Sawtooth Adventure Company — Local services in Stanley

I am from South Dakota and my wife LaRayne, 13 year-old daughter Sage and I traveled on a mountain biking trip through WY, UT, MT, and ID. It was our first time in Idaho and we had a day off and spontaneously decided to raft the next day. LaRayne called the first place she found online and was able to book a trip for the next afternoon with Sawtooth along the Salmon River. We turned up early to see if we could visit with someone further about what we would need for the trip, specifically for our daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes and needs to carry insulin and supplies with her wherever she goes. When we walked in the door, there was a young man sitting behind the counter, surrounded by Grateful Dead stickers, shirts, hats, hoodies that were tied in with the SAC logo. As a Deadhead, I knew I had turned up in the right place! I left with SAC/Dead schwag before I even got on a raft.

The young man was very helpful and answered our many questions and put our mind at ease about Sage's diabetic supplies. We left to hang out at the river, then returned at our scheduled time and met our guide, Charlie, and the other couple that we would be on the raft with, completing our group of six. Charlie and the other guides were great fun on the ride to the put-in and Charlie was like an old friend by the time the ride was over. She told us how to row as a team, how to handle the rapids (class 3, tops, which was moderate and was perfect for my family), and how to never let go of the t handle, which is the end of the paddle. Sage and I sat in the front, and, in spite of Charlie's warning, on the first class 3 (there were two of them), Sage let go of her t handle and cracked me in the jaw, then screamed and held on to me. We then moved to the second row and let the couple with us have the front seat.

Charlie kept it lively with information about the river and area and herself and was willing to answer any questions we had as we went along. Her rafting jokes were on point, as well. We were entertained. During the second class 3 rapid we found ourselves sideways on a large rock, but Charlie had instructed us what to do in this situation, so we didn't worry and began to follow the protocol of leaning as a unit. The next thing I knew, I was underwater. I quickly found the surface and my family and my other raft mates. We were all safe and were floating downstream through the rapids in a seated position, feet-first, in Lazy-boy fashion, just like Charlie taught us. One by one, Charlie drug us all back in the boat, where we all laughed and talked about the experience. Suspiciously, Charlie was the only one not thrown into the water...hmmmm. It turns out that Charlie had never tossed her clients before. I have also been on many rafting trips and had never been dumped, either. For my family, though, it was the absolute highlight of the trip and we talk about it more than any part of the rafting experience.

For me, the only memory that could compete is when we eddied out shortly after that and clients were given the opportunity to jump from a rock into a 20-foot hole while being fed with home-made dessert bars made by the guides. None of the rest our crew jumped, but I went off twice with Charlie and another of the guides, Maya.

In all, the time with Sawtooth was perfect. Every part of it. It suited my daredevil needs and was perfect for the beginning rafters in my family. Charlie became a friend on the river and it was obvious that the guides and the employees of Sawtooth are a close-knit family. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat and would highly recommend SAC for you and your family. The Grateful Dead was the icing on the cake!!!

Thanks SAC, from the Woster family, for...

Even the Rain Couldn’t Ruin This Adventure!

We had such an incredible experience with Sawtooth Adventure Company—even with the rain, it turned into one of those unforgettable, joy-filled days you can’t stop smiling about.

We braved Class 3 rapids (MY FIRST TIME) with the amazing Kaiya as our river guide. She was confident, fun, and so in tune with both the river and the group. Her calm energy and sense of humor made the adventure feel exciting but never intimidating. We felt safe, supported, and fully immersed in the moment—even soaked in rain!

Our bus driver Scarlett was equally fantastic—warm, funny, and just the kind of person you love to start and end your trip with. She made the ride feel like part of the adventure itself.

We also had two other wonderful guides leading the other rafts—everyone brought such great energy and encouragement. One of the most memorable moments was watching a group of young adults from Maine—way braver than we were!—all jump off Jump Rock into the freezing river. Total rockstars. We cheered them on from the boat while being very content to stay dry-ish.

And to top it all off? Grace’s chocolate chip cookie bars on the ride back—pure happiness after a wet and wild afternoon.

Highly, highly recommend this company, and if you’re lucky enough to have Kaiya guiding your raft and Scarlett behind the wheel, you’re in for a truly unforgettable day.

Warmly, Scott Summerlin &...

My white water rafting trip with Sawtooth Adventure Company was an absolute triumph, largely due to our phenomenal guide, Hans, whose unparalleled expertise and radiant passion elevated the experience to extraordinary heights. Hans’s remarkable ability to foster a safe and nurturing environment allowed us to fully embrace the exhilarating rapids with confidence and joy. His eagle-eyed vigilance gifted us with breathtaking wildlife sightings, including a regal bald eagle and a graceful osprey, moments that felt like pure magic. With an encyclopedic knowledge of the area, Hans wove captivating stories and delightful tidbits about the region’s history and ecology, making every paddle stroke a journey through time. His infectious enthusiasm and genuine care for each of us transformed the trip into a soul-stirring adventure that will live in my heart forever. Sawtooth Adventure Company’s flawless organization and top-tier equipment were the perfect backdrop to Hans’s masterful guidance. I can’t sing Hans’s praises loudly enough—he’s a true legend, and this company is a gem for delivering such an awe-inspiring experience!

As a reminder! Your guide may tip you over, but you can't...