Selway

Location: Northern Idaho (about 170 miles northeast of Boise). One of the most remote rivers in the lower 48 states, the Selway cuts through the 1.3-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, among the most beautiful anywhere.

Length of trips: 47 miles in four or five days. To preserve the pristine setting, the Forest Service allows only one trip to set off each day from mid-May through July.

Season: Mid-May through July. The water flow usually peaks in May and June.

Weather: Boaters generally wear dry suits until July. In May and June melting snow feeds the river, which can be as cold as 38°F even though the air temperature can rise into the 80s. In June the water is at its highest—and wildest. Sometimes late snows on Nez Perce Pass block access to the river into June. In July the water levels usually drop, making the white water a little less dangerous but still spectacular. The fishing improves as the water drops and clears, and the weather is usually warmer and drier. By late July the water levels can drop so low that large rafts can’t run the upper river. Flights by small plane to a landing strip along a lower section of the river can sometimes extend the rafting season.

Lodging: Superb campsites on sandy beaches fringed with ferns and mosses.

Boats: Kayaks, oar boats, paddle rafts.

Rapids: 45 named rapids Class II or higher. In May and June the water can be as chilly as 38°, due to snow runoff. It’s a bit warmer—and clearer—in July. Occasionally rains trigger a landslide on one of the side creeks feeding into the Selway, resulting in silty or muddy conditions.

Special features:

  • One of the premier white-water wilderness trips in the country.
  • Steep, rugged river canyon with scenic views of forested mountains.
  • Top-notch catch-and-release fishing (bull trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, whitefish).
  • Scattered remnants of the Nez Perce Indians.
  • Hiking.
  • Wildflowers until mid-June.
  • Swimming in July.
  • Mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, black bears, golden eagles, hawks, grouse.
  • Wilderness solitude.
  • Suitable for intermediate and experienced boaters.

Nearby excursions:

  • Selway Falls.
  • Clearwater Battlefield.

Outfitters:

The three outfitters authorized to raft the Selway are:

  • American River Touring Association, 24000 Casa Loma Road, Groveland, California 95321; +1 209 962 7873 or 800 323 2782, fax +1 209 962 4819. Try to book at least a year ahead.
  • Northwest River Company, P.O. Box 403, Boise, Idaho 83701; +1 208 344 7119 or 800 867 7238, fax +1 208 322 5039. Try to book at least a year ahead.
  • Whitewater Adventures, P.O. Box 7071, Boise, Idaho 83707; +1 208 939 4324 or 800 432 4611. Try to book at least a year ahead.
  • For a list of Idaho outfitters, contact the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, P.O. Box 95, Boise, Idaho 83701; +1 208 342 1919 or 800 847 4843, fax +1 208 338 7830.

For more information:

  • Idaho Travel Council, 700 West State Street, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0093; +1 208 334 2470 or 800 635 7820, fax +1 208 334 2631. Ask for the “Official Idaho State Travel Guide.”
  • Selway story in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, July/August 1996. To order a copy, please click here.

 
 
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© 1996 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.

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