Salmon River rafting with Wapiti River Guides

Salmon River rafting with Wapiti River Guides Owner operated ( EST. 1979. Gary Lane (wildlife Biologist) turned guide.. with over 47 years experie Welcome to Wapiti River Guides. SO WHY CHOOSE WAPITI ?

Located in Riggins, Idaho on the Salmon River. Gary (Wildlife Biologist & Owner of Wapiti and the man who has been guiding guests down the river now for over 40 years) will be your host and lead guide on most every trip we offer. Our highly personalized itineraries allow you to avoid crowds and enjoy more unfettered elbow room. Our back to nature getaways are professional journeys WITHOUT the commercial feel. As you browse our page, you will see the many things we DO have...but most importantly it's what we DON'T have (like crowds of people) that makes us unique and special. We are the "ALTERNATIVE DESTINATION"

Our company was started by Gary over 47 years ago and has never changed hands in all that time. He is also on every trip that we run, as we try to book our trips so he can be the lead guide. We hire experienced extra guides on a as needed basis. Small group travel is the only genuine way to achieve this more authentic experience of nature. We believe that most people are doing river trips to "get away" from crowds of people and the city rat race they must endure to make a living. Thus the reason we run a different type of trip in order to better accommodate the expectations of our guests.Our priority is to allow you to have a unique,fun, and safe river experience without crowds of people. We book our trips in a manner that will allow YOU, our guests in most cases to go on a river trip with their OWN family or friends. Most of the time we are able to do this and our guest tell us over and over how much they appreciate not being added onto a trip with with 20 or 30 people. This way we actually get to know and talk one on one with every guest on our trip. We have made many lifelong friends because of this, which is one of the big rewards of this business. Contact Gary or Barb Lane, we would love to make you one of our friends !! Wapiti doesn’t conform to the normal cookie-cutter guide or river company business model. Yes, we dance to a different drum beat. However, whom would you rather travel with, a 19 year old (or younger) guide for hire (guiding while out of school for summer break) or the owner of the company with over 50 years of actual hands-on guiding experience? Gary Lane is also a trained wildlife biologist with a great appreciation for indigenous knowledge and worldview. WHY DOES IT MATTER WHO YOU CHOOSE TO TRAVEL WITH ? The same reason it matters when you choose to fly on an airline with a highly experienced pilot like “Sully” Sullenberger who successfully crash-landed a US Airways jet in the Hudson River after it lost both engines in a collision with a flock of geese. Or the same reason it matters when choosing a surgeon to operate on you or a family member. EXPERIENCE MATTERS when you choose to participate in a risk taking adventure.

** Just a side note: Many people ask why the name "Wapiti" River Guides? They sometimes ask where the Wapiti River is? Because there was a time when we did guided "Elk" trips on the Grande Ronde River in Oregon and "Wapiti" is a Shawnee word meaning "Elk".... and no, I do not know where the Wapiti River is..(this is also a question I have been asked.. :)

Tis the season of celebrations and motivations,Families getting together for the holidays for actual face time, rather t...
12/24/2025

Tis the season of celebrations and motivations,

Families getting together for the holidays for actual face time, rather than Facebook time, is the best gift to offer one another, aside from Santa Claus and small kids. In alignment with the spirit of giving, and probably more honestly, that of being much more motivated now, I am significantly lowering the price of my river business, to free my own spirit even more.

For those who are not aware, I have sold all of my river business, except for one last section, and probably the most valuable, which is the Riggins area: SA7A (Vinegar Creek to Hammer creek). This is a huge opportunity for someone with the capital resources, who can take advantage at a negotiable bargain (with an already slashed price). For more details, and price, text me at 208:304-3353 for my email and the main path to more info, or call.

So, if anyone here on Facebook is interested, (using messenger is ok, too) or have friends, or friends of friends who might be interested, please pass this info out along this cyber-grapevine to jumpstart the ripple effect. Thank you.

Cheerful Festivities,

Gary and the girls
(Sugar & Willow - my 4-legged sidekicks, that I don’t actually kick, but get a kick out of).

The only time a king is good, is when it is a King Salmon returning to rule the Salmon River in Idaho. Love for America....
10/18/2025

The only time a king is good, is when it is a King Salmon returning to rule the Salmon River in Idaho. Love for America. Love for Idaho. Love for King Salmon.

Attention surfaholic kayakers: special BYOK - bring your own kayak - for a 4-day Lower Salmon River trip at half price: ...
08/04/2025

Attention surfaholic kayakers: special BYOK - bring your own kayak - for a 4-day Lower Salmon River trip at half price: $700 per person. August 19-22, 2025. Limited to six paddlers. Great play waves, fun rapids, wonderful white sand campsites, exquisite canyon with micro gorges with hemmed in walls. You play your heart out in your empty boat, whileI run your baggage and do all the cooking. Minimum work, maximum fun. Play your brains out. Give me a call. 208-304-3353.

Late this afternoon a short, but intense lighting and thunder storm moved over town. I saw some bolts directly across th...
08/04/2025

Late this afternoon a short, but intense lighting and thunder storm moved over town. I saw some bolts directly across the river from my place high on the backside of the ridge. Not long after I heard choppers and soon they were circling above analyzing what must have been a small fire. Then one that looks like a preying mantis dropped to the river, sucked up some water and took it to the ridge top about 3 trips worth, before leaving.

I drove upriver later and could see that they pounced soon enough on the flames that I could barely see what had burned. Of course, that it is rock, grass, and mahogany, not much was in that location to generate a big fire, thanks to very little wind, too.

Thanks to the fly boys for taking to the skies and gallant efforts to curb any potential serious conflagration from escalating.

Back to the HomelandIt was by good chance that the recent celebration of life for my Uncle Jack in Cove, happened durin...
07/21/2025

Back to the Homeland

It was by good chance that the recent celebration of life for my Uncle Jack in Cove, happened during the same time frame as the Nez Perce Powwow in Wallowa, called The Tamkaliks Celebration. It means : “from where you can see the mountains.” It was good to return to where my ancestors lived, and I spent a lot of time growing up, fishing and hiking in my homeland, which is also close to the homeland of the Nez Perce, since time immemorial. I first attended the Tamkaliks Celebration in about its third year, (1992) when it was moved to a 325 acre frontage along the Wallowa River. It is now property of the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, so descendants no longer have to live in exile of this area, despite the fact that Chief Joseph was never allowed to return to his beloved Wallowa Homeland, and is buried in Nespelem,WA. The celebration is an example of the continued strength of Nez Perce culture and a place where descendants and visitors can share together in friendship and celebration for a hopeful future.

Perhaps it is a sign that words of Chief Joseph are beginning to come true: ”Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself - and I will obey every law..Whenever the white man treats an Indian as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars. We shall all be like brothers of one father and one mother, with one sky above us and one country around us…that all people may be one People.” Hinmatoowyalahtg’it 1879.

The photos are of the Grand Entry and Men's Traditional on the last day of the Celebration. July 20, 2025.

OK, Goldielocks ran away, and now the feistier gremlins come out to play. Translation: as the river keeps dropping, some...
06/29/2025

OK, Goldielocks ran away, and now the feistier gremlins come out to play. Translation: as the river keeps dropping, some of the main named rapids (like Chair, Trap, and Ladder) gather some real UMPH and create bow to the sky for maximum Kick-A rides. Rowdy Fun! Do it in a dory or raft before the bonier runs begin to show up,

06/19/2025

Do it in a dory while the Salmon River is in its "Goldielocks water level" not too high, not too low, but just right, for good, clean, big fun. I am now running a special 2 hour run for only $50 per person while "Goldielocks" continues to grace us with her presence. Call my new number: 208-304-3353

Fish are on their way and now is the time to reserve a spot to fish with us. $200/person. Call my new number 208:315-245...
05/20/2025

Fish are on their way and now is the time to reserve a spot to fish with us. $200/person. Call my new number 208:315-2451 for booking trips.
Reconnect to one another while you fish and drink in the beauty of the riverscape as seen from the perspective of the drift boat experience. Fishing is only 4 days a week: Thursday to Sunday.

The harvest share is not predicted to last a very long time.

Sooner is better than later if you want a chance to catch salmon this season.

A Giant Chinook Thank You to all who attended yesterday’s 24th Sacred Salmon Ceremony. We were all of one mind and heart...
05/12/2024

A Giant Chinook Thank You to all who attended yesterday’s 24th Sacred Salmon Ceremony. We were all of one mind and heart, reminding ourselves and the fish that we are doing all we can to appreciate their gift to our communities and will continue doing all the essential things to help reduce all man-made resistances in their path to the spawning grounds. For the future generations of fish and people, it would be nice for Idaho’s Salmon River to be recognized as the “River 0f Always Return.”

Welcome Home Salmon Nation. This weekend, May 11, 2024 is the 24th Sacred Salmon Ceremony at Springbar, noon, mountain ...
05/08/2024

Welcome Home Salmon Nation. This weekend, May 11, 2024 is the 24th Sacred Salmon Ceremony at Springbar, noon, mountain time. It is a bicultural celebration to rekindle kinships between fish, wildlife, and people of the river and land. It is open to everyone, is free, and a non-alcohol event. River people are encouraged to bring their boats to participate in the sacred eddy-circle procession. A Talking Circle will follow the Eddy Ceremony, where anyone that wishes to share their thoughts will have that opportunity. Concluding that, there will be time for visiting and socializing where new friendships can be kindled and old ones respirited. May The Salmon Circle Be Forever.

Address

128 N Main Street
Riggins, ID
83549

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 7pm
Sunday 8am - 7pm

Telephone

(208) 628-3523

Website

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