Salmon River Rafting with Northwest

The Salmon River flows through the heart of the Frank Church: River of No Return Wilderness Area, the largest federally protected wilderness area in the contiguous U.S. You'll find hundreds of miles of whitewater and stellar rafting opportunities along the two major branches of the river, the Main Salmon and the Middle Fork of the Salmon. The Main flows west before joining the Snake River, while the Middle Fork flows north until its confluence with the Main.

The Main Salmon

The river from the place I left my party to this creek is almost one continued rapid, five very considerable rapids, the passage of either with canoes is entirely impossible as the water is confined between huge rocks & the current beating from one against another for some distance below.

- General William Clark, Lewis and Clark Expedition

Salmon RiverThis section of the Salmon River starts soon after the point where the Lewis and Clark Expedition decided it wouldn't be able to follow the Salmon River Westward. It was given the name "River of No Return" when it became apparent that those who traveled down, could not make it back up.

Thankfully, river crafts have evolved considerably since 1805 and with experienced guides and rubber rafts, the Main now makes a great family rafting trip. The river flows through a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon with spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery. Large sandy beaches make great camp spots and are perfect for playing games like ultimate frisbee and volleyball.

This is a wonderful first trip for families with young kids. We bring inflatable kayaks for those looking for some extra adventure.

Next: Learn more about the Main Salmon

The Middle Fork of the Salmon

The Middle Fork of the Salmon starts high in the Idaho backcountry near Stanley, ID and the Sawtooth Mountains. It begins with nearly continuous rapids in a tight canyon filled with Ponderosa pines. As the trip continues, the river grows in depth and strength as feeder streams and waterfalls add to the flow. Hot springs are plentiful on the first half of the trip and wildlife is abundant.

The last 20 miles of the Middle Fork cut through the Impassable Canyon, which is inaccessible to hikers or cars, making it only passable by rafting through. This jaw-dropping canyon, with vertical rock walls on both sides of the river, is a highlight of the trip.

The flow varies considerably throughout the summer due to the lack of dams. Adventure junkies will find heart-pumping whitewater from the end of May through June. By July, the flow reaches an ideal level for families and an inflatable kayak will increase the challenge if desired. In late July or early August, the top 25 miles are usually too low to raft safely, so trips fly in to an airstrip along the river and continue from there. These later season trips are perfect for families as they travel less distance allowing for more time to relax and stop at interesting sites.

The Middle Fork is also well-known for its crystal clear water and spectacular trout fishing.

Next: Learn more about the Middle Fork of the Salmon