Middle Fork of the Salmon River Rafting

Enjoying the campfire on a beach near Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

Overview
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Trip Details
Reviews

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North America’s premiere alpine river experience, the Middle Fork Salmon guarantees a wild ride with over 100 rapids, natural hot springs, and complete wilderness immersion.

It’s true—it doesn’t get any better than this. Winding more than 100 miles—and boasting non-stop whitewater—there’s no wondering why Idaho whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon is considered unparalleled.

One of the continent’s premium rafting destinations, the Middle Fork’s legendary waters churn through high country forests, 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. Not to mention, this Wild and Scenic River is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon trout fishery.

Of all the rivers that flow through Idaho, perhaps the most spectacular is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

Trip Highlights

Scenic flight from Stanley to our put-in, as required
Hike to scenic overlooks, historic sites & waterfalls
Multiple hot springs, Native American pictographs & abundant wildlife
100 rapids in 100 miles & exciting Class III-IV whitewater
Crystal-clear water & world-class trout fishing
5 nights of catered camping in a dramatic alpine setting

Itinerary at a Glance

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every Middle Fork Salmon River rafting trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, camp locations, and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

The Day Before Your Trip

The evening before your trip, we’ll meet in either Stanley, ID or Salmon, ID (depending on your departure date*) for a pre-trip orientation. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and trip leader, and ask any last-minute questions.

*Early- to mid-season trips (May – July) typically depart from Stanley, ID. Late season trips (Aug. & Sept.) depart from Salmon, ID.

Day 1

We’ll take a scenic flight to our put-in at Indian Creek, where your boats and crew await you. (At certain water levels, we may be lucky enough to put in further upstream at Boundary Creek, which we access by ground shuttle. The trip will start there whenever possible.)

After an informative safety talk, we take to the pure waters of the breathtaking Middle Fork. Within moments, you’ll experience your first rapid, an appropriate introduction to this river whose exciting, consistent whitewater doesn’t stop until its confluence with the Main Salmon.

Our high-elevation put-in point rewards us with fantastic alpine scenery, and we spend our first day among deep green forests, dramatic mountains, and crystal clear creeks that pour out of the woods and into the river.

The first day of our Middle Fork Salmon rafting trip generally sets the pace for our week on the river. Typically, we spend a few hours on the water in the morning, sometimes stopping for a great hike, a visit to a waterfall or a Native American pictograph, or a soak in a natural hot spring. Come lunchtime, we stop to enjoy a delicious riverside picnic. After feasting and relaxing (or perhaps swimming, a game of Frisbee, or a side hike), we get back into our boats for more exciting whitewater before reaching camp by mid- to late afternoon.

Days 2 – 5

Continuing down the Middle Fork Salmon for the next few days, thick forests give way to miles of open grassland dotted with cool glades of pine. The views remain stunning, and the whitewater action-packed. Huge rapids like Tappan Falls and Cove Creek are interspersed with less intense yet still thrilling whitewater in the form of wave trains, chutes, and drops.

Our journey downstream takes us to more hot springs, alcoves decorated with Sheepeater Indian pictographs, and magnificent Veil Falls, a unique waterfall that plummets freely into a natural amphitheater from a high rock overhang.

Toward the end of our voyage, the Middle Fork rushes into Impassable Canyon, a narrow gorge that creates some of the most high-intensity and continuous whitewater of the trip. Paddle hard through Redside, Rubber, and Hancock rapids and enjoy the sudden, spectacular change in scenery from wooded hills to the sheer granite walls and huge boulders of Impassable Canyon.

Day 6

Our final day of this Middle Fork Salmon River rafting adventure, we reach the confluence with the Main Salmon, and shortly after, our take-out. From here, you’ll be shuttled back to Salmon, ID.*

*All trips return to Salmon, ID regardless of departure date.

Meeting Time & Place

Location

Stanley, ID or Salmon, ID (depending on departure date)

Meeting time

7 PM, the evening before your trip

Return

Approximately 4 – 6 PM to Salmon, ID

Trip Map

Dates & Prices

2024 Departures	Price
May 28	$3,599
June 6	$3,599
June 15, 24	$3,899
July 2, 10, 18, 26	$3,899
August 3	$3,899
August 11, 19	$3,599
August 27 Wine on the River	$3,899

Please call for charter date availability

Book Now

Deposit

$800

Additional Costs

• Flight package from Boise or car shuttle
• $4 per day Recreation Enhancement Act Fee

Ways to Save

To book with one of our special offers, call 1-800-346-6277 or contact us today.

Frequent Floater

After 5 trips with OARS, automatically save 5-15% on most adventures.

The Need-to-Know Info

Trip Details

PACKING & PRE-DEPARTURE INFO

Included in Your Trip Cost

Skilled professional guide service
All meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on the last day, with limited beer and wine at camp
Expedition equipment, including highest-quality rafts, 2-person shared tent, sleep kit, personal flotation device (PFD), helmet, waterproof bags, camp chair, as well as eating utensils, plates, and cups
Transfers from Stanley or Salmon, ID to the river and from the river to Salmon, ID*

*Early- to mid-season departures (June/July) meet in Stanley, ID. Late season departures (August/September) meet in Salmon, ID

Not Included in Your Trip Cost

Transportation to and from Stanley or Salmon, ID, and back from Salmon, ID
Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
Gratuities

*For early- to mid-season trips that depart in Stanley, ID and return to Salmon, ID guests typically need to arrange to have a car shuttled to Salmon for after the trip.

The number and variety of boats on an OARS trip will vary based on water levels, the number of participants, and other factors we take into account when planning your adventure. Please be aware that in doing so we will ask you to share boat time with your fellow travelers. We don’t assign boats, nor can we guarantee exactly which crafts we bring, but trust us to provide you with the best possible mix for you and others on your trip.

Learn more about the OARS Fleet and the boats that may be a part of your experience: Oar raft, inflatable kayak, and paddle raft (requires 11 or more trip guests).

After each active day on the river, we pull ashore to camp for the night. Our first task is to unload the boats using a fire line of crew and guests to expedite the process. Individuals then collect their waterproof bags and locate an area on the beach to camp for the night.

While you put up your tent, the guides will set up the kitchen and central dining/seating area with camp chairs. They will also locate a secluded area away from camp to set up the portable toilet, where privacy is assured.

As guides prepare dinner, hors d’oeuvres are served. This is an opportunity to relax, enjoy a drink if you wish, and reflect on the day with your fellow traveling companions.

In the morning, the first wake-up call lets you know that coffee, hot water for tea or cocoa, juice, fresh fruit, and cold cereal are ready. You can fill your mug and grab a bite, then begin to pack up your personal belongings and sleep gear as the guides prepare breakfast. After breakfast, the entire camp is broken down and packed up. Once the guides have all of the gear loaded back onto the boats, we’ll head downstream to see what new adventures await us.

More info about Meals & Dietary Restrictions can be found on our Trip Resources page.

Average Air & Water Temperatures

	Air (Day) °F	Air (Night) °F	Water °F
May	40-70	25-55	40-45
June	45-90	30-60	40-55
July	60-100	55-70	55-65
August	70-100+	55-70	65-68
September	50-95	35-60	55-65

Whitewater

Rated Class III-IV, the Middle Fork Salmon has more whitewater rapids than any similar-length river in the U.S.—over 100 rapids in 100 miles. Turn by turn, as each tributary surges into the river, the Middle Fork dramatically changes character from a big creek into a thundering river, all the while creating rolling wave trains and thrilling drops.

Before booking your trip with OARS, there are a few important considerations we’d like you to know about.

Physical Requirements: Your outdoor adventure will be an active participatory trip. Please inform us of any physical limitations you may have as soon as possible. If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call. Make sure you are exercising frequently in the months leading up to your trip and can meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Whitewater Orientation: To increase your safety, we expect everyone to watch our Whitewater Orientation video before joining us.
Trip Forms: Each participant will need to complete the required trip forms within two weeks of making a booking. Refer to your confirmation email for the link to the online forms. If you prefer to fill out paper forms, please let us know right away. If you are reserving within 60 days of departure, your forms must be completed immediately to ensure we can properly plan for your trip.

Reservations and Deposits

An $800/person deposit is required at the time of booking. Deposits may be made by check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard (American Express and Discover incur a 3% processing fee). Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency.

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Accounts on which final payment has not been received 60 days before the departure date will be canceled without exception.

Cancellations and Refunds

Your deposit is fully refundable, less a 3% processing fee, for 7 days after you book when you submit a deposit 7 days or more before the final payment due date.

If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below. We do regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Date of Cancellation	Cancellation Fee
180 or more days before your trip	$100/person
179 – 120 days before your trip	$200/person
119 – 90 days before your trip	$400/person
89 days or less before your trip	Full Fare*

Please note that different deposit/cancellation policies may apply for charter groups. Refer to the group organizer’s confirmation email for details.

Canceled Trips

OARS reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 45 days before departure. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements unless you have spoken to your Adventure Consultant regarding the status of your trip.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a 5% service fee plus any nonrefundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers, however, we can’t guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.

Transfers

If you transfer from one trip to another within the same season, there is a $50/person fee up until 120 days before departure. You may choose to make a one-time transfer of your payments to a credit account for use during the following season, which incurs a $100/person fee up until 120 days before departure. Transfers made after this time will be treated as cancellations.