The Perfect Middle Fork Vacation Itinerary

Day 0: Middle Fork »

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).

SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO GET TO STANLEY, IDAHO

Day 1: Middle Fork »

Meet the group at 7:30 am. 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 fifteen 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 4:00 pm, 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 6:00 pm and dinner around 7:30 pm. After dinner, enjoy the warmth of a campfire and the shared stories of life and the river.

Days 2 & 3: Middle Fork »

Freshly brewed coffee will greet your morning about 7:00 am. 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. 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 4:00 pm, enjoying your free time. Stargazers will enjoy being lulled to sleep after another delicious meal cooked by the guides.

Day 4: Middle Fork »

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: Middle Fork »

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 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 traveler 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 miles upstream 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.

Please Note »

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, $125 per person flight from Stanley, Idaho.

Permit Holder and Trip Operator: ROW Adventures