The Main Salmon is One of the Best Rafting Trips in the World
Seated on a pristine sandy beach at the edge of a ribbon of glistening green water you look up in awe at towering granite cliffs weathered to a dramatic black hue; the hillsides dotted with monumental ponderosa pines, whose size you cannot begin to comprehend as the landscape before you defies all scale. You find yourself in total peace. Where am I?
Flowing through the heart of the largest wilderness area in the contiguous United States, the Main Salmon river offers stunning landscapes, thrilling rapids, pure solitude, and a chance to reconnect with the feeling of pure humanness. What are you waiting for? Unplug your phone, and dive into one of the best rafting trips in the world.
The Main Salmon offers a unique blend of wilderness and human history. Its remote and rugged character made the Main Salmon a less trafficked are by the native peoples. However both the Shoshone-Bannock and Nez Perce visited this remote stretch of river as evidenced by historical artifacts, numerous pictographs painted on cliff walls, as well as oral tradition passed down through the generations.
When Lewis and Clark came west, they took pause in the Lemhi valley, near today's Salmon, Idaho. Upon investigating the Main Salmon, they decided the canyon walls were too steep and decided to route their expedition north into the bitterroot valley. Later, gold miners made forays into this inhospitable terrain in droves, and even a railroad was proposed along its banks. The rivers final developmental threat came in the form of a proposed highway that thankfully ran out of funds before completion. Thus leaving nearly 80 miles of road free river punctuated by settlement of the hardiest of humans. Stories of luck, loss, and daring capture the imagination of todays river goer as you hear about Captain Guleke, Frank Lantz, Buckskin Bill, Polly Bemis and more.
As people drove deeper into the wilderness in search of gold, settlers took to the river by way of wooden scow. These daring boatmen paved the way for modern rafting learning how to read the water and navigate challenging rapids in massive wooden boats. The captains would trade supplies with the miners along the way. The boats would be deconstructed and either turned into cabins along the river or disassembled and sold as timber downriver. This helped creat the lore and name of “The River of No Return,” as the boats themselves would never return.
In 1980, the Main Salmon was added as a designated Wild and Scenic River, forever protecting it from being dammed. And while few people now navigate it in a wooden scow, its free flowing nature, and preserved state, make it the perfect wilderness adventure. The Main Salmon offers an unparalleled rafting and exploratory experience, making it one of the best rafting trips in the world.
Few people today experience true wilderness. Getting away from the thrum of industry and technology is good for the soul. Once you are there, its easy to let go of the notifications and the stress. You find moments of silence and tranquility. You engage with your family. You make new friends. You laugh, a lot! You let go and act a little silly. You splash, and play, and act like a kid. Out here, it's easy. That is the power of wilderness.
We camp out on sandy beaches and peaceful benches, nestled amongst the towering pines. We dine on freshly cooked “river gourmet” food like Wild Salmon and riverside Lasagne. Drinks stay cold all week. Then wind down around a camp fire and find blissful rest under the blanket of the milky way and the twinkling canopy of stars.
And perhaps you came for the rafting? The Main Salmon has plenty of great whitewater. Its splashy and playful class II and III rapids make for laughs and smiles for all. These rapids are perfect for the intrepid adventure seeking the challenge of the inflatable kayaks. Paddle rafters get splash after splash, and those riding in the oar boats get the perfect blend of peace and excitement too. Several Class 4 rapids spread throughout amp up the intensity a little more as we deftly navigate between holes and boulders lead by the skilled hands of a river guide. Famous rapids include Big Mallard, Elk Horn, Chittam, Vinegar and more. All this will keep any rafter engaged from newbie to veteran.
If that wasn’t enough, the Main Salmon even has a wilderness hot spring nestled at the base of the cliff walls, hanging over the peaceful green river below. Others may choose to seek extra adventure along the way and walk to visit a pioneer homestead or take a hike up to a view point, or a magical grove of trees.
So when should you go?
Like the changing of the seasons, each time of the year offers a different experience on the Main Salmon. June brings high water, which means big waves, big rapids, green hillsides, and great hiking weather. As the water starts to drop in July, the sandy beaches begin to show, the days get long, the water begins to warm and the river offers a nice blend of the Spring and Fall experience. Some of the big rapids are still pushy and challenging, but the swimming gets good and the days warm up.
As we turn the corner into August we get hot days, which means lots of swimming and warm water, and we welcome every splash the river provides. The beaches get bigger and this is the best time of year for beach games and camping on the sand. As the days shorten slightly, the stars brighten and August meteor showers are here to wow. As September rolls around, the number of river users drop and peace and quiet abound on the river. The wildlife pokes its head out and cool mornings are enjoyed cozied up with a hot coffee as the sun strikes the peaks over the river.
Whenever you decide to come, the Main Salmon is sure to deliver an unforgettable adventure for all. It offers thrills, history, solitude and connection. It offers exploration and reflection. A rafting trip that captures the hearts and minds of all who visit the depths of its canyon walls, it may need to be renamed the “River of Please May I Return?”
