So me and a friend are going somewhere that has water next week and Missoula has come up and maybe kayaking the Lochsa. If there are any local experts here I'd love advice including where I should land the 185 and where we should camp for running the river. Also we'll need to rent a truck or a car for a few days so ideas on where to do that would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

On looking around maybe Kooskia is where I want to go?

Not Kookski, Kamiah. Better runway, last time I checked they had 100LL and a piece of junk that runs for an airport loaner car.

Camping: Wilderness Gateway is the most developed campground, and you'll run into a lot of river rats there. It is also a nice place to base out of for hot springs. Three Rivers (Lochsa, Selway confluence) is another larger area. If you want to get away, there are a ton of places to choose from up just about any logging road along the way. Elk Summit road is a good choice. The Lochsa Lodge has great little cabins for very little money if you are up for that as well.

You can fly into Kooskia, but I wouldn't count on a rental.

MSO has cheap rentals...I have gotten a suv for 25 per day there.

Hamilton (6S5) has the best 100LL prices most likely, and you can call NorthStar aviation for a rental too. I would leave your tanks low there though...I lost 36 gals overnight...checked it at night before departure, and almost dry the next morning at sunrise. Real shocker.

The Lochsa is always packed over Memorial weekend, I've heard that all the campsites at WG are reserved but don't know for sure. If you like to be around a bunch of boaters and stay up late partying then you would probably have a good time.

The Lochsa is a ton of fun but you might think about the Payette. Camp at Garden Valley and use the courtesy car to get around. Every section of the Payette is running right now; you could boat two new sections every day for several days in a row. If I wasn't going to be on the middle fork over Memorial weekend I'd be headed to the Payette.

whee wrote:The Lochsa is always packed over Memorial weekend, I've heard that all the campsites at WG are reserved but don't know for sure. If you like to be around a bunch of boaters and stay up late partying then you would probably have a good time.

Yup. It isn't just noisy, it's a circus over the weekend. During the week, it's tolerable. Reservations are impossible for the two campgrounds by now probably. The Lochsa Lodge has often been available a week ahead of a busy weekend, though.

The Payette is great, but a long way from Missoula. The Lochsa gives a lot of bang for the buck, and camping of the logging roads is the way to avoid 95% of the crowds.

There are some memorable smaller floats in the area too if interested.

lesuther wrote:The Payette is great, but a long way from Missoula. The Lochsa gives a lot of bang for the buck, and camping of the logging roads is the way to avoid 95% of the crowds.

There are some memorable smaller floats in the area too if interested.

Always wanted to boat Lolo creek and SF Clearwater but never had the chance. Lots of good stuff around the Lochsa.

I mentioned Payette because if they are flying up from Colorado then going to Boise instead of Missoula wouldn't be a big deal; just another option.