Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trip

Whitewater rafting trips in Idaho, Montana and Alaska

Photo Gallery

Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of the premier whitewater rafting rivers in the West. The many great rapids have made the Middle Fork of the Salmon famous, but it also has an amazing variety of other attractions that will make your 6-day river trip a spectacular vacation.

The water is crystal clear and beautiful, and the fishing for native cutthroat trout can be extraordinary. Relaxing natural hot springs dot the river corridor, and there are numerous Native American and pioneer historic sites to explore. The area is home to bighorn sheep, deer, elk, black bear, river otters and other wildlife that can often be seen along the river.

The Middle Fork flows through the heart of the 2.3 million acre Frank Church Wilderness Area, the largest wilderness in the lower 48. From its beginning high in the mountains of central Idaho, you’ll travel over 100 miles through breathtaking, continually changing scenery. You’ll be descending approximately 3,000 feet in elevation, beginning in the high, dense forests of fir and spruce, passing by majestic ponderosa pines dotting grassy slopes, and finally entering the rugged granite gorge of Impassable Canyon.

Our six-day river trips on the Middle Fork will be a vacation you'll always remember for the rapids, spectacular scenery, fishing, hot-springs, and great hiking, but you'll also remember the experience, knowledge, kindness, and fun-loving nature of our guides. We'll have oar-boats, paddle-boats, and inflatable kayaks available so you can choose your level of excitement. Join us this summer for a fabulous trip on one of America's best whitewater rivers!

Combination Rafting, Fly-fishing and Chukar hunting on Fall trips

Middle Fork - Main Salmon Combination Trips

The only thing that could make your trip on the Middle Fork any better is making it longer! Why not continue on down the famous Main Salmon River, the River of No Return, for 5 more days. Its an incredible 11-day trip covering over 180-miles of Salmon River!

Sample itinerary for Middle/Main Combination Trip

Drift Boat

We now have two Koffler aluminum drift boats for people who have a special fishing interest. Each boat can carry two passengers. On the Middle Fork of the Salmon a drift boat makes for an unparalleled trout fishing experience. Being able to hold in a particular fishing hole better than a raft makes catching fish much easier and even more enjoyable. Our fishing guides will show you the hot spots, share some knowledge about current hatches and offer advice to land the one you've been waiting for.

Drift boat options are suitable for most trips on the Middle Fork beginning July through August. Drift boat space is limited. Reserve your spot soon!

2009 Schedules and Prices

6-day Middle Fork of the Salmon
Cost: $1,800.00 per person. Includes use of our sleeping gear and tent, or bring your own to receive a $40 discount. Transportation to the river from Stanley and from the river back to Salmon.

Dates: June 7-12 June 16-21, July 3-8, July 19-24, August 4-9, August 20-25
Wildlife Adventure ~ April 4-9 ~ request details
Cast & Blast ~ September 19-22 ~ request details
Fly Fishing ~ September 23-27 ~ request details

Additional Costs: 3% Forest Service land use fee, $4/person/day Forest Service fee.

Group Discounts Available!

Logistics:

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River trips begins in Stanley, Idaho and ends in Salmon, Idaho. Make your reservations in Stanley for the night before your trip at the Mountain Village Lodge 1 800 843-5475 and in Salmon the night you end your trip at the Stagecoach Inn 1 208 756-2919.

Flying: Fly into Boise, Idaho then take Salmon Air Taxi Charter Air (800 448-3413) to Stanley. Then, the morning after your trip ends take Salmon Air Taxi back to Boise in time to make your connecting flight. Round trip Boise to Stanley and Salmon back to Boise is approx. $247.00.

Driving: Drive to Stanley, Idaho. You can have your car shuttled to Salmon, where the trip ends, by River Shuttles (1 800 831-4942) for approx. $60.00

11-day Middle Fork/Main Salmon Combination
Cost: $3,300 per person

Dates: July 3-13, July 19-29, August 4-14, August 20-30

Additional Costs: 3% Forest Service land use fee, $44 Forest Service fee.

Sample Itinerary and logistics for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Suggested Gear List for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Contact Numbers:

River Shuttles	800 831-8942 or 208 756-4188 rivershuttles@ida.net
Mountain Village Lodge, Stanley	800-843-5475
Stagecoach Inn, Salmon	208-756-4251
Salmon Air Taxi	1-800-448-3413

Another Idaho Whitewater Rafting Site

Wilderness River Outfitters
P.O. Box 72 Lemhi, Idaho 83465
1 800 252-6581 Fax: 1 208 756-8246

Copyright 2005, ©, Wilderness River Outfitters, All Rights Reserved

Site design by Amy Tonsmeire

About This Site | Maintained by Eagles Consulting, Inc.