Every first Saturday in June, the Salmon River is running at some of its highest flows of the year and Riggins, Idaho celebrates. The best part is Wild River Adventures is just right across the street from where the party starts. Here’s everything you need to know for Big Water Blowout:
What Is the Big Water Blowout?
For more than 25 years, Riggins has hosted the Big Water Blowout River Festival, which is a full-day celebration of whitewater, community, food, and live music. Here’s more details:
When: First Saturday of June (June 6, 2026)
Where: Riggins City Park (and of course rafting the Lower Salmon River)
Who: Open to all ages and all who love and appreciate the river!
The day splits naturally into two halves: the river and the park.
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: outfitters run rafting trips on the Salmon through some of the biggest whitewater conditions of the entire season. We’d love to celebrate with you, so go ahead book a trip!
- Evening: Riggins City Park fills with live music, a Dutch oven cook-off (at which our guides often win a prize for their amazing cooking!) where you can try food for a $10 access fee, and the kind of small-town energy that makes the Idaho canyon country worth the drive.
The River in June: What Big Water Actually Means
The Salmon River is fed entirely by snowmelt from the mountains of central Idaho. By June, that melt is in full force, and the flows near Riggins can push well past 15,000 cubic feet per second which is sometimes significantly higher depending on the winter snowpack.
It is a high-adrenaline, big-commitment experience that the whitewater community travels to witness and participate in.
Rafting the Big Water Blowout with Wild River Adventures
Wild River Adventures runs rafting trips on the Salmon throughout Big Water Blowout weekend, with our shop located directly across from City Park where all the Big Water Blowout festivities take place.
A few things to know before you book:
- Wetsuits are the right call. The Salmon in early June is cold. Snowmelt-fed rivers can run in the 45 to 55 degree range at this time of year, even when the air temperature is warm. We provide splash jackets and can outfit guests appropriately. Dress for immersion, not for the weather on shore.
- Trips go fast. The Big Water Blowout is one of the most popular single days of our year. If you want to raft on festival day, book early.
The Big Water Blowout Festival at Riggins City Park
Once you are off the water, City Park is the place to be.
The park schedule generally runs as follows:
- Dutch oven cook-off setup begins at 2 p.m.
- Cooking is underway by 3 p.m.
- Live music starts at 5:30 p.m.
- Judging begins at 6 p.m.
- The public eats at 7 p.m. — $10 per plate, all you can taste
The Dutch oven cook-off is a legitimate culinary competition with real prizes and serious contenders. Those who enter (which includes our very own Wild River guides!) choose between an appetizer, main course, or dessert category and bring everything they need to execute it over an open fire in a cast iron dutch oven.
The results are truly incredible and a favorite part of the weekend for many. Think smoky braised meats, cobblers with blistered crust, and chilis that have been simmering all afternoon. Ten dollars does not buy a better meal in Idaho.
Live music runs into the evening in the park, with local and regional acts setting the tone for a summer that is just getting started.
2026 Big Water Blowout
The 2026 Big Water Blowout River Festival falls on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Riggins City Park.
Wild River Adventures will be running trips all day. Our shop is directly across the street from the park. Come find us!
If you are ready to experience the Salmon River at high water, this is the weekend to do it.
Ready to book your Big Water Blowout trip? Contact Wild River Adventures to reserve your spot. High water trips fill quickly and age requirements apply so call or book online to confirm your reservation before festival weekend.