Paddle with a Pro
Date: 6/19/2023 – 6/24/2023
Length: 6 days
Minimum Age: 16 (Must be accompanied by adult)
River Rating: Class II-III
Includes: Lodging, meals, and equipment
From: $2399
Paddle with a Pro
FUN. ADVENTURE. GROW.
Educating and inspiring through authentic outdoor experiences.
DATES & RATES
OVERVIEW
Do you have a solid roll, but are not confident enough to try a boof? In this course, we will focus on the intricacies of River Running. The friendly nature of the Salmon, big, deep, pool drop rapids, allows you a safe place to hone your skills. The focus will be on the timing and placement of your strokes, boofing, eddy hopping, ferrying, scouting, and setting safety. We have access to 45 miles of various Class I-IV whitewater framed in the stunning scenery that provides the perfect mix of education and exploration!
Accommodations: Surrounded by the Salmon-Challis National Forest on 3 sides, our 23-acre hidden paradise sits directly on the banks of the Salmon River. All of our students will stay in canvas wall tents with a Queen size bed or 2 twin cots. The recently remodeled Bath and Shower House is nearby. All meals will be prepared by a professional chef and we source as much local and organic food as possible. We do have a Trading Post where students can purchase needed items in case they lose or forget something.
*Please be sure to let us know if you have any special dietary restrictions.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 5 guided lessons (one instructor per 1-4 guests)
- Healthy local and organic meals
- Transportation to/from Salmon
- “Glamping” in our unique canvas wall tents
- Video analysis of each session
- All of your photos and videos
- Kayaking equipment
- Daily am yoga
Not Included: Flight, travel insurance
OUR DEFINITION OF HAVING THE "BASICS OF KAYAKING"
- You are a confident swimmer and are able to paddle your own kayak
- You can manage carrying your own gear to and from the river
- You can perform a combat roll at least 3/5 of the time
- You are able to catch an eddy
- You can identify hazards in the river and understand river hand signals/communication
VIDEO ANALYSIS AND COACHING - HOW IT WORKS
- We will take photos and film your lessons
- You and your coach will analyze it together
- Your coach will provide feedback, tips, and corrections as well as practice the maneuvers on the water
- You keep the footage
REVIEWS
What People are Saying
We had a great family trip with SRA last summer, even in the face of difficult circumstances with the Moose fire. The folks at SRA went above and beyond to make the trip a success. Strongly recommend.
We love this camp. My kids had an absolute blast and an adventure they will never forget. This place is a treasure, a true Wild West experience, and a dream in the making. It’s camp with kayaking as the activity. The setup is perfect for basically all levels. Beginners can learn in deep, clear, class 2 rapids. The water is not that cold in July. More advanced boaters will have a blast playing and working on tricks in Idaho class 3 and 4. Kids that are already running class 5 rapids and want to go to Keeners will have just as much fun here and maybe more. The options are limitless.My daughter Lucy was worried she’d be the only girl but it ended up being about half and half and she can’t wait to return. We dropped the kids off and explored the surrounding area. A lifetime of adventure surrounds this place. Hot springs, adventurous mountain bike rides, kayaking, backpacking, you name it.Sign up early and plan a trip. I’m a big believer in low expectations so my advice is to not talk it up too much to your kids. Get the ball rolling and let it be what it is.I can’t say enough. We are full of gratitude for the bold dreams and hard work of the Hilleke family, the heartfelt dedication from the staff, and also the heroic efforts of the firefighters to spare this place as the Moose fire burned through.Thank you! And we we wish you the best!Sam
Our daughter had a wonderful time and couldn’t stop talking about all the staff and campers. She left kayak camp feeling confident in her ability to wet exit and read water. She didn’t get her roll but in listening to her process the experience, it’s clear her instructors and staff were supportive, knowledgeable and fun! She/we can’t wait for next summer. As soon as she got in the car, she was talking about the two week option.
The crew at Salmon River Adventure Co were amazing, kind and knew their stuff. My children went for a weeklong summer camp and had a blast. We will be back for certain. It’s a perfect little spot along the river -pastoral and pristine. Our hosts Polly and Tommy were welcoming kind and oh so generous. Deepest gratitude for a wonderful week on the river. see you next season.
My 15-year-old son finally asked to learn how to paddle. Rather than sacrifice him to the river gods, like the well-meaning friends who taught me 30 years ago, we decided learning from experts was the way to go. The combination of delicious food, non-stop games/activities for the kids (when they're not in the river) and a stellar location made for an ideal week off-the-grid. The instructors were patient, knowledgeable and encouraging. Our trip was truncated due to injury and a forest fire but neither did anything to take away from the experience. My son has the caught the bug and made clear his intention to be back next summer for more. I'm fully onboard.
Can't recommend Salmon River Adventure Company highly enough. Had an amazing whitewater raft trip on the lower river the first day and decided on a full-day inflatable kayak trip the second. Polly and Tommy are outstanding hosts and our guides (David, Karley, and Allie) were fantastic. Will definitely be returning!
Amazing experience! Lot of fun! Every moment of the experience was memorable and enjoyable, from the time we arrived to check in, throughout the time on the water, and afterwards. The staff were kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their work. We adored our guide as both a professional and as a person. I cannot speak highly enough about Salmon River Adventure Company! We will definitely do another trip when we return to Salmon.
This was LIFE CHANGING for our 15 year old son. The team at SRAC took excellent care of him. When we dropped him off he had just started rolling in the river after running rivers on rafts for many years. When we picked him up, we had the chance to bring him to the Middle Fork for a week on the river together. We didn't expect him to be ready to kayak the entire stretch, but thanks to the excellent river safety and paddling skills taught by this team at SRAC, our kiddo was confident, smart, and SOLID on the river! He paddled the entire stretch and showed river savvy on waves, scouting rapids, playing, catching essential eddies, and even helping out some swimmers. Thank you for instilling the kind of river ethic that has already changed how his life will turn out. The campground and facilities helped the kids feel and you could feel the way everyone of all levels progressed and connected throughout the week. The incredible instruction, positive guides, and river competence will have us coming back year after year.
The owners, Polly and Tommy, have created something truly magical at the Salmon River Adventure Company. It's a spectacular riverside location on the site of a former Boy Scout camp with all the facilities you need and nothing you don't.I camped for a week with my two kids (ages 12 and 14) who were part of a kid's kayaking camp (Full disclosure, I'm friends with the owners, so I got to camp with them). Both my kids had an incredible time and were paddling class II-III whitewater with confidence by the end of the week. Their guides made their experience so fun, safe, and inspiring that I'm now shopping for two new kayaks.The camping is peaceful, the bathhouse is clean and newly renovated, and the kitchen serves up tasty meals. Most importantly, the staff is amazing, with tons of experience and positive, infectious energy.Whether you're staying for a week and learning to kayak for the first time, or just rafting for a day, I can guarantee that the team at SRAC will provide you and your family with an amazing adventure.
Elite Kayak Coaching
Take your kayaking skills to the next level and learn from the best! Tommy Hilleke is a 6x Green River Narrows Champion and has many first descents around the world. This experience is designed for people who already have the basics of kayaking down and are eager to refine their skills and technique to begin to run more challenging whitewater. Our main focus is to give you the physical, mental, and technical tools to keep you progressing when you return home.
