Middle Fork of the Salmon Fly Fishing

• MEETING PLACE: Stagecoach Inn, Salmon, Idaho
• MEETING TIME: 7:00 PM MST
• RIVER RATING: Class III-IV
• TRIP MILES:  80 - 100 Miles
• PUT-IN: Indian Creek
• TAKE-OUT: Confluence of the Main and Middle Fork Salmon River
• RETURN TIME:  5:00 PM MST Salmon, Idaho
• TRIP LENGTH: 6 days
• AGE LIMIT:   Minimum age is 7 (12 at high water)
• BOAT TYPE: Paddle Raft, Oar Raft

TRIP INCLUDES: Services of our talented adventure consultants and professional guides, all meals/beverages as indicated in the itinerary (including beer and wine), all rafting/camping gear, and transportation to/from river meeting points.

DOES NOT INCLUDE: 6% Land and water access fee, Airfare/transportation beginning and ending points, shuttling your car from Stanley to Salmon (optional), gratuities for guides, travel protection plan, pre-& post-trip hotel, items of a personal nature, Indian Creek flights (if required - high or low water or road closure due to snow or other causes) 

FISHING - Please bring your own fishing gear (with a protective case), as we do not have any to loan. An IDAHO fishing license is required if you plan on fishing. You can pre-purchase a license by going to the website HERE. You can purchase a license in Salmon at the Salmon Fly Shop. Click on the link for current information or you can call the fly shop at 208-756-1939. You must have a current driver’s license to purchase a license. 

Day 0 - Arrive in Salmon, Idaho

ROW has been operating trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon since 1989 and based on our historical data, we know that on most years we have to start flying in to Indian Creek by July 30 as the water gets too low to boat the first 23 miles from Boundary Creek to Indian Creek.  Since our fishing trips are in late August and September, we meet you in Salmon, Idaho. You can read our blog on Middle Fork flows for more information. 

Plan to arrive in Salmon by 7:00 pm MST.  You meet ROW's team leader at the Stagecoach Inn for an orientation meeting to answer last minute questions and give you waterproof bags for your gear. Dinner on your own.

• Accommodations: Stagecoach Inn (not included in tour price)

• Meals Included: None

Day 1 - Let the Fishing Begin!

Meet your group of anglers early morning for a scenic flight from Salmon, Idaho to our put-in at Indian Creek.  Landing at an elevation of about 4600’, the fresh air is scented with pine.  But you’ll be drawn like a nail to a magnet to the crystal clear waters flowing by your feet.  

Before we launch we have a safety orientation as there are rapids on this trip. We board either rafts or drift boats, depending on water levels and availability.  In no time your line will be laid out across the water with cutthroat chasing your fly.  We spend the day in glorious mountain scenery, casting, contemplating and wondering if life can get any better than this.

We aim to arrive in camp by 4 o’clockish so you have time to stretch your legs and if you want, cast into the river near camp or any nearby tributary. Hors d’oeuvres are served around 6:00 and dinner around 7:00.  Dark nights invite a warm campfire and tales of the day.

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2- Fishing, Rapids, Indian Rock Art, and Pioneer Homesteads

We awake around 7:00am and enjoy fresh-brewed coffee. Breakfast is served and you pack up your personal gear. The boats are loaded and we depart from camp around 9:30 for an adventure-packed day of rapids, nibbles, bites and nets, magnificent scenery and fun.  

The Middle Fork has a rich legacy of history including Native American rock art and during the trip we usually stop at one or two of these sites to give honor to the people that lived on these lands for thousands of years.  

Today, and most days, offer a chance to see John Muir’s favorite bird, the American Dipper, a small gray bird that uses its strong grip to walk along the river bottom eating insects, and builds its nest above fast-flowing water.

We'll have plenty of fun rapids as the river continues its quick descent.  We make camp around 4:00pm and enjoy hiking, more fishing or just relaxing. After dinner the night sky welcomes stargazers and, later on, the river lulls you to sleep.

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - Fishing, Floating, Exploring and Hot Springs

The river canyon opens up a bit more and as we drop elevation, nights become warmer.  Slopes are dotted with ponderosa pine interspersed with sage, mountain mahogany and near the river, alder, willow and grasses.  The crystal waters carry us swiftly along as the river channel widens and narrows, its path defined by rocks and cliffs.  

Your technique may be challenged in some of the deeper pools. Typically, people reel in 20-50 fish a day on the Middle Fork.  When your casting arm tires, learn the saga of Charlie Norton, a man of nerve.  By later-afternoon camp welcomes us and we settle into a now-familiar routine. The night sky, crackling campfire and fresh mountain air will help you sleep like a baby.

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Deep Canyons, Rapids, Feisty Fish

Today offers another great time as we float through one of the most spectacular river canyons on earth.  We may see big horn sheep that come to the river’s edge to visit mineral licks. The fishing is bountiful and sometimes we hook into Rocky Mountain whitefish, bull trout, rainbows or cutbows. 

Soaring above are golden eagles and falcons. We may stop at the hot spring at Hospital Bar, so named because early cattlemen let their stock rest and feed at this large flat and easy ford across the river. We visit Tappan Ranch, where Red and Daisey Paulsen-Tappen grazed cattle, nurtured a bountiful garden and raised their family in the 1920’s and 30’s.

Continuing on we run the Tappan rapids and exciting Tappan Falls.  The last few miles to camp offer a chance to lean back and take in the monumental scenery of the River of No Return Wilderness.

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - Cutthroat Trout, Waterfall Creek, Veil Falls and Haystack Rapids 

Haystack Rapid just below the Flying B Ranch is filled with giant boulders and is a slow-moving sensation of a rapid.  In the past 20 years a couple of side creek “blow outs” have changed this rapid.  Just below it the river narrows decidedly, and a series of deep pools and rapids mark the afternoon.  Once we reach Survey Camp, we’re at the beginning of Impassable Canyon where the Middle Fork of the Salmon has cut into the biggest monolithic formation of granite in North America – the Idaho batholith. Some find the scenery reminiscent of Yosemite, but here the river rather than glaciers has carved the canyon.

From camp you gaze up on steep canyon walls living inside one of the world’s most wondrous scenes of natural art.  Around the campfire tonight, tales of fish and future trips are likely to spin.

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 - Last Casts, Whitewater, Confluence with the Main Salmon, Take Out

We float past the tiny cabin of Earl Parrot, known as the Hermit of Impassable Canyon. His story was chronicled by National Geographic in the 1930’s and adds another dimension to your Middle Fork experience.  We float beneath neck-bending views of sky-piercing rock walls. 

Our last lunch is a few miles above the Middle Fork's confluence with the Main Salmon. We continue to the takeout at Cache Bar, carry personal gear to the waiting bus, and settle back for a two-hour ride to the town of Salmon and the Stagecoach Inn. 

• Accommodations: Riverside camping

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - Return Home or Extend Your Stay

Book your return flight home, or extend your stay and explore more of beautiful Idaho! 

ROW is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider and employer under permit from Salmon, Payette, Boise and Challis National Forests.  All our operations and facilities are operated on a non-disciminatory basis. ROW Inc. is bonded and licensed by the State of Idaho Outfitters & Guides Licensing Board.

Getting There

For fishing trips, our trips start and end in Salmon, Idaho. This is because in most years the river’s flows have become too low by late July for us to float from upper launch point, Boundary Creek. This means we take a backcountry flight to the put-in at Indian Creek on the morning of day 1. Stanley is more difficult to access than the town of Salmon and starting and ending in the same town eliminates the need for a vehicle shuttle, therefore creating cost savings. If you fly, it’s easy to fly to Missoula, Montana, rent a car and drive to Salmon, 2.5 hours south. This often ends up being more economical than flying to Boise and then taking an air taxi to get to Salmon, then another one at the end of the trip to Boise. 

If water levels are high enough for us to float from Boundary Creek on trips from July 30 and later, then we fly from the town of Salmon to Bruce Meadows and take you by bus to Boundary Creek.

Meeting Time: 

The evening before the trip we meet in at the Stagecoach Inn located in Salmon, Idaho at 7 pm. At 7 pm MST ROW’s Team Leader will meet you for a one-hour orientation, to answer last-minute questions and give you your waterproof bags to pack. This is an important meeting, so please be on time. The next morning, we meet at the designated time set by your Team Leader and transport you to the river.  

On the morning of day 1: 

Please have breakfast on your own before we meet.

At the end of the trip:

At the end of the trip, we return you to the Stagecoach Inn in the town of Salmon by 5 pm where we encourage you to spend the night. The Stagecoach Inn will be happy to provide transportation to the airport in the morning after your stay.

Please ensure to make your hotel reservations early.  The Stagecoach Inn in Salmon offers discounts to ROW Adventures guests. Make your reservations with the Stagecoach Inn by calling the front desk at 208-756-2919, mention your date of stay, and that you are a part of the "ROW Adventures group block". The group block is held until 3 weeks prior to check-in at which point it is dropped. 

Note: As noted above, in a typical year, the first 23 miles of the Middle Fork become too low to float by late July or early August.  Logistics are explained above. The additional expense for this flight (about $200 per person) will be billed to each trip member. The same situation sometimes occurs on early June trips due to too much water and/or the put-in road being closed due to snow. To learn more you can read our blog about Middle Fork Flows.

IF YOU DRIVE: 

Drive to Salmon, Idaho, and leave your car in the parking lot of the Stagecoach Inn. There is currently no charge for this.

IF YOU FLY: 

The nearest major airport is Missoula, Montana.  The most economical solution is to rent a car and drive 2 ½ hours south to Salmon where you leave your car during the trip. Alternatively fly to Boise, Idaho, and arrange for an air taxi to fly you to/from Salmon, Idaho. 

FLY/DRIVE OPTION:

If you want to visit other places in the region, groups of four or more may find good economy in chartering an air taxi plane at the end of the trip to take them from Salmon to some other location, such as Missoula, Montana (on the way to Glacier National Park) or Jackson Hole (near Yellowstone) where you can pick up a rental car. In this case, you will need an air ticket that takes you from your home to Boise and allows you to return home from Missoula or Jackson Hole. Spokane, Washington is just 4 hours west of Missoula and is another common airline gateway, so a nice loop is to get a car in Missoula, drive to Glacier, and end in Spokane.

Extra Luggage: If you drive or fly to Salmon, you can leave extra luggage in your car or with the front desk of the Stagecoach Inn.

LAST-MINUTE PHONE NUMBERS:

• If you need to reach ROW at the last minute, contact our office Monday - Friday at (208) 765-0841.
• Stagecoach Inn in Salmon: (208) 756-2919

We highly recommend checking the weather prior to your trip for an updated forecast and current conditions. We recommend the following websites. 

Weather in Salmon Idaho - Weather Underground

Middle Fork of the Salmon River - Find Local Weather

WHEN TO GO?

Because the Middle Fork has no dams the water is highest when early-summer warmth melts the snow from the high peaks. The winter’s snowpack affects each season’s water levels. Therefore June to early July, in general, is the time to come if you have previous rafting experience and are seeking high water thrills. Mid-July brings somewhat lower flows as the bulk of the snowmelt has already run-off and we welcome novice rafters. The river gradually gets lower as the summer passes, bringing incredible clarity and magic to the crystal waters. Latter August and September are wonderful times to be on the river as few other people are around, the colors of the hills become more radiant, and fishing is at its best.

Physical Requirements

Here at ROW Adventures, our first and foremost goal is for you to have an enjoyable and safe experience. While most of our trips are suitable for beginners, some of our trips are more active than others and it’s important that you understand the physical requirement of the trip you choose. 

All of our multi-day rafting trips are active adventures that involve some level of physical exertion and possible exposure to the elements including but not limited to wind, rain, heat, sun, cold temperatures and cold water conditions.  ROW Adventures is able to accommodate people with physical limitations, disabilities, and medical conditions; please speak with your Adventure Consultant if you think you will require any additional assistance while on the trip.  We ask that you consult your doctor if you have health or medical conditions that could impact your ability to participate in an active and outdoor adventure.  In general, all trip participants must be able to do the following:  

• Wear all protective and safety equipment that is required by ROW Adventures and recommended/required by industry-wide standards.

• Load and unload, on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion, the bus and/or van providing transportation for ROW Adventures activities.

• Reach the river access points (put-in and take-out) on their own, or with the aid of a qualified companion.

• Enter and exit the raft, kayak and/or inflatable kayak on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion.

• Remain seated and balanced in a floating raft, canoe, kayak or inflatable kayak w/ the aid of adaptive equipment, if necessary.

• Perform all on water activities, including following instructions that like paddling commands from the guide in class I and higher whitewater on their own or with the assistance of a qualified companion. 

• Float on their back when entering moving and still water.  The participant must be capable of turning from face-down to face-up in the water with the aid of a Personal Floatation Device and must be able to hold their breath while underwater.

• Remain calm and keep breathing under control in the event of a whitewater swim.

• Get out from under a raft, whether the raft is up-right or capsized, in moving water.

• Climb into the raft, with the help of another person, should an involuntary swim happen at any point on the river.

• Make progress toward the shoreline or a raft by swimming in moving water and must be able to exit the river and ascend the shoreline once reached.

• Participate as an active paddler when instructed by the guide for the duration of the trip. 

• Move about the campsite on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion on all trips that include overnight camping and/or lunch.

Packing properly for a river trip is CRITICAL to your enjoyment while on the river. We recommend that you prepare yourself for three basic scenarios:

• A cool day on the river.
• A warm day on the river.
• Time spent lounging in camp.

Take care of these, and you are free to let the river and the canyon work their magic.

The weather in the northwest is unpredictable. You must come prepared for the cold/wet weather and hot/sunny weather – sometimes even on the same day! The following information will help you be prepared for the expected as well as the unexpected events of your trip. You may not use all of the gear listed below, but we recommend bringing it all!

DRYBAGS THAT ROW PROVIDES

• One large waterproof bag (16” in diameter x 33” tall) per person. This will contain your sleeping bag as well as your personal clothing and items. This bag is NOT accessible during the day as it goes ahead of the group with our cargo raft. 
  Note: This bag will also contain additional gear provided by ROW: A sleeping bag, flannel liner & pillow

• A small daypack (9” in diameter x 20” tall) for items you want to access during the day such as rain gear, sunscreen, camera, medications, etc.

WHAT YOU SHOULD PACK:

All of your personal items should be packed into a soft-sided duffle bag approximately 12” x 13” x 24” in size. Due to weight allowances and raft space, please limit your gear to 20-25 pounds. (This is especially important for late July and August trips where we’ll most likely be flying in small airplanes to the put-in at Indian Creek!) This bag will then go inside your large waterproof bag provided by ROW.

ITEMS FOR ON THE RIVER

• Two T-Shirts (1 quick dry and 1 cotton for a hot day)

• One light long-sleeved shirt for sun protection and cool evenings. Popular options are a rash guard or sunscreen shirts.

• Two pairs of shorts (nylon quick drying is always better than cotton).

• Light pants are great for sun protection or on a windy day. Lightweight zip-off pants work great.

• Swimsuit – two-piece suits are easier for women - tankinis with river shorts are a great option.

• One pair of river sandals (must have a secure ankle strap, no flip-flops or crocs!) Velcro is okay if in good condition. Popular name brands include Chaco, Teva, Keen, or Merrells. Tennis shoes with polypro socks are a good option if your feet tend to get cold.

• One Cap, Sun Hat or Visor (ROW hats are available when you arrive.)

ITEMS GOOD TO HAVE IN YOUR DRY BAG ON THE RIVER

• One rain suit, jacket & pants (windbreaker without cotton liner works well, but no cheap ponchos)
• Mid-weight to light-weight long underwear tops and bottoms. Best worn over a swimsuit and undershorts.
• One synthetic or wool mid-weight sweater for layering on the river on cool days.
• Sunglasses with retaining cord/device
• Bee Sting kit for those allergic to bees
• Biodegrable sunscreen (we highly recommend Stream2Sea as an all natural option)
• Lip balm with SPF 20-50
• Water bottle with carabiner
• Extra Cap, Sun Hat, or Visor

ITEMS FOR TIME AT CAMP

• Two Short sleeve shirts (Enjoy clean and comfortable)
• One pair of pants (lightweight nylon, cotton or fleece)
• Pair of shorts
• One synthetic mid-weight sweaters for cool evenings
• Underwear and socks
• Flashlight or headlamp with extra bulb and batteries
• Skin lotion, lip balm, waterproof sunscreen, etc.
• Toilet kit - toothbrush and paste, soap ( biodegradable is best, no soaps can be used in the river), camp towel, washcloth, comb, handkerchief, a small pack of tissues, small mirror, moist towelettes, shaving stuff, feminine sanitary supplies, etc.
• Extra eyeglasses and/or contact lenses are strongly suggested. ALL glasses need a head strap!
• One pair of tennis shoes or walking shoes for cooler weather and hiking. (We don’t recommend you bring large hiking boots as they take up too much space and aren’t necessary.) Flip-flops/ crocs are also comfortable for easy walking on sandy beaches!
• Stocking Cap/ Beanie for cool nights

ADDITIONAL CLOTHES FOR COOL WEATHER 

• Two pairs of wool or polypro socks to wear on the river
• One additional set of synthetic light or midweight tops and bottoms (one set for the river and one for camp) 
• Wool or poly gloves & wool or poly cap (like a skiing hat)

FISHING

If you plan to fish, please bring your own fishing gear (with a protective case), as we do not have any to loan. An IDAHO fishing license is required if you plan on fishing. You can pre-purchase a license by going to the website https://idfg.idaho.gov/license/purchase-options. Click on the link for current information or you can call the fly shop at 208-721-7151. You must have a current driver’s license to purchase a license. 

RECOMMENDED FISHING GEAR

• A high performance & easy to cast fishing rod (4-5 weight rods about 9' length)
• Fly fishing reel (spool size around 3") loaded with a double-tapered floating line
• Rod & reel case for protection
• Fishing vest
• Fly boxes with an ample assortment of fishing flies
• Fly floatant
• Forceps, retractors, or other tools (Ketchum Release) for fish release
• Polarized glasses w/retaining strap such as chums or croakies
• Nippers/clippers
• Fishing net
• Felt soled wading shoe
• Light-weight waders for evening fishing (optional)
• Sun block & lip ice

RECOMMENDED FLY SELECTIONS

• Elkhair Caddis (tan & olive)
• Adams
• Renegade
• Parachute Adams
• Black Gnat
• Blue Dun
• Royal Wulff
• Royal Coachman
• Yellow Humpy
• Orange & yellow Stimulators (size 8 & 10)
• Rubber legged Orange Stimulator
• McSalmon/ Giant Stonefly
• Tarantula (size 8 & 10)
• Madame X
• Elkhair & Dave1s Hopper

LIQUOR AND PREFERED BEVERAGES

ROW packs a moderate quantity of soft drinks as well as wine and beer for legal-age guests. If you bring liquor, please give it to your guide in a labeled plastic container (Nalgene, Platypus soft bottle). Beer should be in cans - No glass beer bottles, please. Bottled wine is fine. All liquors in IDAHO are sold in State Liquor Stores with limited hours.  Please be aware we have limited space on our rafts therefore moderate quantities, please.  If you are arriving after 7 pm BE SURE TO PURCHASE your liquor at home and bring it with you.

GRATUITIES:

Like anyone in the service business, river and outdoor adventure guides appreciate gratuities. Our guides are some of the best and most highly trained in the business. They not only guide your raft down the river but set up camp, cook and serve gourmet meals, provide interpretation of the natural and cultural history of the area and strive to provide the highest level of hospitality. Tipping is ultimately a personal decision, however, if you appreciate the service your guides provided, then as a guideline we suggest a gratuity of 10-20% of the trip price. Tips can be given to the ROW Team Leader at the end of the trip in the form of cash or personal check. The Team Leader distributes them equally among the guides and gives a portion to ROW’s behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes like our drivers and food shoppers.

Recommended Reading List

• Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water, by Marc Reisner (Penguin Books).
  This is an enlightening and easy to read book about water politics in the West. It does not contain much about Idaho – but is still a must read – especially with the current debate over removing the four lower Snake River dams. Highly recommended.

• Children of Grace, by Bruce Hampton, Henry, Holt Publishers, 1994
  (out of print as of March of 1998) – but in ROW founder, Peter Grubb’s opinion, one of the best! Look for it at used bookstores or try www.bibliofind.com. If you're only going to read book about the Nez Perce and the war of 1879, this is the one. Highly recommended. (Out of print, available online)

• Idaho Chinese Lore, by Sister M. Alfreda Elsensoln (Idaho Corporation of Benedictine Sisters and printed by The Caxton Printers, Ltd. In Caldwell, 1970).
  Try your local library. (Out of print, available online)

• Idaho for the Curious: A Guide, by Cort Conley (Backeddy Books).
  This thick book is a great resource for the curious. Conley follows the roads and relates the natural and human history of the areas. It’s worth the money and the perfect companion in your car for your dog to read to you as you drive.

• Idaho Loners, by Cort Conley (Backeddy Books, 1994).
  An in-depth look into the lives of the hermits, solitaries and individualists that shaped Idaho’s history. Fun, intriguing, biographical reading.

• Indians of Idaho, by Deward E. Walker Jr. (University Press of Idaho).

• Middle Fork: A Guide, by Johnny Carrey and Cort Conley (Backeddy Books, 1992).
  This is probably the best book to deepen one’s appreciation of the Middle Fork of the Salmon and its history.

• Myths of the Idaho Indians, by Deward E. Walker Jr. (University Press of Idaho, 1982). (Out of print, available online)

• Nez Perce Coyote Tales, by D. Walker (University of Oklahoma Press, 1994).

• Rivers of the West - A Guide to the Geology & History, by Elizabeth L. Orr & William N. Orr. (Out of print, available online)

• Roadside Geology of Idaho, by David D. Alt and Donald W. Hyndman (Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1989).
  Few states pack so many different rocks into such a small area as Idaho, the book covers this unique occurrence in an exciting geologic story.

• Roadside History of Idaho, by Betty Derig (Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1996).
  “The best way to enjoy Idaho’s rich heritage is to visit the sites where history happened”. This book transports you to those places through well-researched, well-told text and vivid historical photographs.

• Salmon and His People, by Dan Landeen and Allen Pinkham. (Confluence Press, Lewis & Clark State College, 1999). Fish & Fishing in Nez Perce Culture, illustrated with 200 color photographs as well as dozens of historic images to chronicle the importance of fish and fishing to the Nez Perce people. This book gives you a real sense of how important the Salmon were and are to the Nez Perce. Highly recommended.

• Sources of the River, by Jack Nisbet (Sasquatch Books, 1994)
  Jack re-creates the life and times of David Thompson – fur trader, explorer, surveyor, and mapmaker who blazed the way West before Lewis and Clark. As a result of adding his own observations Jack has created a fascinating story of two men discovering the Northwest Territory almost two hundred years apart. (Author Jack Nisbet lives in Spokane and has traveled on the Missouri River in 2000 as a ROW interpretive guest.) Highly recommended. (Out of print, available online)

• The Education of Little Tree, by Forrest Carter (University of New Mexico Press, 1976).
  The true story of a Cherokee boy’s unique education in the 1930’s. A wonderful book that shows the stark contrast between the values, awareness and relationship with nature of the Indians versus those of white people. Highly recommended.

• The Lemhi: Sacajawea’s People, by Brigham D. Madsen (The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1979).
  A historical story of the Lemhi tribe being reunited with Sacajawea and their struggle to survive on a too small reservation.

• The River Reader, by John A. Murray (The Lyons Press, 1998).
  A collection of writings that is composed of both classic selections and contemporary writings from twenty-two diverse writers that are devoted to a single environmental subject.

• The Weiser Indians: Shoshoni Peacemakers, by Hank Corless (The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1996).
  “This book documents Indian-white relations in the southwestern Idaho during the time of initial white encroachment onto Indian lands. It also offers a perspective on all native peoples of the northern Great Basin”. Besides that it illustrates the daily life and culture of an Idaho Indian tribe around the time of the first settlement of Idaho by white people. Highly recommended.. (Out of print, available online)

• Thunder Mountain, by Zane Grey (Walter J. Black, Inc., 1932).
  A fantastic story about a gold mine near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the 1860’s by the man who created the literary genre known as the “Western”. It is no longer in print. Try your local used bookstores for a copy of this great book! (Out of print, available online)

• Undaunted Courage, by Stephen Ambrose (Simon & Schuster, 1996). A must read! A poignant human drama of Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the opening of the American West. This book is one of the main reasons so many people are intrigued by the Lewis and Clark story. Highly recommended.

Watch - Camping with ROW Adventures

Watch - Bathroom Facilities on the River

Watch - Packing for a Day on the River 

Boise Guide - Helpful ideas on what to do before or after your trip.

Middle Fork Salmon River Flow - See how the River is running.

Weather Report - Check the local weather before you go.

Trip Photo Album - Browse a photo album from a recent trip.

Trip Advisor - Read guest reviews.

Save our Wild Salmon - Get educated - Join the cause.

White Water Craft Guide - Types of crafts we utilize on river trips.

Understanding Leave No Trace on the River - Helpful ways to travel through river environments sustainably. 

The 6 Best Wilderness Multi-Day Whitewater Rafting Trips in Idaho - Take a closer look at which trip might be best for you.

Feminine Hygiene Tips for River Trips - Helpful tips for women while on the river.

Know Before You Go - 10 Things You Might Encounter Multi-Day Rafting - Multi-day rafting 101!

Guide to Fly Fishing the Middle Fork Salmon River - Read up on the kinds of fish you might catch while on the Middle Fork!

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