Our namesake, Historic Yellow Jacket, Idaho, is nestled in the backcountry of the remote Salmon River Mountains.At the turn of the century, Yellow Jacket was a bustling mining outpost, complete with a five story hotel, general store, post office, the largest stamp mill in the country, and a lively red-light district.

Daniel Morrison Steen, great grandfather of YJRG founder Alison Steen, staked a gold claim in the 1870's, making Yellow Jacket his home. Now a picturesque ghost town, Yellow Jacket remains a seasonal base for the Steen family.

YJRG Owners Alison Steen and Chris Louderback started Yellow Jacket River Guides as the continuing fulfillment of a life-long dream of living and working in the outdoors, sharing with others the many pleasures and lessons of wilderness travel. As outdoor professionals for twenty years, both Chris and Alison have developed a strong conservation ethic and the utmost regard for safety. Creating a high quality wilderness experience with high quality people is our greatest joy.

Over the years, we have worked with talented and professional guides, and we are honored that many will be joining us this summer. All of our guides have first aid and rescue training that well exceed the requirements of the State of Idaho. Besides being great cooks and boatmen, they are fun and interesting people who hail from all walks of life: parents, educators, health practitioners, homebuilders, biologists, and everything in between. We consider our guides to be our greatest asset.

We have been creating quality guided adventures for twenty years.
For your next vacation, join us in the magical Salmon River canyon.