Lower Salmon | Middle
Fork | Main
Salmon
White water rafting in Idaho
The Lower Salmon River rafting trip begins about 50 miles upstream from the mouth of the Salmon. 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. Part of this trip is on the Snake River in the lower end of Hells Canyon, in western Idaho.
Idaho white water rafting activities
White water rafting on the Lower Salmon is similar to the Main Salmon, though rapids are less frequent. Water temperature is warmer for swimming, 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.
Time period for white water rafting, Idaho: it can begin early in the spring on this section of river because of the low elevation. During peak of high water, 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. Late summer, when white water rafting in Idaho is winding down, is the best time to be on the Lower Salmon. 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.
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Chief Joseph traveled this area during the Nez Perce War of 1877. Chinese placer miners left foundations of rock houses along the river. Even today, ranch hands wintering along the river are isolated from the outside world for several months, except for airplane and radio. Our fall Chukar hunting/steelhead fishing trips are on the Lower Salmon, where we find more birds, warmer temperatures, fall colors, and intercept uprunning steelhead earlier.
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