Full Salmon River Rafting Experience
Overview
No other river trip in the U.S. offers as much diversity in
scenery, terrain and whitewater as the Full Salmon River Rafting Experience.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River boasts non-stop, Class III-IV
whitewater, natural hot springs, and excellent fishing. And then
there’s the scenery – soft meadows that roll
towards the base of soaring mountains, craggy canyons ribboned with
waterfalls, deep green forests and grassy hills dotted with wildflowers.
Perhaps the most popular rafting trip in Idaho, and part of
the longest un-dammed river in the mainland US, the Main Salmon offers
a rich river experience. Free-flowing Class III whitewater
that’s great for any age and experience level, big sandy
beaches perfect for camping and playing, beautiful mountain scenery,
abundant wildlife, and a natural hot spring are among the hallmarks of
the Main.
Distinctive from the forests and mountains that comprise much
of Idaho’s wilderness, this river runs through the warmer,
drier canyon country of the Seven Devils. Not confined to just one
river canyon, the Lower Salmon River actually flows through four separate
gorges – Green, Cougar, Snow Hole and Blue canyons
– interspersed with sprawling, wide-open vistas. Bejeweled
with some of the biggest and most beautiful white sand beaches of any
western river, the Lower Salmon is the perfect destination for
water-based fun in the sun.
Itinerary at a Glance
- Board a scenic flight to the put-in of your Full Salmon River Rafting Experience, where boats, crew and river await
- Enjoy fantastic alpine scenery, deep green forests, dramatic mountains, and crystal clear creeks that flow out of the woods and into the river
- Soak in a steaming natural hot spring after braving Velvet Falls and Ramshorn rapids
- Watch the scenery change from high mountains to gently rolling hills as the forests give way to miles of open grassland dotted with cool glades of pine
- Run huge rapids like Powerhouse and Pistol Creek, maybe in an inflatable kayak or paddle boat
- After another soak in a hot spring, explore caves decorated with Sheepeater Indian pictographs
- Hike to the magnificent Veil Falls, and view it plummeting into a natural amphitheatre
- Challenge some of the most high-intensity and continuous whitewater of the trip through Impassable Canyon; paddle through Redside, Rubber and Hancock rapids before reaching the confluence of the Main Salmon River
- Enter the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and embark on the second portion of the journey on the Main Salmon through a heavily forested canyon with towering pines and early season blankets of vibrant wildflowers.
- Experience rapids like Salmon Falls, Big Mallard and Growler, historical sites such as Buckskin Bill’s homestead and prospector Jim Moore’s place (maybe find the fortune he buried in the hillside!), and the much anticipated Barth Hot Springs.
- Enjoy a challenging climb to Rabbit Point, soak in another hot spring, and challenge some of the river’s best rapids, including Ruby, Lake Creek, Lightning Creek, Chair Creek and Fiddle Creek.
- The Lower Salmon, which flows through dry, golden canyons, marks the beginning of the trip’s third portion, as the river takes it’s guests through yet another change in landscape
- Swim through Roller Coaster rapid which marks the entrance to Green Canyon
- Visit ancient pictographs before continuing the whitewater adventure through Wright-way, Demon's Drop and Pine Bar rapids
- Snow Hole Canyon provides some of the biggest, most exciting whitewater of the Lower Salmon: Half & Half, Snow Hole and China Bar rapids
- climb to a vista point for an impressive bird’s-eye view of the river winding through the steep and slender canyon
- After an epic 17-day Full Salmon River Rafting Experience of 308 miles, arrive at Heller Bar take-out and board shuttle for return to civilization.
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