FAQ
Middle Fork Q and A
Q: When is the best time to kayak the Middle Fork?
A: That depends a little on the experience you are looking for. If you are looking for more exciting whitewater, June is best. If you are looking for warmer water and more pool drop style whitewater the end of June or throughout July is a great time.
Q: What should I wear while kayaking on the Middle Fork?
A: In June, it is best to be prepared for the cold water and potentially chilly weather, so a drysuit is recommended. The days can be hot in June as well, so maybe having a dry top as a backup in case the suit is over kill. By July the water is normally starting to warm up and the weather is hot and sunny. Often in July a shorty top or rash guard is plenty.
Q: How is the best way to get my kayak to Idaho?
A: At Riverside we try to have plenty of kayak options on hand so you don’t have to go through the hassle of traveling to Idaho with you kayak. Bring your paddling gear and we will have a boat waiting for you.
Q: What should my kayaking ability be to join a Middle Fork trip?
A: A solid roll is a great start! The Middle Fork rapid action starts right below the put in with First Bend Rapid and over the first 25 miles is pretty continuous class II-III with a handful of class IVs. So action starts off quick. If you are unsure of your ability level, you can always arrange to ride of the raft the first day and half, then as the whitewater mellows during the middle of the trip, jump in your kayak then.
Q: What if I have a friend that wants to come, but they don’t kayak?
A: All Riverside trips are run through Wilderness River Outfitters and there will be rafts along on all the trips. So a friend that doesn’t kayak is still more than welcome to join you on the Middle Fork.
Q: Should I paddle a play boat, river runner or creek boat on the Middle Fork?
A: There are several great surf waves along the 100 miles and we can try to camp near surf waves when possible. There are also many great waves for wave wheels and other playboating opportunities along the way. On thing to remember is, the Middle Fork is a 100 mile trip, so you want to be in a boat that is comfortable. Also the Middle Fork can seem a little pushy at high water, so often people enjoy a boat with a little more volume.
Q: Is there cold beer?
A: Yes, we have plenty of rafts that carry all our personal gear and coolers to keep the beer cold. We do not provide alcoholic beverages, but we can certainly make room for whatever you would like to bring.
Q: What kind of food is provided on these trips?
A: We eat amazing meals prepared over the open campfire. We have full breakfasts, example Pancakes with real maple syrup, bacon, eggs to order, fruit and yogurt. At lunch time, we have a full spread of snacks both sweet and healthy to go along with a deli sandwich spread or a fresh salad to put in a pita wrap. For dinner we have an appetizer maybe something like baked brie with apples and crackers. Fresh prepared salads (example: spinach, chopped strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, walnuts and poppy seed dressing on the side). Wild rice dish, grilled wild sockeye salmon prepared either with lemon and onion or brown sugar glaze. Yeah, we eat good!
Jarbidge & Bruneau Q and A
Q: Is the Jarbidge Bruneau in a wilderness area?
A: Yes, the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, designated in 2009.
Q: When is the best time to kayak the Jarbidge Bruneau?
A: It can be difficult to predict spring flow on the rivers of the the Owyhee Canyonlands, but historically the best time of year to hit good runnable flow is going to the second week of May through the first week of June.
Q: Is the Jarbidge Bruneau whitewater comparable to the whitewater on the Middle Fork Salmon?
A: The whitewater on the Jarbidge section is fast and continuous the first 35 miles, definitely a step up in difficulty from the Middle Fork. You want to be completely comfortable paddling a river like the Middle Fork before running the Jarbidge Bruneau.
Q: Can I walk the more difficult rapids if I am not comfortable running them?
A: The more significant rapids can be scouted and portage. There are some long continuous class III rapids that would be hard to walk, but the most challenging rapids can be portaged.
Q: Can I put my kayak on a raft?
A: It depends on the trip, but often we will have a raft along to carry gear and will not be setup to carry kayaks and riders. If you would like to have the option to ride on a raft, those arrangements need to be made ahead of time.