FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We want all our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, but the truth is that no one knows you better than you — that’s why Brad or Diana are available anytime to answer your questions and learn more about your specific needs and expectations. If you have safety concerns or physical limitations due to age, disability or otherwise that require accommodation, let us know and we can determine the best way to accommodate your specific situation. We can help you choose the best month for your group to come based on weather and water levels or talk to you about the different boat options that will be available to you on your trip (oar rafts, paddle boat, inflatable kayak and upon request dedicated fishing boats). We have taken guests as young as six (6) years of age and as old as 88 years of age, guests with back issues, joint replacements, sleep apnea concerns, and serious food allergies. Private, sanitary toilet facilities are made available in camp and at lunch, however, special needs can be accommodated during the day. Hot showers will be available in camp, but many guests find that a soak in the hot springs or swim in the river keeps them feeling clean and refreshed. Your tent, cot & sleeping bag will be set up and waiting when you arrive in camp each day. Remember, it’s our pleasure to pamper you whenever we can. We feel confident that any pre-adventure concerns you may have had will quickly melt away amid the scenic grandeur, adventure, professional care and camaraderie of your journey.

ASV FREE AIRPORT SHUTTLE
No other outfitters offer free shuttle service for guests between Boise Airport and Stanley, Idaho. As an extension of our exclusive ‘Pampered Camping’ amenities, enjoy complimentary shuttle service in our air-conditioned motor coach. We meet at 3:30 p.m. the day before their trip begin and return them to Boise Airport by 11:30am the day after they get off the river. Guests can plan their flights to leave Boise at noon or later. Contact us with any questions, concerns, or special travel details you may need.

DRIVING A VEHICLE
Guests driving a personal car or rental car will meet us in Stanley, Idaho the evening before the trip begins. Those guests may leave their vehicles in Stanley while they are on the river for a nominal fee. Guests may also book a shuttle car company to drive their vehicles to the take-out location if they are going in the opposite direction after the trip ends. Driving from any direction is extremely scenic and this works especially well for guests wanting to extend their stay in this beautiful area.

HIRING A PRIVATE CAR SERVICE
Guests may hire a private car service to drive them from Boise to Stanley.

BY AIR TAXI
Some guests desire to skip the drive, and those guests may book a flight with Gem Air. Gem Air flies between Boise to Stanley (where our trip starts), as well as between Salmon and Boise (near where our trip ends). Guests can choose to fly only one of those directions (either before or after the trip) or round trip (both before and after the trip), please contact us for more details on this option.

FLYING TO SUN VALLEY OR IN A PRIVATE PLANE
Guests flying to Sun Valley can use a car service for the 65-mile drive between Sun Valley and Stanley.

Stanley does have an airstrip (2U7), but it is more rugged, and you should speak with your flight operator to determine if your plane can land at this strip. After the trip private planes may pick you up at the Salmon Airport (SMN), this small airport which easily accommodates most aircraft.

We recommend the Mountain Village Lodge; it is the largest hotel in Stanley and is the starting point for our river trip.  Stanley is a very small town, but there are also a few other hotel options and everything in town is within walking distance.  You may want to book a room for the night before your trip begins (those riding ASV’s Airport Shuttle will arrive in Stanley at approximately 6:30pm).  Depending upon your plans after the trip, you may also need a room in Stanley on the day we get off the river (guests riding ASV’s Airport Shuttle will need a room that night).

We hold an orientation meeting with guests the night before launch at River 1 Sporting Goods Store in Stanley, Idaho at 8:00 p.m. River 1 is an exceptional place to get gear for your adventure, with a terrific selection of appropriate clothing and gear at great prices. At orientation we will give each guest their own dry bags and instructions for the next morning. Guest’s personal luggage will be stored the next morning before we leave for the river.

Remote wilderness travel presents many potential risks and hazards. That is why it is critical to experience it under the supervision of highly trained guides familiar with the river and terrain. We have over 25 years of experience and have taken hundreds of families with children down the river without serious issue. Guest safety is our MAIN CONCERN! These are also the best trips, to introduce teenagers and young children to this wilderness and watch them play in the water without a care in the world is a true gift.

While Idaho State Law requires us to have jackets on any child under sixteen (16) years of age any time on the water, we require all of our guests and guides to wear their jackets when on the river.

They will have the time of their life and build amazing memories with you! This is the PERFECT “Family” adventure and we have seen many children show up dismayed that they will not have their cell phones / iPod®s / etc. for a week – only to see them absolutely blossom into full life when they escape the texts / calls / peer pressure that seems to consume them within their lives. Many parents have been delighted to find an opportunity to really connect with their kids – something they haven’t been able to fully do in years. Nature is great for a child’s soul – just as it is for their parents. All of our guides are fantastic with children and love keeping them engaged and active. So you as a parent can relax and enjoy your amazing trip the way you desire!

No!! Yay!! This is truly off the grid and one of the very best parts of the experience. Some guests feel a withdrawal on the first day or two but then really come alive as they connect emotionally with others and the beauty of the mountains and canyons around them in a REAL way. Guests have told us repeatedly that the experience is transformative. This is universally a gift to everyone! Note, however, we carry satellite devices in case of emergencies.

Guests are given an emergency contact number to share with family and friends prior to the trip. In such a situation, our ground staff will get in touch with the Lead Guide as soon as possible and we will work with you to handle the situation. You can rest assured that we will do everything possible to facilitate communication between you and your family/friend and if necessary, make the arrangements to transport you out of the back country.

Absolutely! We have taken many guests who expressed hesitation about camping or being in the wilderness for six (6) days. If this is you, we understand – but we have witnessed those very people enjoying the experience more than their trip mates. You will be very comfortable. We have amazing amenities all set up and waiting for you each day. Comfortable tents, cots, full pillows, warm fleece lined sleeping bags…and a HOT SHOWER!! The list goes on and on. “Pampered Camping” is our Flagship Service.

The one caveat if you are concerned about being warm is you may want to delay your adventure until after mid-June when early season high-water run off is done. That is a wilder, slightly colder experience than the rest of the season.

Weather in the wilderness is by definition WILD and cannot be controlled. However, after 20 years we can make general predictions. The best weather is from mid-June through mid-August, when you can expect mostly warm, dry days – temperature highs in the 80s to 90s. Our guides typically carry only one light jacket that time of year. Late May and Early June has taught us to pack much more! It can be warm but in case it is cooler, you will want to be more prepared.

If you pack according to our suggested packing list, you will be in great shape. If your trip is pending and you want to get a weather forecast please check out the prediction for Salmon, Idaho. The weather in Stanley is consistently 15 – 20 degrees cooler than on the river.

We are very careful to always keep all of our guests comfortable and private. We always set up a toilet system in a remote protected part of camp and use a special privacy tent. We want to assure you that it is very sanitary and we always have a very effective hand wash system with it. You will LOVE our hot shower that we set up at camp in the evenings.

Glad you asked – we send you a detailed Suggested Packing List prior to your trip, however, you may also download the suggested packing list here. If you have any questions or wish to discuss the items you need, we are always happy to answer those questions!

Download our packing guide here

There are very few, if any. That is one of the things that makes the Middle Fork so awesome! The canyon is largely a very dry climate and the river has almost no calm water that would allow mosquitos to breed – so there are very few mosquitoes on the river. Once in a while when we camp near a hot springs we may see a few so we always pack some spray for camp – but get ready to have a relaxing mostly bug-free camping experience.

We provide unlimited amounts of fantastic water for you at all times. Please bring along a personal water bottle and drink up! You will always find hot coffee / teas / hot cocoa / and juice in camp each morning. Lunches will always have Gatorade-type drinks available along with water. In the evening, we serve a variety of very nice wines. If you desire your own wines or other beverages such as beer, liquor, colas or other, please feel free to bring whatever you like. We will pack your beverages for you and make them available each evening in camp. You can purchase almost any type of drink in Stanley the evening before your launch. If you are bringing drinks by the case, that is no problem at all, but please purchase beer in cans and not glass bottles. We always bring a TON of ice!

It will be our pleasure. We routinely work with every conceivable dietary restriction, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, etc. However, it is extremely IMPORTANT this information be communicated with us in advance. We will be delighted to work with you to make certain your needs are met.

Our orientation meeting the evening before your launch is at our very favorite river gear store in the world! River 1 truly understands what gear you will want for our trip and they have terrific fashionable choices at great prices. As outfitters we are eligible to buy gear wholesale from any manufacturer but after 20 years we buy all our gear in Stanley at River 1. We truly believe you will be happy and impressed with what you find.

We will take care of everything for you! If you are driving to Stanley you can make arrangements with Mountain Village Lodge to park your car in their lot while on the river. We will take responsibility for all your other possessions and secure them in a locked warehouse. We will keep everything safe for you and have it waiting for you when you get off the river.

Gratuities are always a personal matter, however, we are often asked what is common so we have observed the following guidelines. The guides work extremely hard and put their hearts and souls into sharing this adventure with you, so if you find that they were a highlight of your experience then it is common and reasonable that they receive 15% – 20% of a party’s total fare, which is shared among all of the guides. If you do not feel that strongly then please follow your heart, they do very much appreciate your generosity.

If you ride with us on our free shuttle service (to and from Boise) we hope you are pleased with the service, a gratuity to the driver would also be highly appreciated.

You can get your fishing license right at the orientation meeting in the River 1 store the evening before your launch (paid in cash). You will need to know your social security number. Or, if you like, you can purchase online from the Idaho Fish & Game office before you arrive.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are coming for our Fall Cast & Blast trip – you will need an upland game hunting license. When you purchase your upland game hunting license, you will be required to either show a valid hunting license in a prior year or in another state, or a valid Hunters Ed Training Certificate.

Central Idaho River Shuttles 208-507-1830

River Shuttles 800-831-8942

Blackadar 208-756-3958

Car Rentals:

Dollar 208-345-9727

Enterprise 800-736-8222

Budget 800-237-7251

Boise/Sun Valley-Stanley Shuttle:

Sun Valley Express 800-634-6539

River Shuttles 800-831-8942

Air taxis:

Gem Air 208 756-7382 – flying@gemairflights.com

McCall Air 800-992-6559

Airlines serving Boise:

United 800-241-6522

Delta 800-221-1212

Southwest 800-435-9792

Northwest 800-225-2525

Horizon 800-547-9308

Airlines Serving Sun Valley:

Horizon 800-547-9308

Skywest 800-453-9417

Stanley Lodging:

Mtn. Village Resort 800-843-5475

Triangle C Cabins 800-303-6258

Salmon Lodging:

Heritage Inn B&B 208-756-3174

Stagecoach Inn 208-756-2919

Super 8 208-756-8880

Trip Cancellation Insurance:

Travel Guard 800-826-1300

Travelex 800-228-9792

Fishing, Hunting Licenses:

Idaho Fish & Game 800-554-8685

Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific question(s). We truly are passionate about our amazing trips and love sharing information, so don’t be shy about reaching out to us for more information.

Day 0
Flying into Boise? No problem. We’ll pick you up!
A pre-trip orientation will occur on the back deck of River 1 in Stanley, Idaho at 8:00 p.m. This is where you will meet the other guests, as well as members of the ASV team who will answer last-minute questions and prep you for the trip. Each guest will receive a dry-bag to take back to your room for repacking of your personal gear and then grab a dinner or drink and enjoy the gorgeous Sawtooth Mountains that surround Stanley.

Day 1
We will meet in the parking lot of the Mountain Village Lodge at approx. 8:00 a.m. (you will be given the time at orientation). We will make the 90-minute scenic drive over Banner Summit and down into the Middle Fork corridor to the launch site (this is the last road access until we take out on Day 6). When conditions require it (usually in later summer), we will board a small air taxi in Stanley and fly to an airstrip down river. This does not affect the duration or experience you can expect on the trip, in fact the flight is quite exciting. Either way, rafts and guides are already there, awaiting your arrival.

Days 2 thru Morning of Day 6
Charmed days on the river. Highlights may include rapids, hiking, Indian sites, hot springs, swimming, wildlife sightings, catching trout, trying out an inflatable kayak, swapping stories with new friends around the campfire, or watching the some of the darkest sky space in the lower 48 states (the milky way looks a mile wide).

Day 6 (Afternoon)
When we reluctantly pull the boats ashore, our motor coach will be waiting. After lunch, we drive you 2 hrs. to Salmon, Idaho, and drop any guests departing from Salmon. Then we proceed an additional 2.5 hrs back to Stanley, arriving at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Day 7 (and the rest of your life)
Guests riding our motor coach back to Boise depart for Boise in the morning (the driver will provide you with the departure time when he drops you off on Day 6). Arriving by 11:30am for your commercial flights home.

Please understand that, because of the limited number of seats we are allowed to sell each summer as per very strict river management regulations, we cannot offer to take the financial loss associated with guest cancellations, even for emergencies.

Once we accept a deposit or payment we forfeit our right and ability to sell that seat to others who may desire it!

For this reason, in the case of a guest cancellation, deposits and payments are not refundable for ANY reason. We strongly suggest you investigate trip insurance. We are happy to transfer your seat to an alternate guest at no charge. Additionally, when we are informed of a desire to cancel we will attempt to re-book those previously sold seats. If we are able to re-book them to an interested party, we will refund the monies. Otherwise all deposits and payments are non refundable.