Middle Fork Salmon River Rafting

The Middle Fork of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River is considered the premier alpine river trip in North America. Come see why this superlative adventure is becoming as legendary as rafting through the Grand Canyon.

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.

Idaho’s rivers access some of the most pristine terrain in all the state. They are home to abundant flora and fauna, an impressive network of hiking trails, and some of the country’s best whitewater. Of all the rivers that flow through Idaho, perhaps the most spectacular is the Middle Fork of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Considered the state’s Blue Ribbon river, the Middle Fork Salmon 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…the diversity and beauty of the Middle Fork are stunning. Join O.A.R.S. and see how good a river vacation on this breathtaking waterway can be.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Sample Itinerary

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like.

The Day before Your Trip
We'll meet at 8:00 PM in the conference room of the Mountain Village Lodge for a pre-trip meeting. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and trip leader and ask any last-minute questions. Your trip leader will give you a thorough trip orientation, then pass out waterproof river bags so that you can pack your belongings that evening.

Days 1-6
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. Boundary Creek is the preferred launch point and the trip will start there whenever possible.) After an informative safety talk and paddle raft/inflatable kayak instruction, we take to the pure blue 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 awards 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.

Our first day 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 an Indian pictograph, or a soak in a natural hot spring. Come lunchtime, we pull over to a sandy beach and enjoy a delicious picnic. After feasting and relaxing on the beach (or perhaps swimming, a game of Frisbee, a nature walk…), we get back in our boats for more exciting whitewater. Be sure to try your hand at the paddleboat and inflatable kayak! Mid- to late-afternoon, we stop and make camp; you grab your bags and set up your tent while we take care of the kitchen and “living room”—camp chairs and the site for tonight's campfire (if permitted). Read, nap, or just sit back and laugh with friends and family as we prepare dinner. After a satisfying feast, the evening is yours to spend however you wish. Maybe music, stories, or jokes will bring us together tonight; maybe the popping of the fire, the whisper of the river and the clarity of the big, star-filled sky will encourage silent reflection on the amazing wilderness that is, for now, our home.

Continuing down the river the next few days, we'll see the scenery change from high mountains to gently rolling hills. 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 Powerhouse and Pistol 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 amphitheatre from a high rock overhang.

Towards 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. On Day 6, we reach our take-out at the confluence with the Main Salmon. Our journey has ended, but we're sure that although you leave the river, the river will never leave you.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Reservations and Deposits
• A $500/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds
• If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation fee after you’ve made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip insurance (see Insurance).

Date of cancellation Cancellation Fee
360 days or more prior to your trip $50/person
359 - 180 days prior to your trip $100/person
179 - 120 days prior to your trip $200/person
119 - 90 days prior to your trip $300/person
89 - 60 days prior to your trip $500/person
59 days or less Full Fare*

*If we are able to fill the trip and replace the cancelled passengers, the fee will be reduced to 30% of the trip cost.

Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an O.A.R.S. trip. People with medical conditions including pregnancy should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler’s policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on an adventure travel trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and O.A.R.S. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.

Liability Waiver
Everyone is required to sign a standard release form before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with O.A.R.S. cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Value Season:
May 28; June 6, 15; August 19; September 5 (Hiker Special Trip)
Peak Season:
June 24; July 2, 10, 18, 26; August 3, 11
Special 5-Day Wine on the River Trip:
August 27
5-Day Fishing Trips:
September 13, 21, 28

Value Season:
$1982

Peak Season:
$2297

$1982 - 5-Day Wine Trip

$1982 - 5-Day Fishing Trip

Deposit: $500

Additional Costs:
Flight package from Boise or car shuttle; $4 per day USFS recreation demo fee

1-209-736-4677