The Idaho Statesman wrote a great article about Swan Falls Excursions Grand Opening:
Swan Falls Excursions owner Mark Yates smashed a bottle of champagne Saturday on the bow of his first airboat, the Rio Vaquero, and sent it on its maiden voyage from Walters Ferry to Swan Falls Dam and back.
This portion of the Snake River has a few mild rapids and a lot of scenery and history to view.
“That was the draw,” Yates said. “The section of river is a beautiful section, and nobody knows about it.”
The tour takes in dramatic cliffs and numerous “melon” boulders that were shaped by the Lake Bonneville flood about 15,000 years ago.
It also passes Celebration Park, Idaho’s only archaeological park, where up to 10,000 years ago Native Americans hunted and left petroglyphs on the rocks.
Travelers also glide over the spots where settlers crossed to follow the Oregon Trail’s southern route and steamboats carried supplies and miners in the 1800s. And they pass under the magnificent Guffey Railroad Bridge, built in 1897 by Nampa benefactor and miner Col. William Henry Dewey as part of the Nampa & Owyhee Railroad.
A few miles before Swan Falls Dam, the river enters into the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, where wildlife abounds.
Yates, who also is a co-owner of Hells Canyon Adventures, said he created Swan Falls Excursions because he wanted to branch out on his own. However, he’s offering employees the opportunity to become part-owners.
As the business grows, he hopes to offer a daily schedule in the summer.
Sandra Forester: 377-6464
Filed under: Swan Falls Excursions Latest News
My wife and I were invited along to this grand opening last weekend by a friend. We didn’t really know what we were in for. The ride up this portion of the Snake River is beautiful. This is a great way to see some countryside that you can’t see without hiking in. A bit of history and wildlife thrown in and you’ve got yourself a wonderful experience. The staff is all very friendly and knowledgeable. They provided coffee, food and cake before the ride for the celebration. It was a great experience altogether.
Being a photographer, I naturally brought along my equipment. I shot some stills that you can see here ( http://tobinrogers.com/samples/090418sfe/ ). I also shot some video which I hope to have edited down soon. I’ll post that here also when ready.
My only suggestions to those of you interested in going… 1) Bring full size sunglasses. I forgot mine and my eyes watered the entire way because of the wind blowing in my face. 2) If you’re an early bird, book an early morning trip. The river is beautiful about any time you go, but being out there at sunrise would be remarkable. Not sure if they offer a trip that early though. If not then, maybe a sunset trip.
Have fun!
Glad to see you guys down there. Hope all goes well.
Maybe Canyon County could wake up ole Tom Bicak (Or how ever you spell his name) and make Celibration a little more useful. It would be a nice stop for your tours. I would think having 40+ people check it out a week would make the tax payers feel like their money actually goes to a useful cause.