Idaho's Lower Salmon River
The Lower Salmon River rafting trip begins about 50 miles upstream from the mouth of the Salmon, continues through the mouth of the Salmon, and then downstream about 20 miles on the Snake River in the lower end of Hells Canyon on the Idaho/Oregon border to road's end about 25 miles upstream from Lewiston, Idaho. Though not designated as wilderness, it is back country. There are only a few miles of primitive road along this 70-mile section of river. Terrain consists of rugged grassy slopes rising 3000 feet above the river with scattered strands of timber and basalt rimrock, alternating with miles-long granite canyons. It is low elevation as well as the lower end of the Salmon River; the trips starts at only little over a thousand feet.
About Whitewater on the Lower Salmon
White water rafting on the Lower Salmon is similar to the Main Salmon, though rapids are less frequent. Water temperature is warmer for swimming, into the 70s by mid-summer, with beautiful sand beaches. Trout and small mouth bass fishing is good in late summer and early fall, sometimes rivaling other "classic" fly fishing streams. Whitewater rafting in Idaho can begin early in the spring on this section of river because of the low elevation. During peak of high water in early June, and lasting for several weeks in average snow years, river level can be too high for safety. At that time, Slide Rapids is one of the most difficult sections of white water rafting in Idaho.
Mid-summer can be very hot, so we do not schedule trips at that time. Late August and September, when white water rafting in Idaho is winding down in other parts of the state and mid-summer heat has moderated, is the best time to be on the Lower Salmon--one last time to wiggle your toes in summer-warm sand.
By Labor Day temperatures are pleasant, and few people are still on the rivers. September trips are Friday thru Monday, so a trip can be a long weekend rather than a major vacation. Because the trip is only four days and shuttle distance is less, the total cost of the trip is less. For people from the northwest whose travel time to the area is moderate, this is an excellent short trip, and a good introduction to Idaho white water rafting trips. It is one of the most under-rated and over-looked of Idaho white water rafting trips.
Our fall Chukar hunting/steelhead fishing trips are on the Lower Salmon, where we find more birds than upstream river sections, warmer temperatures, fall colors, and intercept uprunning steelhead earlier (see Fishing section).
More Information
During the settlement period, ranchers wintered livestock along the river because of the low elevations; little hay was needed. In the summer months, livestock was moved to higher elevation grazing areas. Even today, ranch hands winter along the river with livestock, isolated from the outside world for several months, except for airplane and radio. Chinese miners operating sluiceboxes for gold left foundations of rock houses along the river. Timber for log cabins was hard to come by in this semi-desert environment. Chief Joseph with his tribe traveled this area during the Nez Perce War of 1877. We usually camp one night where the Nez Perce crossed the Salmon during high water, with the Cavalry pursuing them; the Cavalry could not make the crossing, and had to turn back.
