Jackson Hole: Snake River Small Raft Whitewater Paddle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (164 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/14

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Whitewater rafting snake river jackson hole small boat adventure

You’ll paddle hard through legendary Snake River rapids near Jackson Hole in a nimble small-group raft — no hiding from the splash here. With a local guide leading your crew past Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter waves, you’ll feel every surge and chill. Includes pickup, all gear, and riverside changing rooms so you can end your day dry-ish and grinning.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Whitewater rafting on Snake River

Check in at Jackson office
Receive gear and wetsuits
Drive 30 minutes to Snake River Canyon
Meet guide and get safety talk
Suit up with PFDs and splash gear
Launch on smallest paddle-only raft
Paddle through Big Kahuna rapid
Paddle through Lunch Counter rapid
Use riverside changing rooms
Shuttle back to office
View trip photos and shop
Tip your guide

The Experience

I didn’t really know what I was signing up for when I picked the “small boat” whitewater rafting trip on the Snake River, just that I wanted something real — not one of those float-and-snap-a-photo deals. The office in Jackson was buzzing, people wriggling into wetsuits (kids under 12 get them free, which is honestly pretty nice), and the guides had that calm-but-slightly-wicked look. Our guide, Jamie, handed out splash jackets and told us to stash dry clothes for later — “You’ll thank me.” She grinned like she’d seen a lot of people underestimate this river.

The drive out to Snake River Canyon took maybe half an hour, windows down and that mountain air mixing with sunscreen and river mud. At the ramp, Jamie gave us the safety rundown (“Don’t let go of your paddle, unless you want to meet it downstream”) and then we launched. No heavy oar frame — just eight of us paddling hard, right at water level. It’s wild how much louder the rapids sound when you’re basically sitting in them. My hands stung from the cold spray but I couldn’t stop laughing when we hit Lunch Counter; I think I swallowed half the Snake. Everyone high-fived after Big Kahuna, totally soaked and weirdly proud.

I still think about how alive I felt after those eight miles — arms burning, hair plastered to my face, shoes squelching as we changed by the riverbank. The shuttle back was quieter; everyone sort of spaced out or swapping stories about who got hit hardest by which wave (pretty sure it was me). Back at the office there were photos up already — my expression in one is pure terror-turned-joy. If you want a day trip from Jackson Hole that’s more than just sightseeing, this whitewater rafting tour is it.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Jackson office, all necessary gear like Coast Guard-approved life jackets and splash jackets (plus free wetsuits for kids), professional local guides leading your crew through eight miles of Class II-III whitewater rapids, use of riverside changing rooms at take-out, and return transport back to town — so you can focus on paddling (and laughing) instead of logistics.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Lewis and Clark River Expeditions