14 and crew of 6. I’m still walking around in state of bliss. The natural beauty of this canyon is best seen from a raft. This is a real life Tom Sawyer experience. Cowboy chuckwagon style home cooked meals (3) and charcuterie + wine happy hour every day. And to keep it exciting a microburst of hail, gale force wind and rain hit the campsite. A special shout out to Natalie who threw 2 giant rocks into the corners of my tent to keep it from tumbling down the hill. (And Carl, fellow camper, who staked down my tent rain tarp) Also Natalie gave an excellent riverside talk about the formation of the canyon and the impact of water. But the real thanks goes to RYLIN, our fearless leader! Thank you for your attention to keeping us safe and well informed all matters from “the groover” to raft/kayak safety. Your positive/happy/smart approach to life is contagious. Without your support and encouragement I never would have attempted to try the kayak. Many thanks Rylin! And finally, a very special thanks to Pascal, Lucy, Ben and Eli for your behind the scene hustle. Loading the rafts, cooking and all the stuff we take for granted. Thank you crew. Best.ever. vacation. --mo--

This was a well run raft trip--much like I would expect from any professional outfitter. Food was great and staff were capable and a joy to be around. Unfortunately, there was no instructor along to enrich our understanding of the geology, history, river hydrology, rafting techniques, wildlife or flora. We were given a couple of handouts, and had tidbits shared like you would expect from any outfitter, but sadly, some of information shared was even inaccurate. There was a lot of free time just hanging out that would be spent with instruction in a typical Road Scholar trip. I was so looking forward to learning in the field setting and, while I enjoyed floating down the river, could have done that with anyone--I wanted the Road Scholar experience.

I had a fun time expanding my comfort zone by trying the kayaks in the rapids! A very enjoyable trip with great scenery, good guides, tasty food, fine camping equipment and friendly participants.

Oregon River Experiences gave me an opportunity to white water raft without pulling together my personal equipment, plan food, cook and cleanup on a multi day float trip --I could just relax and enjoy the river and my companions. I am ready to sign up for the Owyhee and Rogue! Thank you Todd, Mike, Alex and Ben for a memorable Lower Salmon float.

I've been on many multi-day river trips, and this was one of the best. The river guides (Todd, Michael, Alex & Ben) were well-organized, skillful, adaptable, and kind. They did all the hard work so participants could relax and enjoy being on the river. The food was delicious and plentiful. Instruction was given in short talks throughout the day rather than in formal lectures, which was appropriate for the outdoor setting. Floating the river, sleeping under the stars, and experiencing the magnificent river canyons was glorious! I'd like to address comments posted below on 8/25/2023, as my thoughts are very different: 1. I believe adequate kayaking instruction was given. Participants should expect to assume some personal responsibility to assess their own abilities, pay attention to the guides, and ask questions if concepts are unclear. A megaphone for communicating with participants would not be feasible on the river. 2. The River Bank toilet system, made by Selway Fabrication, was provided by the rafting outfitter, not by Road Scholar. This system is widely used and well regarded for multi-day river trips. A river toilet must be sturdy, able to contain enough waste for the entire trip, absolutely leakproof, and compliant with river regulations. An RV-style porta-potty, although more aesthetically pleasing, does not meet these requirements. I did not find the River Bank toilet system "filthy" as stated below.

overall a great program

I used the camping gear provided by the company and was happy with the quality. I recommend taking a personal day bag for use in the raft as the group day bag was not always handy. Also I wish I had a waterproof phone case for taking pictures while on the river.

Good trip. Two suggestions... 1. People were kayaking who had little or no experience in doing so. A 20 minute briefing on terms used and how to manage a kayak in whitewater would be a good idea. We were lucky that no one was seriously hurt. Also, a megaphone to be used by trip leader when giving commands to kayakers might be a good idea. Some of the kayakers either ignored directions being given or could not hear above the noise of the water. 2. Toilet situation...I am sure that Road Scholar could afford to invest in some nifty outdoor toilet system. There are plenty of these on the market. We were continually reminded of the importance of cleanliness and washing our hands. But, then we were asked to use these filthy toilets. Sort of a contradiction. *Ted-less story telling, more factual information I read the books suggested beforhand and expected that he would elaborate upon that information.

A well planned program. Leaders made extra effort to accommodate everyone and adapt to the changing weather and water conditions throughout the program.

Our lower Salmon River raft trip was nigh on to a religious experience. Water, nature, flow, wildlife, stars. I'm still floating

I had a very enjoyable time and highly recommend to others.