“Will we just be eating backpacking meals the whole time?” is a question we here often from folks who are about to embark on their first multi-day rafting trip. The answer is NO! You will be eating like kings & queens out on the river. Multi-day rafting trips are a unique kind of backcountry trip because our 18ft rafts allow us to carry a ton of gear, which means we can bring everything but the kitchen sink. Literally.
Your river guides will tell you that they eat better on multi-day trips than they do at home, and it’s true. Nicole, Giani, Jaco, and the rest of the team behind our multi-day menus have curated an exceptional menu for our trips, keeping you well-fed and energized for your river adventure. Let’s just say your guides put as much love into cooking for you every day as you would put into your annual Thanksgiving feast! Here’s a sneak peek into our delicious menu for multi-day rafting trips on the Main Salmon River in Idaho, and the Owyhee River in Oregon.
Todd, Dave, and Deanna prepping dinner on the Main Salmon River
Want a little taste of what you eat on a multi-day rafting trip? These breakfast, lunch, appetizer, dinner, and desserts (yes, desserts!) are just a few of our favorite meals to cook on our 5- and 6-day rafting trips on the Main Salmon and Owyhee Rivers.
Favorite Multi-Day Breakfast – Blueberry Pancakes & Bacon
Blueberry pancakes topped with strawberries, whipped cream, sliced almonds, and a side of bacon is a classic breakfast that everyone loves! Every morning, both cold breakfast and hot breakfast will be served. Cold breakfast includes granola, yogurt, cereal, and fruit, while hot breakfast is different every day.
Blueberry pancakes, fresh off the griddle
A full plate to keep you well-fed and energized for another day on the river!
Favorite Multi-Day Lunch –Cashew Chicken Salad Wraps
Simple but delicious, this Asian-inspired lunch is always a favorite for guests and guides alike. With hearty vegetables topped with chicken and cashews for protein, it will keep you fueled for your day on the river. And don’t fear – we always bring Sriracha for those who like their wraps a little extra spicy!
A yummy lunch spread on the 6-day Main Salmon Kayaking Trip
Favorite Multi-Day Appetizer – Bruschetta
This Italian appetizer – toasted baguettes topped with fresh-cut tomatoes, cheese, basil and garlic – is tough to beat. When you’re hanging out on the beach with loved ones, toasting with an evening LaCroix or glass of wine, and enjoying one of these scrumptious morsels, there’s nowhere else in the world you’ll want to be.
Bruschetta for “Appy Hour!”
Favorite Multi-Day Dinner – Costa Rica Casado!
Since the original vision for Wet Planet was dreamed up on the riverbanks of Costa Rica, this one is an homage to our roots. This is a traditional Costa Rican dish made up of rice, black beans, protein, and vegetables, topped with the infamous Salsa Lizano!
Multi-day Trip Leader Nicole prepping the veggies for Costa Rica Casado!
Favorite Multi-Day Dessert – Cheesecake!
Picture yourself in your camp chair, watching the sunset with a slice of cheesecake in hand, topped with fresh fruit and encompassed in a graham cracker crust! What better way to end the day? This one was a close tie between Cheesecake and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. You can check out our Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe here!
Multi-day guide Hannah with her beautiful cheesecake
So, what do you eat on a multi-day rafting trip?
From delicious breakfasts to hearty dinners, these are just a few examples of what you eat on a multi-day rafting trip. Your memories of these gourmet meals, home-cooked with love by your Wet Planet Guides, will be as fond as your memories of the river.
Ready to taste these yummy multi-day meals for yourself? Join us for a spring rafting trip on Oregon’s Owyhee River, or a summer rafting trip on the Main Salmon River in Idaho!
Author Sharon Saltoon is a kayak instructor and Communications Manager at Wet Planet. She loves being a part of the team at Wet Planet and sharing her love of whitewater on and off the river!
