Middle Fork of the Salmon River Rafting
May 28; June 6, 15; August 19, 27 (Wine Trip); September 5 (Hiker Special Trip)
Peak Season:
June 24; July 2, 10, 18, 26; August 3, 11
Value Season:
$1982
Peak Season:
$2263
$2482 - Wine Trip (see below for details)
Deposit: $450
Additional Costs:
Flight package from Boise or car shuttle; $4 per day USFS recreation demo fee
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Class III - IV | 9 Yrs (15 during high water) |
Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Wine on the River Trips
Combine river running with gourmet meals and premium wines presented by some of the West's finest vintners.
- 6-Day Wine Trip: August 27
View more information on Wine on the River trips >>
- Legend
- Directions
Enter your starting city
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Middle Fork of the Salmon River Rafting - Overview
It’s true — it doesn’t get any better than this. With over 100 winding miles of river — and more than 100 sets of rapids — there’s no wondering why the journey along the Middle Fork Salmon is considered unparalleled. One of the continent’s premium rafting destinations, the Middle Fork’s legendary waters churn through high country forest, granite canyons, swirling seas of grassland and some of Idaho’s most storied spaces. The river’s banks speak of the state’s proud heritage, its Native American history, pioneer sites and natural habitat for a wondrous world of wildlife.
Middle Fork Salmon River Rafting - Itinerary at a Glance
- Scenic flight from Stanley, Idaho to our put-in at Indian Creek (Boundary Creek if water levels allow)
- Fantastic alpine scenery, deep green forests, dramatic mountains and crystal clear creeks
- Soak in a steaming natural hot spring after braving Velvet Falls and Ramshorn rapids
- Feast on a picnic lunch, take a swim and a short hike
- Try your hand at a paddleboat or inflatable kayak
- Music, stories and jokes, the popping of the fire
- Watch the scenery change from high mountains to rolling hills
- Forests give way to miles of open grassland dotted with cool glades of pine
- Run huge rapids like Powerhouse and Pistol Creek
- Another soak in a hot spring, caves decorated with Sheepeater Indian pictographs
- Hike to the magnificent Veil Falls plummeting into a natural amphitheatre
- Impassable Canyon, Redside, Rubber and Hancock rapids
- Reach the confluence of the Main Salmon and head back to civilization
- Testimonials
- Reviews
- Write a Review
“We enjoyed all of our Middle Fork Salmon trip. The guides, the scenery, the folks in the trip with us, the water fights, the hikes, the water falls, the food, but most of all...the river. You can't improve anything. My trip, on a scale of 1 to 10, was 500. It was perfect... Our guides were so perfect. Loved the kids, the adults, they were perfect for all of us. The food they prepared was awesome. I have been home a week and a half and I have not stopped talking about this trip. I never would have imagined how much my 12 year old son and I would have loved a trip. Will we be back?? No doubt about it, many times. I hope that he will take his kids on the river some day.”
Rob Burns ~ Brecksville, OH
“If I took the best experiences I have had on all my trips from over 50 years combined they couldn't hold a candle to the fun I had with OARS.”
Bill Balcom ~ Silver City, NM
“Our family is just back from your Middle Fork of the Salmon trip which was over the top in every way. It had been 30 years since my father and I had last run the Middle Fork together, so the trip was a sentimental one-- and it was our boys' first multi-day raft trip, so that made for quite a week. Anyway, I just wanted to say that our guides...made a huge impression on us. The boys especially. They went above and beyond in every sense and made our trip truly one of the most memorable we've EVER taken as a family. I can't say enough about their professionalism, spirit, and sense of fun. They were absolutely remarkable. ”
Kim Brown Seely ~ Bellevue, WA
“An outstanding trip in all regards - extremely well planned and executed. Guides were knowledgeable, approachable, accommodating - showed true concern for the enjoyment of the clients. Trip was exactly as advertised. Will definitely travel with OARS again and highly recommend it to others.”
Christine Lyons ~ Hanover, MA
“While we were on the river, we had a chance to observe several other groups traveling at the same time. I'm glad we traveled with OARS. The trip is well-organized without being overly scheduled. The guides know the area well and keep things moving so that we get the most out of each day, but still have plenty of down time. And the guides themselves were great! They were very knowledgeable and skilled, but also very personable. It was a great pleasure to travel with them.”
Sue Freimuth ~ Andover, CT
- Weather
- Packing List
- Trip Planner
- Recommended Reads
| Average Temperatures | ||
| Month | High | Low |
| May | 50° - 70° | 35° - 55° |
| June | 55° - 80° | 40° - 60° |
| July | 60° - 90° | 55° - 70° |
| August | 70° - 90° | 55° - 70° |
| September | 65° - 80° | 45° - 65° |
| Water Temperatures | ||
| June | 45° - 55° | |
| July | 55° - 65° | |
| August | 65° - 68 ° | |
| September | 55° - 65 ° | |
Current Conditions
What to bring on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River Rafting trip
This is a sample list. Please refer to your trip planner for a detailed list for your particular trip. If you do not already own any of the items on the suggested packing list feel free to call our office for suggestions. However, many of the items listed are available for purchase online in the OARStore. Please be mindful of the natural environment when purchasing items for your trip. Whenever possible, consider recyclable containers, rechargeable batteries, natural (non-toxic) sunscreens, lotions, biodegradable soaps, and so on.
Equipment:
- Water bottles: 2 each with a minimum 1-liter capacity plus 2 locking carabiners to attach them to the support boat
- Headlamp or flashlight, extra batteries and bulb
- Plastic bags: large trash bags and zip-lock bags to separate clean and dry clothes from wet and dirty
- Camera and accessories
Personal Items:
- Sunglasses with securing strap and a spare
- Towel: small, quick drying, and washcloth
- Toiletries including biodegradable soap and shampoo with moisturizer (Nature's Gate is recommended by our guides)
- Sunscreen: waterproof and SPF 30 or higher
- Lip protection: SPF 30 or higher
- Moisturizing lotion or cream: 1 bottle (Skin tends to get REALLY DRY – this is a VERY important item!)
- Insect repellent (with DEET)
- Personal first aid kit (Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, moleskin, eye drops, etc.)
- Spare pair of glasses and/or contacts (Blowing sand can cause problems for contact wearers)
- Cash for gratuities and goodies
Clothing:
- Long-sleeved shirt: 2 lightweight and light color for sun protection (UPF rated shirts are great)
- Long pants: lightweight and light color for sun protection (no jeans while on the river)
- Shade hat or visor with securing strap and a spare
- Bandanas
- Rain jacket & pants: waterproof (not water resistant) to protect you from the wind and splash from rapids, as well as rain. A hooded jacket is recommended as well as good secure closures around your head, neck, wrists, and ankles to prevent water from seeping in
- Swimsuits: 2 (two-piece suits recommended for women). Tankinis are a great option
- Underwear: quick drying
- Shorts: 2 pair lightweight, and quick drying
- Hiking shorts: 2 pair (some people prefer different shorts for the river and hiking)
- T-shirts or lightweight quick-drying tops: 3
- River sandals (such as Teva): 1 pair to wear in the boat and for short wet hikes
- Athletic shoes or lightweight hiking boots: 1 pair, comfortable and with good tread
- Hiking socks: 3-4 pair mid-weight
- Synthetic long underwear top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight
- Fleece top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight
Additional Essentials for Fall:
- Extra pair of dry shoes for camp
- Wetsuit booties and/or neoprene socks
- Additional fleece top and bottom
- Warm hat and gloves: synthetic or wool
- Fleece vest
Optional Items:
- Sarong: also useful as a cover-up from the sun, when bathing or to discreetly change clothes
- Solar shower: small “solo” showers heat up faster and are easier to use
- Bathing towels/wipes: pre-moistened disposable wipes such as Coleman Swash Cloths
- Binoculars: small
- Whiskbroom: small (no long handle) to sweep wet sand off tent and ground cloth
- Splash jacket and pants
- Paddling gloves
- Lightweight cord and clothespins for drying clothes in camp
- Notebook and pen
Download our travel planner here:
Middle_Fork_Salmon_TP.pdf
Trip planner is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader.
