The Salmon River originates in the Sawtooth and Lemhi Valleys of central and eastern Idaho. Snows from the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains in the south and Clearwater and Bitteroot Mountains in the north feed this wild river. It is 425 miles long and drains 14,000 square miles. From elevations above 8,000 feet, the Salmon cascades to an elevation of 905 feet before it joins the Snake River. The river is historically known as the "River of No Return." For more than 150 years after the first white men came to this valley, only one-way trips down the Salmon River were possible.

The Salmon flows through a vast wilderness in the second deepest gorge on the continent. The Salmon's granite-walled canyon is one fifth of a mile deeper than the Grand Canyon. For 180 miles, the Salmon Canyon is over one mile deep. In the 151 miles from North Fork to Riggins, the Salmon drops a total of 1,910 feet, more than 12 feet per mile. Peak flows occur from the middle of May to early July. The Frank Church River of No Return and Gospel Hump Wildernesses borders the Wild section of the river from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. It is this section Rainbow Rafting floats.

The Main Salmon River is a "drop and pool" river. You have quiet water and then you drop into big holes and rolling rapids, much like the Grand Canyon. During June, the Main Salmon is a high volume river offering Class IV whitewater. Adults and teens are best suited for the river at this level. When July and August roll around the river is perfect for the whole family from age five up. One highlight of the Main is the white sand beaches on which we camp. This allows us a variety of camp activities such as volleyball and horseshoes.

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Wildlife Abounds! - The Salmon River Canyon provides habitats for an abundant and varied wildlife resource. Big game species commonly observed along the river include bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, black bear, cougar and moose. Small mammal populations also are well represented by species such as bobcat, coyote, red fox, porcupine, badger, beaver, mink, marten, river otter, muskrat, weasel, marmots, and skunks. Waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds are particularly abundant during seasonal migration. Chukar, partridge, blue grouse, ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are common residents.

Points of Interest - Among the river's points of interest are the Golden Eagles nestled in the ledges above Little Squaw Creek; Barth Hot Springs where the early scow captains soaked their tired muscles; Campbells Ferry Pack Bridge; Jim Moore's Place an early day prospector and trader; Lemhi China Bar where from 1882 to 1884 oriental miners worked this bar extensively and Fivemile Bar the home of the river's most famous resident, "Buckskin Bill."

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