These specialty rafting trips in Idaho are a Hughes tradition, they highlight special events, special trip focus, or simply an activity that we “outfit & guide” rarely. If you have an idea for a cool trip let us know. We’ll work with you to make it a reality!
*The below SPECIALTY TRIPS are listed in chronological order.*
TRIP: Whitewater & Wildflowers Special
RIVERS: Middle Fork of the Salmon & Main Salmon River of No Return
The Early Summer brings big whitewater and spectacular wildflowers, fields of native green grasses, forests of beautiful fresh rejuvenating trees and brush along the Frank Church Wilderness landscape! This is a great date to come along on a Salmon River Trip to get the most out of both the natural beauty of life returning to the canyon and the beginning of the push of water flowing through the veins of Idaho back to the Pacific Ocean.
Middle Fork Salmon Trip Dates
- June 4-8, 2025
- 5 Days/4 Nights
Middle Fork Salmon Trip Rates
- $3350/adult; $3225/youth
We are now booking Middle Fork Salmon River Trips for 2025 & 2026! To learn more or book a trip click the link below!
Price doesn’t include $4/person/day US Forest Recreation Enhancement Act Fee or $150/person flight, Stanley to the river put-in, payable directly to the pilots at the time of your flight.
TRIP: Fourth of July
RIVERS: Main Salmon River of No Return
Celebrate the 4th of July in the Central Idaho Backcountry and the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness! Beautiful sand beaches, fun whitewater, and amazing canyon-lands make this the perfect spot to relax your way through the holidays!
Dates
- July 2-7, 2025
- 6 Days/5 Nights
Rates
- $2875/adult; $2699/youth
We are now booking Main Salmon River Trips for 2025 & 2026! To learn more or book a trip click the link below!
Price doesn’t include $4/person/day US Forest Recreation Enhancement Act Fee.
TRIP: August & September Fly Fishing
RIVER: Middle Fork of the Salmon
Enjoy the wild & scenic Middle Fork during Idaho’s late summer/early fall. Fly fish for wild, westslope cutthroat trout in gin clear water. For full details check our our Middle Fork of the Salmon page.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a Blue Ribbon Westslope Cutthroat Trout fishery and is best fished in August & September. Between fishing from our HRE fly fishing boats to hiking up some of it’s world class walk & wade tributaries this is a truly special opportunity to fish your way through an all-inclusive trip in the heart of one of America’s last true wilderness areas!
6 Day/5 Night Trip Dates
- August 17-22, 2025
- September 2-7, 2025
- September 11-16, 2025
Rates
- $4824/Angler (2 Anglers Minimum Required)
5 Day/4 Night Trip Dates
- August 25-29, 2025
Rates
- $4425/Angler (2 Anglers Minimum Required)
Details
Our Fly Fishing Boats are Hyside Pro 13.5′ self-bailing rafts with custom fishing frame setups. They have a front Bench Seat with a stand up brace bar and back swivel seats for the rear angler. The increased price of an angler seat from a “regular seat” on our trips is due to paying for an additional guide as we have to increase the number of guides per trip for each fishing boat booked and decrease the number of client spots per trip. Our “regular seats” average 4-5 people per boat per guide while our angler seats are booked on special fishing boats with 2 anglers per boat per guide.
We provide all gear you will need for your fishing boat including but not limited to; rods, reels, leaders, tippet, flies, hemostats, nippers, floatant, weight, strike indicators, etc. Our trips are all inclusive and all you need to bring are the clothes you will wear. You are welcome to bring your own set up and flies if you’d like as there is space for you to do so but we have you covered if you’d prefer not to travel with that gear.
We use Orris Clearwater II rods and reels. We always provide backups as well incase of an accident resulting in a broken rod or dysfunctional reel.
We are now booking Middle Fork Salmon River Trips for 2025 & 2026! To learn more or book a trip click the link below!
Price doesn’t include $4/person/day US Forest Recreation Enhancement Act Fee or $150/person flight, Stanley to the river put-in, payable directly to the pilots at the time of your flight.
TRIP: Annual Jazz Trip
RIVER: Main Salmon River
Our Jazz Trio or Quartet (year to year) plays for an hour prior to dinner each evening. We haven’t moved the Jazz Trip in some time and we wanted to get it over to the Main Salmon River of No Return for a change of scenery. This is a very special trip that has become a fan favorite! It books up quickly so don’t wait until the last minute!
Band Biography
A trio from Minneapolis will be performing on this years’ Jazz Float sponsored by Hughes River Expeditions.
Michael Dripps is a pianist and keyboard player who graduated from the Berklee College of Music. He has performed for over 25 years in a variety of musical groups from jazz trios to tribute bands to high energy party bands.He holds a patent for a computer-based sight-reading technology, demonstrating aptitude for integrating music and technology. He also contributed to the music of the popular talking dog films, Air Buddies, adding another dimension to his varied musical career.
Dave Hanzel has been active in the music business for over forty years. He has played in venues hosting national artists such as Celine Deon, Donny Osmond and more. He currently plays in a variety of settings from corporate shows, public and private events etc. He owns his own custom drum business, Boom Alley Drums.
Dave Mendenhall is a bassist/ flutist and has been an active freelance musician for over 50 years playing a wide variety of musical styles as well as playing stage shows, musical theater, and in demand party bands. He was a public school band director for 35 yrs. He was also the creator and conductor of an annual Christmas show for his church of over 5,000 congregants. Dave has been playing on the river with Hughes for over 15 years and loving every moment of it.
When playing together, they were the heart & soul of the most award winning band in the Twin Cities area. They will be playing jazz, pop, & rock hits for you to enjoy.
Trip Dates
- August 27-Sept 1, 2025
- 6 Days/5 Nights
Rates
- $2675/adult; $2499/youth
We are now booking Main Salmon River Trips for 2025 & 2026! To learn more or book a trip click the link below!
Price doesn’t include $4/person/day US Forest Recreation Enhancement Act Fee.