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Float a raft through the whitewater of the Snake River. We are the closest raft rental outfit to
the river. We rent you the raft, and your family, or group, takes it on the highway 12 miles upriver to the put-in place
at West Table Creek boat launch site. Then you float 9 miles, about 2 hours, down to Sheep Gulch where you get out.
Then it is a simple 3 mile drive back to Riding & Rafts. If you leave early enough in the morning you can make two
trips in a day and still return your raft by 5:30 pm. All rafts must be back by 6pm or there is a late fee charge. The river
has rapids of class 1,2, and 3 (not very difficult) and is easy to float, except at high runoff stage in early June when it
has a couple of class 4 rapids. I do not recommend running it when the flow is above 14,000 cfs. If in doubt,
give me a call. In late June through August it is very easy, with a calm stretch, then a fun rapid, then a calm stretch.
Even beginners can float it; just "keep it between the banks".
Raft Trailers and Rack; We have trailers or a Raft Rack for rent for $15 that you can use to take your raft to the river. The RaftRack
requires a pickup. The trailer takes a 2 inch ball.
   
The photos above don't show the trailers very well, but you can see two of our raft trailers
to the side of the RaftRack on the truck. Usually people use our trailer or RaftRack or tie the raft onto their car,
then they take their raft upriver to West Table Creek to put in the river, then run the white-water section that is a 9 mile
float and takes almost 2 hours, then you get out of the river at Sheep Gulch. To get back to the top where you left your trailer
or pickup or car, a couple of rafters either drive a car (which they left at Sheep Gulch) back to the top, or one of
them hitches a ride with the numerous other rafters going back to the top. This isn't really like hitchhiking as
all the rafters at one time or another have hitched a ride, so they are really good about giving others a lift. I've
never been more than 5 minutes hitching a ride back to the top to get my truck.
Any group larger than 15 people and any organizational group (such as Boy Scouts
or church group) regardless of size must have a Forest Service river permit. Call them at 307-739-5400 or check online at http://www.fs.fed.us/btnf/teton/river/ngcuse.shtml The permit
is usually free.
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| The Big Kahuna rapid on the Snake River near Jackson Hole. |
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| A family pauses in a scenic location |
Unguided
Rides:
Our unguided horseback rides leave directly from the stable in Alpine, 35 miles southwest
of the town of Jackson Hole. We match you up with a good horse and give you a map and directions
to the forest. Then you are on your own. You ride right from our location to the forest trails. The first
15 minutes of the ride is a trail through "civilization", past a few homes, but then you are in the forest "away
from it all". The forest trail has pines and aspens and a good viewpoint to see the valley and Palisades Lake in
the distance. A
truck and trailer may be available for rent if you want to go to a nearby trailhead. At least one member of the group should be experienced with
horses. For inexperienced riders we strongly recommend the guided rides with Wydaho outfitters. In late May, 2009, a group came on an unguided ride, then a few days later came on a half-day guided ride.
Their comment: "The guided ride beat the unguided ride hands down!" Cost for the Unguided horse rentals
is $70 for all day (9 to 5) and $50 for half day (9 to 1 or 1:30 to 5:30). Half day rides must return at the scheduled
time regardless of when you left the stable, unless by special arrangement, so please arrive early to have the paperwork completed.
All riders must sign our iron-clad liability release which states, "They won't insure unguided rides so if you fall
off and get hurt, you just have to lie there until you get better." All rides should be scheduled and reserved
in advance, but we may have horses available on short notice. We strongly advise you to call ahead. Unguided
Full Day: $70 Unguided
Half Day: $50 (9-1 and 1:30 -5:30)
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| Riding without a guide. |
Really affordable rates for summer of 2010!
Rafts:
$100 for the 14 footers (four available, will hold 5-9 man), $115 for the 16 footers (two available, will hold 7-12 man)
includes life jackets, paddles, pump, bail/waterfight bucket. Trailer or RaftRack $15, if needed. Add Wyoming sales tax of 5% to all rates. Reserve them immediately for summer 2010
(Saturdays fill up fast) by calling and giving a credit card number. We won't charge your card unless you are a
no-show. Although we take credit cards we really prefer cash.
If you change your reservation or cancel at least 10 days prior to your reserved date, there is no charge. For each
day less than 10 days ahead there is a 10% charge.
Hours: Open 8:30 to 6 Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday
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I, Maury Jones, "Jonesy" to my friends, started this business in 1988. I have been a horseback
guide since I was 13 and this unguided horse rental business grew out of a need to keep my horses busy during the summer.
I guided commercial rafts for Teton Expeditions and Jackson Hole Whitewater before beginning his raft rental business, so
I know the river. I do not do guided raft trips, nor do I deliver rafts to the river. I rent you the raft and
you either tie it on your car/truck or bring your own trailer or rent one of my trailers to get the raft to the river.
Directions: From Jackson, drive south on Hwy 89/26 for 35
miles, down the scenic Snake River Canyon. You go past the whitewater section of the river where all whitewater rafters
float. If coming from Salt Lake Direction come to Afton, then 35 miles north to Alpine. If coming from Idaho Falls
direction, take Hwy 26 east and south to Alpine. At Alpine Junction there is a Chevron Station on the corner.
We are just across the parking lot to the north of the Chevron station. A little building that says Riding & Rafts
on the roof and has a billboard to the side of it that says Jackson Hole Recreation.
Mailing address;
PO Box 117
Grover, WY 83122
Phone: 307-654-9900
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