Cabin Rental Packing List

Preparing and Packing Suggestions for Your Stay at River Dance Lodge

Here’s are some suggestions to help you prepare for your stay with us at River Dance Lodge.  It’s worth taking some time to read and pack carefully due to our relatively remote location.

Your Cabin

Our cabins are ready to welcome you and have many of the things you’ll need.  Beds are set with fresh linens. There are bath towels and hot tub towels.  The common living space has a futon, dining table and chairs, and the outside decks welcome you with deck chairs.

Each kitchen has a microwave, toaster, coffee pot, an Insta-Pot, 3-burner outside gas grill with griddle and free-standing charcoal BBQ.  There are a few pots, fry pans, cooking utensils, eating utensils, plates, water glasses, wine glasses, coffee/tea mugs, wine opener, and more. 

There is also a small fridge in each cabin, but not in glamping.  If you are bringing a lot of food you will want to pack it in coolers with block ice.  If you can “clear” block ice where you live, that is much better than the kind that is compacted crushed ice.  For larger groups staying for a few days that need even more space, we can provide room in our walk-in cooler for your food items. 

We have garbage cans and recycling containers in each cabin and encourage you to recycle as much as you can according to our guidelines. Given our remote location, plastic bottles and aluminum cans are the main recyclables.

Meal Ideas

Everyone has their own style.  You might want to plan out every meal, or maybe just bring a variety of ingredients and cook on the fly. However, because of the remote nature of the lodge, it’s a good idea to plan your meals with some level of detail since critical missing items may not be available. 

Lodge Store

We do stock a few items in the main lodge building called the Syringa Café available for sale, including hot dogs, bread, cheese, canned chile, marshmallows, milk, soda, beer, wine, etc.  

Storing Refrigerated Items

As noted above, we recommend you bring your own coolers with ice.  Clear block ice is best if you can find it. If your ice runs out during your stay, we sell crushed ice in the lodge building.  We do have some space for food storage in our walk-in cooler as well.

Pantry & Food Suggestions if Planning to Cook Meals

Pantry Items

  • Salt & pepper
  • Oil & vinegar
  • Garlic, herbs and spices (Italian, paprika, your favorites)
  • Mustard/ketchup/condiments
  • Coffee/tea/cocoa
  • Leftover containers
  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic wrap

Breakfast Ideas

  • Eggs
  • Bacon or sausage
  • Bread
  • Yogurt
  • Cereal (hot or cold)
  • Milk
  • Coffee/Tea/Cocoa

Lunch Ideas

  • Bread
  • Cheese
  • Lunch meats
  • Canned tuna
  • Condiments
  • Pickles
  • Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados
  • Chips or crackers
  • Cookies

Dinner Ideas

  • Canned beans
  • Meat
  • Vegetables
  • Salad makings
  • Insta-pot meals
  • Beverages (soda, beer and wine are available at our lodge store)
  • Crackers
  • Cookies, chocolate, etc. for dessert

Where to Go Food Shopping

If you plan on cooking during your stay with us, we recommend that you bring your groceries with you.  If you’re coming from the west, you can stop in Kamiah at Harvest Foods, or in Kooskia at the somewhat smaller Clearwater Valley Market.  If you are coming from the east (the Idaho/Montana border) the small town of Lolo, Montana is your last grocery stop.

Gift Shop 

Located inside the Syringa Café/Lodge building we have dozens of various book titles for sale focused on the local area’s natural and cultural history. We also sell sunglasses, local souvenirs and a few other items.

Other Things to Pack

General Items

  • Re-usable water bottles.  Please don’t buy bottled water.  The water at River Dance Lodge comes from a beautiful well and is fresh, cold and non-chlorinated – better than anything you can buy.
  • Beach towels for the river beaches
  • Sunscreen
  • Flashlight
  • Bug spray (there are a few mosquitos, but not many)
  • First Aid Items including bandages
  • Binoculars
  • Daypack for hiking 

Toiletries (cabins are stocked with handsoap, shampoo and conditioner)

  • Toothbrush - toothpaste
  • Razor and shaving cream
  • Nail clippers and tweezers
  • Chapstick
  • Makeup and beauty products

Fun Items 

  • The Syringa Café/Lodge building has a lending library and a few board games, as well as a chess set to be used in the building.  The main door has a code lock so you can let yourself in at any time from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. You might want to also bring:
  • Deck of cards
  • A good book
  • Your favorite board game(s)

Suggested Clothing Items
The clothing you pack will depend on whether you’re coming in the spring, summer or fall.  May/June have variable weather in the 60’s to low 80’s and it sometimes rains.  In July August, daytime temperatures can range from 65-95 and rain is rare.  By late August and into September, it cools down again and ranges from the low 60’s to 80’s.  It’s wise to check the weather before you leave to see general trends.  But remember, we are in the Rocky Mountains and weather is highly variable, so don’t completely trust the forecast.

Life is casual at River Dance Lodge.  Focus on clothing that feels comfortable to you and is suitable for the many outdoor activities you may want to enjoy. Pack clothes that are easy to layer, so you can add or take off a sweater or jacket as the temperature rises and falls throughout the day. You’ll want a swimsuit for use in the hot tubs and in July and August, in the river.  Be sure to pack comfortable shoes or boots for hiking, as well as sandals for the river beaches.