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Get ready to paddle hard and get soaked on an eight-mile family-friendly stretch of the Snake River. This stable 16-person standard raft serves up class II–III rapids, limestone cliffs, and big mountain views just outside downtown Jackson.
Get ready to paddle hard and get soaked on an eight-mile family-friendly stretch of the Snake River. This stable 16-person standard raft serves up class II–III rapids, limestone cliffs, and big mountain views just outside downtown Jackson.
The raft sits low in the water and the Snake River dares you to lean forward. Paddles slap in sync as the guide reads the current, and in an instant the boat charges into Lunch Counter — a churning seam of foam that lifts the bow and sends laughter soaring. Around you, limestone bluffs and stands of lodgepole pine tilt toward the river, while distant peaks of the Gros Ventre and Teton horizons pin the sky.
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Operated by Dave Hansen White Water Scenic River Trips · Jackson, Wyoming
The raft sits low in the water and the Snake River dares you to lean forward. Paddles slap in sync as the guide reads the current, and in an instant the boat charges into Lunch Counter — a churning seam of foam that lifts the bow and sends laughter soaring. Around you, limestone bluffs and stands of lodgepole pine tilt toward the river, while distant peaks of the Gros Ventre and Teton horizons pin the sky.
This eight-mile stretch out of Jackson is compact drama: class II and III rapids like Big Kahuna and Champagne (an underwater drop with a personality) alternate with long, reflective pools where osprey hover and river otters slip invisible trails. The Snake has been a corridor for millennia — ancestral lands of Shoshone-speaking peoples and later a route for trappers, ranchers, and early tourists drawn to the grandeur of the valley. Geologically, the river has carved through Paleozoic limestone and Pleistocene alluvium, exposing shelves and eddies that shape each rapid’s character.
Culturally, Jackson Hole is equal parts cowboy town and conservation gateway. The trip launches from downtown at 225 West Broadway, and guides will often point out the town’s historic square and the woven cattle ranching culture that still runs deep here. You’ll also touch Bridger-Teton public lands; the modest user fee charged at check-in helps fund trail and river stewardship.
Practically, this is a family-friendly whitewater run with a stable, 16-person standard raft offering a middle seat for smaller kids or anyone who wants to hold tight. Expect to get soaked — guides recommend synthetic layers only, and a dry set of clothes on the bus. The trip is roughly four hours total, including meet-up, safety orientation, and the float itself. Arrival is 45 minutes before launch; there is no hotel pickup.
Tips for planning: wear quick-drying shoes that lock to the foot, layer thin synthetics under a light spray jacket in shoulder seasons, and bring a small dry bag for essentials. Cameras should be secured — consider a waterproof point-and-shoot or an action cam on a wrist tether.
The run is equal parts adrenaline and scenery: rapid sequences that demand good teamwork at the oar, interspersed with quiet moments for wildlife watching and landscape shots. For families, it’s a compact, high-fun way to meet the river and leave with a story — and a good story means you came off the water smiling, soaked, and ready to plan the next trip.
The raft accommodates families and is stable for children, but check operator age guidelines; small kids often sit in the middle and must be supervised.
Yes — guides warn participants that you will get soaked; wear synthetics and bring a dry change of clothes.
No food is included and restroom access is limited; eat beforehand and plan restroom stops before check-in.
Guests 16 and over pay a $3 Bridger-Teton National Forest user fee at check-in.
Yes — personal flotation devices and paddles are provided, and guides run a safety briefing before launch.
Full refunds are available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure; trips can be canceled if minimums aren’t met.
Dave Hansen White Water Scenic River Trips operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The raft sits low in the water and the Snake River dares you to lean forward. Paddles slap in sync as the guide reads the current, and in an instant the boat charges into Lunch Counter — a churning seam of foam that lifts the bow and sends laughter soaring. Around you, limestone bluffs and stands of lodgepole pine tilt toward the river, while distant peaks of the Gros Ventre and Teton horizons pin the sky.
The raft sits low in the water and the Snake River dares you to lean forward. Paddles slap in sync as the guide reads the current, and in an instant the boat charges into Lunch Counter — a churning seam of foam that lifts the bow and sends laughter soaring. Around you, limestone bluffs and stands of lodgepole pine tilt toward the river, while distant peaks of the Gros Ventre and Teton horizons pin the sky.
This eight-mile stretch out of Jackson is compact drama: class II and III rapids like Big Kahuna and Champagne (an underwater drop with a personality) alternate with long, reflective pools where osprey hover and river otters slip invisible trails. The Snake has been a corridor for millennia — ancestral lands of Shoshone-speaking peoples and later a route for trappers, ranchers, and early tourists drawn to the grandeur of the valley. Geologically, the river has carved through Paleozoic limestone and Pleistocene alluvium, exposing shelves and eddies that shape each rapid’s character.
Culturally, Jackson Hole is equal parts cowboy town and conservation gateway. The trip launches from downtown at 225 West Broadway, and guides will often point out the town’s historic square and the woven cattle ranching culture that still runs deep here. You’ll also touch Bridger-Teton public lands; the modest user fee charged at check-in helps fund trail and river stewardship.
Practically, this is a family-friendly whitewater run with a stable, 16-person standard raft offering a middle seat for smaller kids or anyone who wants to hold tight. Expect to get soaked — guides recommend synthetic layers only, and a dry set of clothes on the bus. The trip is roughly four hours total, including meet-up, safety orientation, and the float itself. Arrival is 45 minutes before launch; there is no hotel pickup.
Tips for planning: wear quick-drying shoes that lock to the foot, layer thin synthetics under a light spray jacket in shoulder seasons, and bring a small dry bag for essentials. Cameras should be secured — consider a waterproof point-and-shoot or an action cam on a wrist tether.
The run is equal parts adrenaline and scenery: rapid sequences that demand good teamwork at the oar, interspersed with quiet moments for wildlife watching and landscape shots. For families, it’s a compact, high-fun way to meet the river and leave with a story — and a good story means you came off the water smiling, soaked, and ready to plan the next trip.