Middle Fork of the Salmon River white water rafting adventure trips and vacations Idaho

THE AREA: The Middle Fork of the Salmon River flows through the heart of the 2.3 million acre Frank Church "River of No Return" Wilderness. This is the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. The river corridor itself has been designated as a "wild and scenic river." This area is protected because of its outstanding opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation. It contains ecological and geological, as well as other features of scientific and scenic value.

THE RIVER: The total elevation drop is approximately 3,000 feet, starting from the high alpine area of Bear Valley, flowing through one of the deepest and most scenic gorges in North America. You will travel through constantly changing scenery, from dense conifer forests to mature ponderosa stands, ending in the rugged granite gorge of Impassable Canyon. The water is crystal clear and continually swift as the drop is 28 feet per mile. Forty-two class II to class V rapids provide hourly excitement. By the end of the first day, you’ll have run more rapids than on the entire length of many other trips.

The Middle Fork is a free flowing river. Water volumes are directly related to the amount of snowpack from the previous winter, the amount of rainfall during the summer, and air temperature. Because this is a free flowing stream, the annual volume may vary greatly. Usually, all of our June and July trips can be launched from Boundary Creek.

When water conditions become too low or too high for a Boundary Creek launch, we start at Indian Creek. This Launch area is accessible only by air.

If it is determined that water conditions prohibit a Boundary Creek launch and a flight to Indian Creek is necessary, we will arrange these flights. There is an Additional cost of $75.00 per person for these flights.

CAMPS: Grassy benches at timber’s edge provide excellent settings for relaxation and a good night’s rest. Not only are the crew members highly skilled guides, they are also excellent cooks. They serve up some of the finest meals around! Meals that you will find delicious and satisfying. There is also an opportunity for a hot bath, as we may camp next to one of the Middle Fork’s world famous hot springs, and stop at others during the day. Hike, explore, fish, view wildlife, or join others around the campfire.

FISHING: The Middle Fork offers some great fishing opportunities. It harbors a great variety of game fish, including Steelhead, Salmon, Rainbow, Dolly Varden and Cutthroat Trout. Some species are protected. Any fish caught must be released immediately. Temporary fishing licenses need to be purchased prior to the trip and can be purchased in Stanley. Bring a lightweight pole that can be broken down and stored easily for transport. BARBLESS HOOKS ARE REQUIRED! Check locally at the time that you purchase your license for information on conditions.

TRIP LENGTH: All trips are five days and four nights in length. Dates are available from mid-June to late August. We can arrange pre-season trips in late May and early June, depending on water levels and road conditions. Very cold, inclement weather can be expected on pre-season trips. From our launch point at Boundary Creek, to the take-out at the confluence with the Main Salmon, this trip covers 106 miles. Trip length from Indian Creek (launch point in extremely low or high water conditions) to the confluence is 82 miles.

WEATHER: Temperatures on early trips, June through early July, average 40 degrees at night to 75 degrees during the day. You can also expect rain two out of the six days. Wetsuit and wetsuit booties are highly recommended. Later trips, July through August, average 55 degrees at night to 85 degrees during the day. A quality rain suit is recommended on all trips. We can provide information on wetsuit rentals in Idaho.

BOATS: Our boats are 14’ - 18’ in length and custom-fitted and designed especially for the Middle Fork. Built by highest rated manufacturers, they are constantly upgraded to be the best. We run oar boats, paddle rafts and inflatable kayaks on all of our trips depending on water levels. Please note that this is a very technical stream. If you are interested in the paddle raft or the inflatable kayaks we highly recommend a wet suit or paddling suit. You may contact Rendezvous Sports in Salmon, Idaho to rent or buy these items, 888 756 0004. We also offer kayak support. Kayakers must be highly skilled and willing to kayak the full distance. Contact us for details. If you would like to learn to kayak we do offer 6 – 9 day kayak workshops on the Main Salmon.

EXPERIENCE and SAFETY:

Our guides are among the best on the river. They are all skilled, seasoned and experienced outdoor professionals. On the average our guides have been with Warren River Expeditions, Inc. and have been working commercially on Idaho’s Rivers for almost ten years. In addition they have numerous river miles under their belt before coming to us. This creates a great working relationship among our guides and a vast working knowledge of the canyon and the river and it’s history. When you are on the river with us you can immediately tell that we all enjoy our jobs and the canyon. Of course it is a wonderful job being able to share Idaho’s Main Salmon River and Middle Fork of the Main Salmon with our new friends. You will find our enthusiasm is very contagious. When you come back for your second, third, forth or even more trips (our average return and word of mouth business is over 75% of our annual business and growing every year) you will see several of the same guides and crew, it is just like getting together with old friends again.

Of course there are many inherent dangers on a white water rafting trip inside a wilderness area. However, in the last 14 years we have an impeccable safety record and do all we can to keep our guests safe and yet have them enjoy the river and the thrill of all that a white water rafting trip has to offer. In the rare event of an accident all of our guides are first aid certified, with most of them possessing Wilderness First Responder certification. They have completed a 9-day wilderness first aid class or EMT equivalent class. Of course we always hope we never have to use this training. It is nice to know that we can take care of you in the event you need us.

WHAT THIS TRIP INCLUDES: Your vacation package on the Middle Fork includes the following: Boats, guides, life jackets, meals (starting and ending with lunch on the first and last days) and utensils, beverages, some beer and pop, limited dinner wine, sleeping bag, Thermarest waterproof duffel bags for your gear, high quality tent, transportation from Salmon, Idaho to Boundary Creek launch (charter air service for Indian Creek launch is NOT INCLUDED), and transportation from take-out to Salmon.

NOT INCLUDED: Personal gear, fishing equipment, wetsuit/wetsuit booties and quality rain suit, hard alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and charter air expenses (in the event of an Indian Creek launch).

ITINERARY: You will need to be in Salmon, Idaho no later than the 6:00 PM the night prior to trip departure. We will meet for an orientation meeting at 7:00 pm at Rendezvous Sports here in Salmon. We will send a recommendation of accommodations for the night before your trip and after your trip. At this time you will receive your dry bags, life jackets and other specialized river gear. At the end of the trip a River Rat bus will bring you back to Salmon. You should arrive in Salmon around 6:00 pm. We do recommend you stay the night. If you are flying back to Boise your flight will leave the next morning.

RESERVATIONS:We do ask that you make a verbal reservation by phone or email and receive conformation of available space before sending any money for deposits. A $500.00 deposit per person is required within 10 days of reservation. Warren River Expeditions, Inc. accepts personal checks, VISA , MasterCard, AMEX and Discover. Final payment is due 60 days prior to trip departure, but is appreciated at any time. Please see reservation form for cancellation policy. All deposits and payments are none refundable!

You will be sent an information packet soon after making your reservations. This packet will include forms that need to be completed and mailed to our office at the time of final payment if possible.

All Middle Fork trips are run in conjunction with Wilderness, Inc. Owned and operated by Dave Warren.

To reserve your special week of excitement go to our Trip Dates section and choose the dates that fit your vacation plans. Or drop us an email at: SalmonRiver@raftidaho.com.

For a complete list of dates and pricing please go to "Dates and Pricing" page.

Depending on the time of the year, the weather conditions and temperatures in Idaho and on the river will vary. You will find spring and fall temperatures in the 60—75 degree range. The summer temperatures range from 75 to the low 100’s. Water temperatures range from the 50’s in the spring and fall to the low 70s in the middle of the summer. The water and air temperatures are generally 5—10 degrees cooler on the Middle Fork, than the Main Salmon. Click here for the Current Main Salmon weather and the Current Middle Fork weather.

Idaho Rafting
Warren River Expeditions
P.O. Box 147
Carmen, ID 83462-0147
Office: (208) 756-6387
Reservations: (800) 765-0421
Fax: (208) 756-4495
SalmonRiver@raftidaho.com