Middle Fork of the Salmon River FAQ
What is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River?
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is just over 100 river miles of pure heaven. The river is within the 2.5 million acres of the Frank Church River of No Return wilderness areas. Designated as “Wild and Scenic” river it is one of the many tributaries of the Salmon River. Trips are solely self supported once they leave Boundary Creek, with the only exception of buying extra snacks/beer at the Flying B.
Where is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River?
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is generally run from Boundary Creek to Cache Bar.
How do I get to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River?
From the Boise Airport to Boundary Creek: 140 miles, 3 hours and 37 minutes
From Salt Lake City Airport to Boundary Creek: 399 miles, 7 hours and 15 minutes
From Stanley Airport to Boundary Creek: 42 miles, 1 hour and 33 minutes
From McCall Airport to Boundary Creek: 154 miles, 3 hours and 48 minutes
Where is the put in?
The main put in for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is at Boundary Creek. Early season boaters can put in on Marsh Creek just off of Highway 21 (this is for experienced boaters only). Late season boaters have the option of flying into Indian Creek to avoid the many rock gardens that appear on the upper section in low water flows.
Where is the take out?
The main take out for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is at Cache Bar. With proper permitting, you can “turn the corner” and do a Middle/Main to have an extended float trip.
Is there a permit process?
Yes! There is currently a permit system in place. May 28-September 3 is the lottery control season and can be somewhat difficult to obtain a permit based on how lucky you are. Preseason and postseason permits are easier to get, but you then have trickier flows and harsher weather to deal with. All permits are currently being issued at Recreation.Gov.
Below are important dates for the 2021 boating season:
What are my odds of obtaining a permit?
Not good. Looking at the 2017 statistics there were only 387 permits issued out of the 12,999 applications. The gap is predicted to only grow wider as the popularity of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River grows.
What is a trip leader, and do we need one?
Short answer, yes. Long answer, also yes. It is best to have one person, or one couple, take on the roll of being a trip leader. They will be responsible for all the logistics of the trip and coordination of splitting costs to everyone in the group.
How do I get my vehicle from Boundary Creek to Cache Bar?
The best way to get your vehicle from Boundary Creek to Cache bar is to hire a shuttle company. They will drive your vehicle to the take out so it is there waiting for you when you get off the river. Here is some addition information on shuttling your vehicle.
What is it like to be on the river?
A very peaceful, almost spiritual, experience awaits you on the river. You will experience just about every emotion imaginable while on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Along with that, you will best tested physically as you have long days behind the oars and then recoup around a campfire with friends each evening.
What is the weather like?
Spring trips can be cold (think freezing temperatures cold) with the possibility of heavy rain and snow showers. Summer months bring hot daytime temperatures and cool evenings and mornings. Fall trips bring on crisp mornings and pleasant daytime temperatures. Planning your trip it is usually best to look up the forecast for both Stanley and Salmon, then take an average between the two.
STANLEY WEATHER SALMON WEATHER
How difficult is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River?
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River should only be attempted by experienced boaters. Having confidence in their abilities to make decisions on the fly and physicality to be able to move your boat around in dangerous, and stressful, situations is a must. All rivers have the potential to be dangerous and should be treated with the utmost respect. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is not for the novice boater.
What are the different classes of rapid?
• Class 1, Easy: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level: None)
• Class 2, Novice: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, small drops, might require maneuvering. (Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)
• Class 3, Intermediate: Medium waves, maybe a 3–5 ft drop, but not much considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. (Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)
• Class 4, Advanced: Whitewater, large waves, long rapids, rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)
• Class 5, Expert: Whitewater, large waves, continuous rapids, large rocks and hazards, maybe a large drop, precise maneuvering. Often characterized by “must make” moves, i.e. failure to execute a specific maneuver at a specific point may result in serious injury or death. Class 5 is sometimes expanded to Class 5+ that describes the most extreme, runnable rapids (Skill Level: Expert)
• Class 6, Extreme: While there is some debate over the term “Class 6”, in practice it refers to rapids that are not passable and any attempt to do so would result in serious injury, near drowning or death. If a rapid is run that was once thought to be impassible, it is typically reclassified as Class 5.
Are there guide books available for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River?
Yes! Please see the links below for some excellent river guide books.
