The Middle Fork of the Salmon River originates 20 miles northwest of Stanley, Idaho. It traverses portions of the Challis, Payette, and Salmon National Forests. It flows 106 miles northwest before joining the Main Salmon River. The Middle Fork passes through a landscape of rugged peaks and deep valleys. The river drops more than 3,000 feet from its start to the confluence averaging almost 30 feet per mile. Near its junction with the Main Salmon River are the Bighorn Crags, one of the most rugged and wild mountain ranges in the nation. Only a few trails, landing strips, historic homesteads and Forest Service stations are evidence of man's presence. It is this combination of rugged scenic beauty, quiet isolation, and the challenge of wild water that draws people to raft the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork flows through the 2.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. This wilderness has been set aside to preserve and perpetuate natural conditions. To maintain this atmosphere, motorized equipment or transportation is not allowed, except airplane or helicopter to established landing strips.

The Middle Fork is a continual gradient river, which means while you are rafting on the river, you are always dropping. This gives us great whitewater activity from top to bottom. During early June, this is a Class V river. Only the strong of heart take on the river at this level. By mid-June, the river begins dropping, becoming a Class IV river through July and Class III by August. Teens and adults enjoy the whitewater. For families with young children, the Middle Fork is suitable in August. Before that time the Main Salmon Family Rafting Trips is a better fit for the kids.

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Wildlife Abounds! - The Middle Fork country abounds with game such as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, wolf and bear. Cougar, lynx, bobcat, coyote, fox, porcupine, badger, beaver, marten, mink, otter, muskrat, and skunk also share this rugged habitat. Chukar partridge and Franklin, blue and ruffed grouse, ospreys and eagles are also found here. The Middle Fork provides outstanding fishing. Salmon, Steelhead, Cutthroat, Rainbow and Dolly Varden are found here. It is considered a "World Class" wild cutthroat trout fishery and a fly fisher's paradise.

Points of Interest - Among the river's points of interest is the fish ladder at Dagger Falls, built to assist migrating salmon; Sheepeater Hot Springs, named after the Sheepeater Indians; Hospital Bar, with its hot springs at the upper end of the campsite, the spot where wounded soldiers recovered during the Indian Wars. You will be awestruck by Veil Cave, a huge open-faced cavern carved from water and glaciers that hued out the canyon. 4,000-year-old Indian pictographs can be seen on the upper walls. The view in and around the cave is worth the steep climb. We also visit the Parrott Diggings, left by Earl Parrott, a hermit prospector who gave up city life to seek his fortune along the Middle Fork. Earl Parrott has two cabins, one at the mouth of Nugget Creek, and one placed about 1,000 vertical feet above the river cabin. He reached his cliff side cabin using a series of ladders

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