Shuttle Information: There are no commerical shuttle services available for the Snake River in the NCA. You must provide your own. The shuttle to Celebration Park from Swan Falls Dam is 12 miles one way and will take about 20 minutes. Suggest you drop a car at Celbration Park first, then drive to Swan Falls Dam and put-in. The Access Map will show the route between the put-in and take-out.

May is the best time to float if you are birdwatching for raptors. Fishing in this section is generally for smallmouth bass, catfish, trout and sturgeon.

Canoes, rafts, kayaks, drift boats, and sea kayaks are all suitable for this section. Be aware that power boaters and floaters share this portion of the Snake River. The river experience will be more enjoyable for both if you treat each other with respect and courtesy. Craft moving downstream have the right-of-way, but don't have the right to intentionally block navigation. Floaters should remember that powerboats can only travel in specific narrow routes in some river sections. When you see a powerboat coming, if possible, pull to the shallow side of the river and let it pass. Be aware of dangerous situations and avoid putting yourself or the other person in jeopardy.

Grand View/Black Butte to Swan Falls Dam

Plan on spending at least one night camping on the river when floating from Grand View or Black Butte down to Swan Falls Dam. This stretch is all flat water and is suitable for beginners in any craft. If you start at Black Butte the trip to Swan Falls Dam is 20 miles. If you start at Grand View add another 8 miles to the trip. The eight mile float between Grand View and Black Butte is primarily through private agricultural land. The canyon area begins about three miles downstream from Black Butte.

Shuttle Information: There are no shuttle services for the Snake River within the NCA. You must provide your own. Due to the lack of roads between the put-in and take-out, the shuttle for this section of the Snake River is terrible. The shuttle route from Grand View to Swan Falls, via Interstate 84 is approximately a five hour round trip drive. A second route is to take Highway 78 from Grand View to Walter's Ferry and then follow the back roads to Swan Falls Dam. This route will take approximatley four hours round trip. The Access Map will show the back roads from Walter's Fery to Swan Falls Dam.

Power boats launching from Grand View or upstream from Swan Falls Dam may be encountered in this section.

Camping along the river

There are no designated campsites along the Snake River. Boaters who decide to spend the night on the river may camp where they choose. 

Select a resistant camp site. Camp on sand or gravel bars, beaches or non-vegetated areas below the high water line whenever possible. If you do need to camp in an upland area choose a site which is already hardened by use. Just like at home, the kitchen area is where people tend to congregate. Try to locate your kitchen on the most resistant location. A large sandy beach is best - it is highly resistant to impacts and close to your boats so you don't create trails carrying kitchen gear through the brush. Always avoid riparian areas which are the fragile green areas along the river banks.

Pack it in, pack it out. Pick up and pack out all of your litter. Be especially conscious of "micro-litter": pull tabs, twist ties, small food scraps, cigarette butts, foil, etc. Repackaging food into reusable containers will reduce unnecessary packaging and lessen the chance of inadvertently leaving litter behind.

Wash away from the river. Minimize your use of sopa and use a low- or non-phosphate brand. Even biodegradable soaps and toothpaste are river pollutants. Food particles should be strained out of dish or waste water before it is dumped onto well drained soils away from the campsite area. By doing so, all pollutants will be filtered out before reaching the river.

Use a kitchen floor. Carry a tarp large enough to cover the entire area of your kitchen or lunch spot. Set up your tables and stove on the tarp. Food scraps, twist ties and other micro-litter will fall onto the tarp instead of disappearing into the sand. When you break camp, pour everything that fell onto the tarp into a trash bag. You will leave a cleaner camp for the next user and, by removing food scraps, you will cut down on insect infestations.

Properly dispose of human waste and waste water. The best technique for disposal of human waste is to carry a reusable, portable toilet system which can be flushed out at a proper waste facility (RV dump station or sewage treatment plant) after the trip. Systems which require the deposition of non-biodegradable plastic bags are unlawful in Idaho. Remember the toilet is a high-use area and should be located on a durable site.

Urinate directly into the river. Rivers which have a flow of 500 cfs (cubic feet per second) or more, (ie this portion of the Snake River), can easily assimilate human urine which is mostly sterile. Urine deposited on land can create a strong odor, attract insects, and is not quickly washed away in the arid climate of southwest Idaho. Women who do not want to wade into the river should use a bucket that can be emptied directly into the water.

Waste water includes soapy and gray water from bathing and washing dishes. Always use a screen to filter food particles from wash and rinse water. Carry filtered matter out with other trash and dispose of properly.

Use fire responsibly. If you decide to have a campfire, keep it small and always contain it in a fire pan. A fire pan is simply a metal tray with rigid sides at least three inches high. Oil drain pans or old backyard grills make effective and inexpensive fire pans. Elevate the pan so the heat from the fire does not scorch the ground. Rocks work well for this. The best choice for firewood in the canyon is to bring your own. Never cut limbs from trees (alive or dead). Use driftwood found along the river. Prior to leaving camp, completely extinguish your fire and pack the debris out with you. Scatter unused firewood and return rocks used for campsite engineering (fire pan support or tent stake security) to their original locations away from the river. Remember, accidently starting a wildfire can result in you being liable for all suppression costs.

Another idea to consider is not to build a fire. This is the surest way to avoid impacts from fires. Carry a gas stove for cooking. After dinner, enjoy the wonders of the Idaho night sky. Stars, planets, galaxies, and even satellites can be seen when there is no glow from a campfire.

Leave what you find. Allow others the sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, antlers, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them. On all sites, try to leave the area better than you found it. Do not dig trenches for tents, or construct lean-tos, or other rudimentary improvements. If you clear an area of surface rocks and sticks, replace them once you leave. Consider the idea that good campsites are found not made.

Avoid cliff areas. The high vertical cliffs are habitat for many species of raptors. Climbing and exploring on the cliffs can disturb nesting raptors during critical nesting periods.

Respect private land. There are parcels of private land scattered along the river. Always respect the rights of private landowners and their property.