Whitewater Rafting and Wilderness Flyfishing in Idaho
6 Days in Paradise - Floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon River
One of the very best weeks of my life! - Mike Stevens
The Middle Fork of the Salmon is the crown jewel of the rafting world. (check out our Photo Gallery.) The free floating Middle Fork is located in the largest wilderness in the lower 48 States. This spectacular landscape is where we will take you on a vacation of a lifetime.
Your float trip is over 100 miles long (if you float the whole Middle Fork). The Forest Service allows only 24 guests per launch, so you will need to book early, if you have specific date requirements. Many trips book well over 1 year in advance. We can provide you with as many references as you would like. (Contact Us) We suggest you check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
This whole trip was better than I could ever have imagined or hoped. The crew could not have been neater - special guys all. The food was unbelievably good - and perfectly planned and balanced. If I, an arthritic, 63 year old can do it - anyone can! I loved every minute and would be happy to reassure anyone. Thank you again for your reassurance. - Helen Lauchner
The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is a spectacular trip to get away from your phone, fax, computer, and beeper. This wilderness will take your breath away, with its snow-capped peaks and sparkling water. It is a place of immense diversity with very little intrusion from the outside world. Even though this is a wilderness vacation, we provide amenities to make you very comfortable on your trip. For example: tables, chairs, tents, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags, etc. For more information on what we provide, check out our Provided Gear List.
We enjoy having children on these trips and have taken children from ages 4 and up. We will make minimum age recommendations depending on the trip date and potential water levels. However, we feel that you know your children best and usually, we leave the final decision up to you.
We run a cargo boat called the "Sweep Boat" which carries much of the trips gear. It usually runs ahead and has most of the camp set-up upon your arrival. Occasionally guests will join the sweep boat and leave the rest of the group behind. Spending the day with the sweep boat captain and enjoying lots of time alone at the camp until the rest of the group arrives.
Check out our dates and rates page for our list of current launch dates to start planning your rafting adventure now.
The evening before your trip begins, we will gather in the small picturesque alpine town of Stanley, Idaho. We will meet you for a group pre-trip orientation at "River One" (a local store) to go over any questions you might have. At this time we will give you dry bags to keep your gear dry as we float down the river.
Most of our guests spend the night at the Mountain Village Lodge (1-800-843-5475) in Stanley. This Lodge is conveniently located and has many amenities that make staying there ideal.
The raft trip on the Middle Fork with IWC is the best kept family vacation secret in the U.S.! I tell my friends that this is the most pleasurable way to see the area Lewis & Clark went around - Bill Hart
Generally, at 8 a.m. the next morning a bus we have chartered for you will be ready to take you to the beginning of your rafting wilderness vacation (During some low water years it is necessary to fly into the river.) It will take approximately 2 hours to reach the river with a restroom break along the way.
At Boundary Creek, the U.S. Forest Service will give an educational river use orientation followed by our river safety orientation. All guests will be issued a life jacket and required to wear it all times while floating the river.
Now you are ready to begin! At over 6,000 feet in elevation, you are prepared for what appears to be an alpine river. Normal river attire will consist of bathing suit, sandals, and sunscreen. (See Gear List) This Class IV river (see Whitewater) will drop approximately 28 feet per mile, so it won't be long before the drop in elevation leaves you in an overall warmer climate. During the next 6 days, you will continuously witness dramatic changes in geology and scenery. As you near the end of your trip, you will be passing through the second deepest canyon in the lower 48 states. You will have a difficult time deciding which part of the river is your favorite. The fishing is spectacular. Please see our section regarding Fishing.
Your Middle Fork adventure entails more than whitewater and fishing. This relaxing family vacation has something to offer everyone. You might be planning a second honeymoon. The river has a generous amount of hot springs. These can make for the perfect soak for the two of you or perhaps you have brought the children along.
They can go swimming in one of the swimming holes or exploring the ancient history along this river corridor. The Sheep-eater Indians made their home here. They left behind many pictographs for us to enjoy.
I would do it again tomorrow and I have recommended it to everyone I've talked to since my return home. Every member of the crew was great. Brenda Parton
Check out our Photo Gallery for a group of photographs that will give you a glimpse of what your Middle Fork float trip could be like.
The Middle Fork abounds with wildlife ranging from the Shiras Moose and Rocky Mountain Elk to the Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, plus many other small animals, as well as the newly introduced Canadian Grey Wolf. This river is also a bird watchers delight. From the majestic Bald Eagle and Osprey to Idaho's State bird, the Mountain Bluebird, they are all here in multitude.
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