Middle Fork Salmon Kayaking Trips
Overview
Dates
June
5th & 14th
Duration
Location
Stanley, ID
Class
IV
Min Age
Price
From $3200
Guided Kayking Trips on Idaho’s Middle Fork Salmon River
Have you ever dreamed of paddling one of the world’s greatest multi-day river trips in the world without sacrificing comfort or worrying about the hassle of planning and organizing your own trip? Our guided Middle Fork Salmon kayaking trips offer experienced whitewater kayakers the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the Middle Fork as well as the unparalleled service and comfort of a Solitude river trip all in one convenient package. Enjoy paddling the endless whitewater of the Middle Fork Salmon River in an empty boat while our crew takes care of everything, including setting up camp, cooking gourmet meals, and providing a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Our certified kayak instructors will join you to provide instruction if desired or simply share the stoke of paddling through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Surf waves, play in eddy lines, receive expert beta on rapids, and leave the rest to us!
Unplug from daily life and immerse yourself in the canyon’s brilliant display of wildflowers, verdant hillsides and breathtaking rapids. June is a mythical time to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, when the river canyon has re-awakened to life after a long regenerative winter. These trips offer a world-class whitewater experience, with seemingly endless rapids. Depending on road and river conditions, we access the Middle Fork either by road at the Boundary Creek launch point, or with a 25-minute scenic flight from the town of Stanley to the Indian Creek airstrip.
*These trips are for experienced Class III-IV whitewater kayakers only
This is it! The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is widely regarded as one of the premier whitewater rafting trips in the world. Flowing 96 miles from Boundary Creek to the confluence of the Main Salmon, the Middle Fork includes nearly every aspect of a great river trip. With over 100 named rapids, riverside hot springs, beautiful camp sites, diverse canyon scenery, world class fishing, gin clear water, spectacular side hikes, and incredible wildlife, the Middle Fork truly has it all. If you asked someone to design the perfect river trip, you’d get a 6-day trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork has something for everyone!
Flowing through the heart of the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48, the Middle Fork is a natural, free flowing river devoid of dams and human development. Due to its free flowing nature, the water levels of the Middle Fork are entirely dependent on the snow pack and air temperature in the surrounding mountains. This natural run off cycle allows the Middle Fork to undergo a seasonal transformation, providing different styles of river trips from June through September. Check out our full range of Middle Fork Salmon River rafting trips to experience the adventure yourself!
Trip Itinerary
What’s Included
1 Day Before Your Trip
Meet in Stanley, ID. We will greet you at our orientation meeting at 6pm.
Fly or Drive Into The Wilderness
Begin your journey into the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48. If water levels and conditions permit we will drive drive into Boundary Creek. Or we will take an incredibly scenic backcountry flight into Indian Creek.
6 Days of Kayaking Down Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Enjoy the most unforgettable wilderness vacation of your life.
Take Out at Cache Bar
Return to Stanley by Bus
Enjoy the ride back to Stanley in our luxurious private shuttle bus.
What’s Included
Professional Guides
Backcountry Comfort
Wilderness Gourmet
Ground Transportation
Premium River Gear
All Fees Included
Not Included
Travel Insurance
Flights Into The Wilderness
Gratuities For Your Spectacular Guides
Dates and Prices
We require a 25% deposit to secure a reservation. Full payment is due 120 days prior to your trip date.
We take bookings 2 years in advance, and often prime season trips fill 12 months in advance. It’s never too early to make a reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a fly fishing & a rafting trip?
Both our fly fishing and rafting trips offer unforgettable experiences on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Our fishing trips and rafting trips depart together, stop for lunch together, and camp together each evening. The main difference between our fly fishing and rafting trips is the focus of the trip between those three times of day.
Our fly fishing guests ride in either a drift boat or one of our specially designed fishing rafts. There are only two anglers and one guide on these boats. The fishing boats will leave camp a little earlier each morning to take advantage of the best fishing conditions. The fishing trips are focused on catching fish.
Our rafting trips will focus more on exploring the wonders of the Middle Fork river canyon. One of the greatest aspects of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is all there is to see. Hikes to native american pictographs, exploring pioneer cabins, soaking in natural hot springs, strolling to beautiful vistas are all things you may experience on a typical day on the river. Rafting guests also have the option to ride in oar boats, paddle boats, and inflatable kayaks.
What if I want to do both fly fishing and rafting?
The best way to experience fly fishing and rafting on one trip is to reserve a fly fishing seat. With the fly fishing seat you will have the flexibility to hop in the paddle boat or inflatable kayak whenever there’s an open spot. Additionally you will be going through all of the same rapids in the fishing boat, so you will experience whitewater in the fishing boat regardless. Reserving the rafting seat does not give you the flexibility to be in a fishing boat, but you are of course able to fish from land anytime you are in camp, or when we stop at lunch.
Can our group reserve both fly fishing and rafting seats?
Absolutely! Many groups choose to do this. You may reserve as many fly fishing or rafting seats as we have available. Throughout the trip your group members are able to switch in and out of the fishing and rafting spots as you prefer. You will have a chance to switch around at lunch each day, so every day can have 2 sessions of either rafting or fly fishing.
What is the difference between a fishing raft and drift boat?
What type rafting boats are available?
Our rafting experience includes 3 types of boats: Oar Boats, Paddle Boats, and Inflatable Kayaks.
The Paddle Boat is the most popular rafting boat and provides a lot of excitment. This boat has a guide in the back, with 6-8 guests paddling through the rapids.
The Oar Boat is a large raft rowed by a guide with comfortable seating in the front and back for anybody who wants to take a break from kayking or paddling. This is often a great way to sit back, relax, and experience the beauty of the river.
The inflatable kayak is the most intimate river experience you can have. We will instruct you on best practices and introduce you to kayaking in small rapids, and if you are eager to hone your river skills you can try more challenging rapids as your trip progresses.
Do I need a fishing licence?
If you plan to fish then YES! You will need an Idaho fishing license valid for all days of the trip. You will not need any additional permits or stamps. The easiest way to purchase your license is online.
How many people are on the trip?
Per our USFS Special Use Permit, our maximun total group size is 30 people. This includes guests and guides. Our trips are usually between 20-23 guests and 7-10 guides. Our Fall Fly Fishing Trips tend to be a bit smaller, usually 14 guests and 9 guides.
What if I want to charter a whole trip?
Booking a whole trip for yourself and your group is definitely possible. The minimum number needed to book an entire trip is 20 people. This can be a combination of fishing and rafting seats. Chartering a whole trip allows you to customize many aspects of your trip, including departure location. Please contact us for more information.
What is the camping like?
Can I shower?
How does the toilet system work?
How far do we go each day?
Can I bring a CPAP machine?
Yes. Since we do not have a generator or anyway to recharge or plug in a CPAP or any other electric device, you will need to bring a travel CPAP with enough battery power to last the duration of the trip. Please contact us if you need to bring a CPAP machine.
What beverages are provided?
We bring enough alcoholic beverages for each person to have a couple cold beers , and/or a couple glasses of wine at camp each evening. We also provide coffee and tea in the morning, tea in the evenings, and non alcoholic beverages (soda and sparkling water) at any time. You are welcome to bring any additional alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages that you like. You may bring any quantity of beverages, we only ask that beer come in cans (wine and liquor in glass bottles is ok). We have a cooler and system to keep you beverages cold, accessible, and intact during your river trip. You can find a decent selection of beer, wine and liquor in Stanley or Salmon. This is a good thing to do on the afternoon before the trip when you arrive in town.
What is your cancelation policy?
Our trips are small and personable so they fill fast.
Contact Details
Solitude River Trips
P.O. Box 696 | Salmon, ID 83467
+1 (208) 806-1218
solitude@rivertrips.com
Orvis Endorsed since 2003