What is your minimum age?

For whitewater our age limit for kids is usually 6 years old, there are some times of the year we could talk about adventurous 5 year olds. Just give us a call! For our scenic trips the youngest we will take is 4 years old. There are certain water levels during the run-off season where we may raise our age limit. Please give us a call to discuss if you have more questions.

When is the best time to raft the Snake River?

Our season runs mid-May through late September. Late May–June brings peak runoff and the biggest whitewater. July–August offers warm weather and family-friendly classic flows. September brings smaller crowds, fall colors, and crisp morning launches.

How long will the trip be?

Whitewater Flow of the Trip: 3.5-4 hours Door-to Door (Leaving from Jackson) 1.5 hours on the River (flow dependent) Scenic Flow of the Trip: 3.25 hours Door to Door (Leaving from Jackson) 2 hours on the River Please Note: Later in the season when the water is lower and slower, trip times may be closer to 4 hours door-to-door. Visit our What to Expect page for more information.

Our office in downtown Jackson is located at 225 West Broadway, which is right on the corner of Broadway and Millward, about 2 blocks west of the town square. All scenic trips depart from this location. We pick up for our whitewater trips the Snake River Park Cabin Village south of town. This option is only for guests staying at the village. We also have an office in Alpine, Wyoming at the Alpine Valley Resort . For whitewater we offer transportation to and from the river. People can also check in at Alpine Valley and drive to West Table themselves, about a 10 minute drive. If you prefer, we can also meet you at where your trip begins. For whitewater trips that would be at West Table boat ramp and for scenic trips it would be either at Pritchard Creek or Wilson Bridge, depending on your trip. If you would like to meet us at where your trip begins, please give us a call so we can give you directions. If you are planning to drive down to Salt Lake after your trip, driving your car down to West Table and leaving your car there can save you about an hour.

How much experience do you need?

No experience is required to whitewater raft the Snake River with Dave Hansen Whitewater. Roughly half of our guests are first-timers. The Snake is a “pool and drop” river — every set of rapids is followed by calm water — so first-timers have time to relax between waves. Every trip starts with a detailed safety briefing from your guide. All of our guides know this and go over a very detailed safety speech in which they will personally go around and show you how to sit and the best ways to keep yourself in the boat. To help ease some nerves, there are two great benefits to this river for first-timers. The first half of the trip is fairly mellow. You’ll get wet, but it is not too daunting. This allows you the time to get used to being in the boat. You are not going to be thrown into the boat and hit the biggest wave of the trip in the first five minutes. The second half of the trip is where all the bigger waves are. The other nice thing about the Snake River is that it is classified as a ‘Pool and drop river’, which basically means that after every section of waves, you are going to have a nice calm section afterwards before you hit your next set of waves. So you have time to sit back and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the canyon between waves. The people who were nervous usually have the best time!

Snake River Whitewater Rafting Trips

Book a Trip

The 8-Mile Snake River Canyon Whitewater Trip

Dave Hansen's signature 8-mile whitewater rafting trip runs Class II–III rapids on the Snake River through Snake River Canyon, including the legendary Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter waves. Trips depart daily from mid-May through late September, last 3.5–4 hours door-to-door from Jackson, and welcome rafters age 6 and up. No experience required. Your guide will teach you how to sit, paddle, and stroke as you laugh down the Snake, past stunning canyon scenery, calm stretches, and fun rapids named by the legendary Dave Hansen himself. A guaranteed good time, rain or shine!

8 Miles of Big Waves & Fun
3.5-4 Hours Door-to-Door
Ages 6+ Welcome
No Experience Needed

Choose your Whitewater Raft

A large mixed group of adults screaming and paddling through churning whitewater rapids on a Dave Hansen raft in the Snake River Canyon, with grey limestone walls in the background on an overcast day.

Standard Raft (14-16 Persons)

Most popular for first-timers, families, and groups of all kinds.

14–16 guests, ages 6+
8-10 paddle spots
No experience required!
Great mix of thrills and flexibility

$120 Adults, per person $105 Kids 12 and under, per person

Book Now

Two Dave Hansen whitewater rafts navigating rapids on a sunny river, with smiling families and children in yellow life jackets paddling together.

Most Active!

8-Person Raft

Smaller raft, bigger ride. Everyone paddles, and everyone gets wet!

8 guests, ages 6+
Everyone paddles
No experience required!
High-energy, teamwork-driven ride

$135 Adults and Kids, per person

Book Now

Check out our Meet Up Locations. You can choose Downtown Jackson or Alpine WY.

Want a Private Raft? Talk to Our Team

What's Included

Experienced Guides

Trained in CPR, First Aid & Swiftwater Rescue.
8 Miles of Whitewater

Ride through big-name waves like Big Kahuna and Lunchcounter.
3.5-4 Hours Total

From check-in to return: includes shuttle, an 8-mile run, and plenty of splash time.
All Safety Gear

Coast Guard-approved life jackets, helmets, and reliable rafts.
Roundtrip Transportation

Choose your Pick up Locations - from Downtown Jackson, Hoback Junction or Alpine WY
Flexible Seating

Paddle up front or hang in the back and enjoy the view.

Loved by thousands of rafters.

4.9

Based on 5,000+ reviews

5 out of 5 Stars

Super fun outing. Professional operation from start to finish. With so my outfits running trips down the Snake it is hard to know which one to pick. Save yourself the stress of trying to compare them all and just go with Dave Hansen Whitewater - you won’t be disappointed.

Craig Anderson

5 out of 5 Stars

The whitewater trip was the highlight of my vacation. The river is the perfect amount of adventure and excitement for all to enjoy. The Dave Hanson team made it all great with fun personalities. I like the personal touches shown by this company.

Kai Geller

5 out of 5 Stars

I am obsessed with the Dave Hansen Whitewater crew! Hannah at the front desk was friendly and very helpful setting up our white water! Our guide was knowledgeable of the area and a pro! He made everyone feel very safe and comfortable! Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Jackson!

Amelia Nolan

5 out of 5 Stars

The folks at Dave Hansen take care of everything! From the moment we arrived til it was time to go - we were in great hands!

Brett Saxon

5 out of 5 Stars

What an adventure! The staff were so helpful and our guide, Hunter, made our outing so much fun! We spotted lots of Osprey on the route and the scenery was just incredible. This was the best part of our vacation in Jackson. You won’t be disappointed if you choose Dave Hansen Whitewater.

Matt Nickson

5 out of 5 Stars

What a five star rafting experience! Everyone was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The bus ride tour compliments of Gene was fun and informative. McKenzie our guide was friendly and a fun teacher. I highly recommend Dave Hansen Whitewater Rafting! 👍 👍 👍

Karen Morrow

5 out of 5 Stars

This place seriously has the best staff that make the trip outstanding. They guide you through the waters and even provided lunch for us. The float is several hours and worth every minute! I am already excited for this summer so I can go again!

Wyatt Woods

5 out of 5 Stars

This was one of the highlights of my summer! Such a fun, exciting trip down the Snake River. Our guide Hayden made it enjoyable for all of us. Between his knowledge of the river and his enthusiasm for big rapids, the trip was a great experience!

Peter Elliott

5 out of 5 Stars

We had an amazing family outing with Dave Hansen Whitewater Rafting! It was a seamless process from check-in to check-out and great action photos to relive the whole adventure. We'll definitely be back!

Laura Romero

5 out of 5 Stars

Amazing experience and company! Highly suggest using Dave Hansen Whitewater! Our guide made it a fun and memorable trip. Also the owner is awesome and they truly want you to have a great experience! Don't look to any other company, use these guys when in Jackson Hole!

Corey Westra

5 out of 5 Stars

What an amazing experience! Everyone was extremely helpful and we could tell that their goal was for us to have a great experience. And we did! Jordan was our guide and he was great. He was very engaging and made it really fun. We would definitely use this company again!

Amy Horner

5 out of 5 Stars

The Dave Hansen Whitewater staff made our family rafting trip down the Snake River one of the best events of our vacation! Our guide, Grace, was excellent! Felt very safe. We loved every minute being on the river with her.

Michelle Manwaring

5 out of 5 Stars

So much family fun! From the minute we walked in the door we were greeted with fun upbeat and helpful staff. We had Sandy as a guide he was funny, knowledgeable and really cared for our safety. I would love to come back for an all day trip. Highly recommend!!

Christy Grosz

The legendary Snake River Canyon.

Your whitewater adventure takes you through the Snake River Canyon’s most iconic rapids, mixing adrenaline-pumping waves with stretches of breathtaking scenery.

Learn More

Your safety always comes first!

With skilled guides, proven gear, and thoughtful preparation, we make sure every moment on the river is both safe and fun.

Meet the Guides

We've been around for awhile. Here's the questions we hear most!

: For whitewater our age limit for kids is usually 6 years old, there are some times of the year we could talk about adventurous 5 year olds. Just give us a call! For our scenic trips the youngest we will take is 4 years old.

There are certain water levels during the run-off season where we may raise our age limit. Please give us a call to discuss if you have more questions.
: Our season runs mid-May through late September. Late May–June brings peak runoff and the biggest whitewater. July–August offers warm weather and family-friendly classic flows. September brings smaller crowds, fall colors, and crisp morning launches.
: Whitewater Flow of the Trip:
3.5-4 hours Door-to Door (Leaving from Jackson)
1.5 hours on the River (flow dependent)

Scenic Flow of the Trip:
3.25 hours Door to Door (Leaving from Jackson)
2 hours on the River

Please Note: Later in the season when the water is lower and slower, trip times may be closer to 4 hours door-to-door. Visit our What to Expect page for more information.
: Our office in downtown Jackson is located at 225 West Broadway, which is right on the corner of Broadway and Millward, about 2 blocks west of the town square. All scenic trips depart from this location.

We pick up for our whitewater trips the Snake River Park Cabin Village south of town. This option is only for guests staying at the village.

We also have an office in Alpine, Wyoming at the Alpine Valley Resort. For whitewater we offer transportation to and from the river. People can also check in at Alpine Valley and drive to West Table themselves, about a 10 minute drive.

If you prefer, we can also meet you at where your trip begins. For whitewater trips that would be at West Table boat ramp and for scenic trips it would be either at Pritchard Creek or Wilson Bridge, depending on your trip. If you would like to meet us at where your trip begins, please give us a call so we can give you directions. If you are planning to drive down to Salt Lake after your trip, driving your car down to West Table and leaving your car there can save you about an hour.
: No experience is required to whitewater raft the Snake River with Dave Hansen Whitewater. Roughly half of our guests are first-timers. The Snake is a “pool and drop” river — every set of rapids is followed by calm water — so first-timers have time to relax between waves. Every trip starts with a detailed safety briefing from your guide.

All of our guides know this and go over a very detailed safety speech in which they will personally go around and show you how to sit and the best ways to keep yourself in the boat. To help ease some nerves, there are two great benefits to this river for first-timers. The first half of the trip is fairly mellow. You’ll get wet, but it is not too daunting. This allows you the time to get used to being in the boat. You are not going to be thrown into the boat and hit the biggest wave of the trip in the first five minutes. The second half of the trip is where all the bigger waves are. The other nice thing about the Snake River is that it is classified as a ‘Pool and drop river’, which basically means that after every section of waves, you are going to have a nice calm section afterwards before you hit your next set of waves. So you have time to sit back and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the canyon between waves. The people who were nervous usually have the best time!

View All FAQs

Snake River whitewater rafting trip with Dave Hansen Whitewater in Jackson Hole

What to Expect

Aerial view of a single Dave Hansen raft floating through a wide bend of the Snake River, framed by green cottonwood trees, rocky banks, and forested hillsides on a sunny day.

The 8-Mile Snake River Canyon Whitewater Trip

Standard Raft (14-16 Persons)

8-Person Raft

What's Included

Experienced Guides

8 Miles of Whitewater

3.5-4 Hours Total

All Safety Gear

Roundtrip Transportation

Flexible Seating

Your safety always comes first!

We've been around for awhile. Here's the questions we hear most!

Related Resources

What to Expect

Snake River 101

Meet Up Locations