Idaho Rafting

Middle Fork Rafting Itinerary

DAY 1 » Meet the group at 7:30am. A two-hour ride by bus to Boundary Creek begins the trip into the Idaho wilderness. Fir and Spruce fragrances fill the crisp forest air at 6,000 feet above sea level. After orientation, and loading of personal gear, you'll choose a raft (paddle boat or oar-boat) and climb aboard. The Middle Fork rapids come fast and steep for the first fiftteen miles, coming in quick sequence. Enjoy a riverside lunch stop where you'll learn about caring for the wilderness environment. We arrive at camp about 4:00pm, having traveled roughly a dozen miles the first day. Enjoy free time for fishing, reading, hiking or simple relaxation. Hors d’oeuvres are served about 6:00pm and dinner around 7:30pm. After dinner, enjoy the warmth of a campfire and the shared stories of life and the river.

DAY 2 » Freshly brewed coffee will greet your morning about 7am. Enjoy breakfast, then break down camp and prepare for a day of spectacular scenery and fun. Visit a couple of pioneer homesteads during the first few days. Wildlife, miner's claims and bird watching are fare for the day. Scores of fun rapids fill the day as the river plunges through the steep mountain valleys. The “Duckies,” (inflatable kayaks), will be pulled out to play on the water for those willing. Sunflower Flat Hot Springs will be a welcome reward, with half a dozen pools above the river tumble over a cliff, creating the perfect natural shower. Settle into camp life again around 4pm, enjoying your free time. Stargazers will enjoy being lulled to sleep after another delicious meal cooked by the guides.

Day 4 » Rapids fill each day with excitement. Scan the shores for natural mineral licks, where big horn sheep are usually seen. Fishermen in the group will find the river stocked with trout, while birdwatchers may see falcons and golden eagles. A dip in Hospital Bar is mandatory if you want it's healing power. Tappan Ranch is a highlight of the day as well.

Day 5/6 » One of the most dynamic rapids on the river, Haystack Rapid, is the challenge of the day. This rapid stands at the head of Impassable Canyon. Constricted by the narrow walls, the river becomes a wild bucking bronco, filled with whitewater action. Waterfall Creek is a the reward of a steep hike into the Bighorn Crags. Find refreshment under the falls and finish cooling off with a jump in the river. Neck-bending panoramas greet the river traveller where the river has carved into the Idaho batholith – the largest single piece of granite in North America. A visit to Veil Falls- a grotto graced by the spirits of ancient pictographs will convince you that you are among some of the most incredible scenery on earth.

Learn of Impassable Canyon's legendary hermit- Earl Parrot- whose story is as tall as the mountain valleys themselves, adding yet another dimension to the lore of the Middle Fork River.

A sprawling sand beach several milesupstream of the confluence with the Main Salmon provides a place for the final lunch stop. At the takeout, gather your personal gear and board the waiting bus that will take you to the town of Salmon. After a shower and a change to fresh clothes, meet your guides for a hosted farewell dinner.

Pre-Trip Travel Information

There are many travel options to consider in planning your Idaho rafting vacation. Simply give us a call and we’ll arrange everything for you.

(While this is a typical itinerary, every trip is unique. Water levels, as well as the campsites we are assigned by the U.S. Forest Service, vary week to week. This itinerary is meant to give you a snapshot of the trip but should not be considered an exact itinerary. *Extreme high water or low water trips begin at Indian Creek—requiring a 25-minute, $115 per person flight from Stanley, Idaho).

How to Get to Stanley
You have two choices to get to Stanley. You can either FLY or DRIVE. (1) Air taxi transport to/from Boise is available for around $350 per person. Please call Salmon Air at 800-448-3413 to make these reservations. (2) You can drive to Stanley and shuttle your car to the takeout point in Salmon for about $90. If low or high water requires a flight into Indian Creek, there is an extra charge of $105 per person.

If 3 or more people are traveling together, it may be more economical to rent a car in Boise and drive 2.5 hours to Stanley before the trip. The rental car would then be shuttled north while you are on the river at a cost of $90. Then once we are off the river and in the town of Salmon you drive about 5.5 hours back to Boise. So, if you have plenty of time this is a good option. Contact River Shuttles at 1-800-831-8942.

Where and When to Meet
Arrive in Stanley by 7:00pm MST to meet ROW’s team leader at the Mountain Village Inn for a one-hour orientation meeting. We'll answer any last-minute questions and provide waterproof bags for your gear. Dinner on your own. You could schedule some time at the hotel’s private hot spring (reserve when checking in).

Where to Stay
Day Prior to Departure:
Stanley, ID
Mountain Village Lodge Corner of Hwy 21 & 75
Stanley, ID 83238

Last Day of Trip:
Salmon , ID
Stagecoach Inn
201 Hwy 93 North
Salmon, ID 83467

Post-Trip Travel Information

On the last day, we typically get off the river around 2:00 PM . Our trip will end at Cashe Bar where a motor coach will return you to Salmon, ID by 5:00 PM.