Wilderness River Outfitters

Kayaking on the Middle Fork Salmon

The Middle Fork Salmon is a world class kayaking river!  June trips with higher water provide great whitewater and wavetrains that go for miles.  There are excellent surf waves along the way that offer a real treat for playboating enthusiast.  This wave at Mist Falls is one of the best on the river.  Taylor is enjoying a sweet ride on our June 16th kayak trip.  If you are a hardshell kayaker, find or more on spring Middle Fork kayaking trips.  If you think you want to learn how to kayak, maybe our beginner/intermiedate Main Salmon kayak trip would be a good fit.

Main Salmon Funyaking

Summer trips on the Main Salmon offer great opportunities for inflatable kayaking.  The water on the Main Salmon is probably warmer than any other river in Idaho.  That combined with the big water pool drop character on the rapids, makes kayaking a fun option on the Main.  This picture is of “Big Mallard”, one of the biggest and most exciting rapids on the river.  There are plenty of other sections that provide a more relaxing inflatable kayaking experience.  Each day is different and you can pick and choose when you kayak based on you desired excitment.

Alsek River

The Alsek River is one of the best river expeditions in the world.  Recently ranked the #1 whitewater rafting trip in the world by National Geographic!  This picture was taken from one of the first night camp options.  The views and vistas are unparalleled on the Alsek River.  This place will true make you feel small and insignificant in the bigger picture.  Experience something still truly wild on this 12-day river expedition on the Alsek River.

Fun on the Main Salmon

The Main Salmon has great Class II and III rapids throughout the trip.  The river is drop-pool which means that after every rapid the river slows and pools up again.  We run 16 ft oar rafts, paddle boats and offer the option to bring several inflatable kayaks.  A great ride for everyone in the family and all experience levels.

Middle Fork Flathead

The Middle Fork Flathead river is located in the Great Bear Wilderness, which is part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.  We offer a five day trip on this 40 mile section of  river.  This allows for a relaxed pace on the river with plenty of time for other off river activities.  There are great hiking opportunities in this wilderness area, some to mountain peaks and others to alpine lakes.  This picture shows a group on a day hike to Bradley Mountain.  From the summit of Bradley you can see the peaks of Glacier National Park.

Middle Fork Salmon

The Middle Fork Salmon is our most popular river trip.  It is such a great all around river trip, have a little of everything you could want in a six day river trip.  The scenery of this impressive Idaho canyon in worth it alone, then add in great whitewater, hot-springs, beautiful waterfalls, hiking, Native American pictographs, world class trout fishing and you have a world class river trip!  Ranked #3 on National Geographic best whitewater rafting trips in the world in 2010.

Owyhee River

The classic desert beauty of the Owyhee Canyonlands is best experienced on a trip down the Owyhee River.  This shot was taken on an Upper Owyhee section between Garrat Crossing and Three Forks, one of the most secluded sections of this newly dedicated wilderness.  The Owyhee was recently named a Wild and Scenic River which has put it on the map for many river connoisseurs.  Often dubbed, a miniature Grand Canyon, it’s beauty will not disappoint you.

Mount Fairweather

Mount Fairweather, one of the worlds highest coastal mountains in the world, towering behind Alsek Lake at 15,325 ft.  Its presence is magnified because at a short distance from the ocean, we are basically sitting at sea level at our last night camp.  A glimpse of this amazing mountain is a special treat as it’s sometimes blanketed in coastal clouds.  Both the Upper Alsek and the Tatshenshini trips end near Alsek Lake, with a opportunity to see Fairweather.

Jarbidge/Bruneau River

Middle Fork Salmon

Crystal clear water, alpine desert scenery and dramatic granite canyons make the Middle Fork renowned throughout the world.  The Middle Fork Salmon river trip was rated #3 in the world by National Geographic in 2010 and it’s right in our back yard.

Alsek Lake

Alsek Lake is a final climax of both the Upper Alsek and Tatshenshini river trips.  Massive icebergs drifting across Alsek Lake are often the size of huge ships.  Approximately 87 percent of the icebergs size are hidden beneath the waters surface.  This becomes obvious as we watch some break and roll from the safety of our camp.   We usually spend a lay-over day at the lake to explore our surroundings and possibly row/paddle across the lake to watch these active calving glaciers.  Mount Fairweather, one of the worlds highest coastal mountains, towers in the background at 15,325 ft.  A surreal place of massive power and beauty.

Kayaking the Middle Fork Salmon

June flows make the Middle Fork a playground for paddlers with nice surf waves and big wave-trains throughout the 100 mile run to the confluence of the Main Salmon.  Hardshell kayakers are always welcome on any of our Middle Fork Salmon and Main Salmon trips.  We do also offer kayak specific trips in June on the Middle Fork.

Middle Fork Salmon

River side campfires often attract a few night owls in the evenings.  Nothing beats sitting around the campfire sharing stories with a backdrop like this to serenade you.  Laying back in the sand watching the stars with the warmth of a campfire is definitely something special!  Forget about all those “real world” issue and stresses and just take it all in.  Campfires are a special part of any camping trip and are a major part of all our river trips!  This photo was taken on the Middle Fork Salmon.

Main Salmon

The Main Salmon is a great family whitewater rafting trip.  Warmer water and fun class III wave-trains are all consistent throughout the summer on the Main Salmon.  Paddle boats (like the one in this picture) are a fun option to participate in navigating the boat through the rapids.  Also a fun way to get a little exercise throughout the day.  We offer paddle boats on many of our WRO trips.

Mountain Goats on the Middle Fork Flathead

The Mountain Goat has become an iconic symbol for Glacier National Park.  This is a section on the Middle Fork that we usually see mountain goats enjoying the natural salt licks along the river.  The last day of the Middle Fork Flathead trip the Great Bear Wilderness is on the left side of the river and Glacier National Park is on the river right.

Wally’s Wallow, Jarbidge River

Wally’s Wallow is one of a string of Class IV rapids on the Jarbidge Bruneau River.  High action and the exciting adventures in this remote desert canyon in southern Idaho are why those that come once usually come back for more.  We run small oar boats on this trip suitable for navigating the technical whitewater challenges this river provides.

Moose on the Alsek River

The impressive Canadian Alsek River area is home to moose, bear, eagles, wolves and many more animals.  This photo was taken after being on the river only an hour or two from our launch site.  Same first day before we saw this moose, we had an nice sighting of a grizzly bear from the boats as well.  An impressive first day for sure!

Lowell Lake, Alsek River

This photo was taken from the top of Goat Herd Mountain, a popular hike from our camp at Lowell Lake on the Alsek River.   This hike brings you through incredible rock formations, delicate wildflowers, stunning vista and the chance to catch up with some alpine mountain goats.  We usually lay-over at our camp here so you have the option to hang out at camp or challenge yourself with this hike.  The surrounding mountain ranges, Lowell Glacier and floating icebergs are all right out your front door.

Middle Fork Flathead

The Middle Fork Flathead has two distinct whitewater sections that make up the majority of the rapids on this trip, the Three Forks Series and the Spruce Park Gorge.  This photo is from one of the rapid in the Spruce Park Gorge, the class III-IV grand finale to this trip.  There are other rapids as well, but hands down the majority of the rapids are contained in these two exciting sections!

Walker Glacier

This photo was taken from the Walker Glacier camp Alsek River.  You have the opportunity to visit this glacier on both the Tatshenshini and Upper Alsek River trips.  Taking an afternoon or morning hike from camp gives you the chance to walk on the toe of this impressive glacier.  Incredible geologic phenomenons like this glacier are ever-present along the powerful glacial runoff of these rivers, the Grand Canyon of the North.

Middle Fork Salmon

The Middle Fork Salmon is a great river for all age groups and experience levels.  From 16 foot oar rafts and paddle boats to small inflatable kayaks, you choose your own level of adventure.  This photo was taken in Tappan Falls, which is one of the many exciting rapids on the Middle Fork Salmon.  The Middle Fork Salmon is credited with having 100 rapid in 100 miles, but not all are substantial.

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