04/29/2026
The Night Hawk Float — A Sweep Boat Special
Yesterday I got home from town and work with both kids at 6pm, a bit tired and overstimulated from my Monday and the effort of keeping them awake on our 35-minute drive home. After unloading the car and our seemingly endless stash of cups, water bottles, Tupperware, and more, Blake looked at me and said, “Let’s go floating.”
My dad had been visiting for the weekend, and with some cruddy weather we’d been hanging around home the whole time. We had wanted to get on the water with him but it never came together. I liked the idea of going floating but it was Monday night. I was tired. I didn’t want to go.
“It was really windy on the drive back,” I protested. But Blake was persistent.
He whipped up a delicious dinner using leftovers from the weekend while I got the kids dressed and packed enough warm clothes for a blizzard. An hour later—after a few swear words, some tears (the kids’, not mine, I promise), and a solid fight with a car seat—we were headed down the road.
We dropped my car at River’s Fork Lodge and headed up to Bobcat Gulch. Not a long float, but just enough time on the water.
By the time we pushed off, we could still see the sun lighting up the vibrant green hills around us, even though it had already left the river. There was wind and a few more tears at first, but within minutes it all settled, and suddenly we had ourselves a perfect evening.
The birds showed up in strength: Ospreys, eagles, kingfishers, a pair of sandhill cranes, mergansers, Canada geese—and of course, nighthawks.
The kids ate on the boat while we traded off rowing and soaking in the sound of the water as the day slowly turned into evening. About a mile before our takeout, we pulled over at one of our favorite spots. The adults ate while the kids explored, and we watched the moon rise as the last of the sun slipped away.
It was calming, peaceful, grounding—and exactly what we all needed.
Evening floats are some of our favorites, for so many reasons. Part of that comes from being multi-day river guides and not often getting to float during golden hour. The times we could sneak away from camp with a ducky and drift through that evening magic—not the heat of the day—those were sacred moments.
Now, with a family, the evening float has become something else entirely. It’s the perfect end to a busy day. A reset. A reminder of what actually matters. A chance to reconnect and finish the day right.
It’s special because it’s often spontaneous—for us, a break from routine. And because this time of day holds such a meaningful place in our lives, we’re so excited to share it with you. It’s a big part of what makes this offering unique.We can’t wait to start running Night Hawk Floats.
Our Night Hawk Float is a bit different than our 7pm Monday night float. First we’ll be on a sweep boat and there won’t be a baby crying. We’ll get on the water a little earlier— appetizers and cocktails, a scenic float to a special riverside spot, and a multi-course meal with a bit of campfire ambiance. Then dessert on the boat as we drift toward the takeout.
We are hoping to take our family classic and turn it into a KingFisher classic while still holding onto what matters most: getting you out on the water during one of the most magical times of day.
Come join us.
Book a Night Hawk Float today:
https://kingfisherriverco.wetravel.com/trips/nighthawk-kingfisher-river-company-6503515563 -your-trip
Much love,
Sadie King
KingFisher River Company keeps a rare piece of Idaho history alive through sweepboating on the Salmon River. Originating in the prospector era, these massive wooden flatboats—known as scows—were once the workhorses of the canyon, using oversized "sweeps" to navigate heavy loads of mining gear an...
