Middle Fork Salmon (Boundary Creek to Cache Bar)

Salmon River • ID

Length

100.0 mi

Difficulty

Class III-IV

Current flow

374 cfs (low water)

Middle Fork Salmon River near Shoup · about 2 hours ago

Shuttle

280 mi / 420 min

🟢 Put-in: Boundary Creek 🔴 Take-out: Cache Bar

🪪 Permit required — Salmon-Challis National Forest — Apply ↗

A float permit is required year-round. Lottery control season May 28 – Sep 3 (apply by Jan 31); seven launches/day (≈4 outfitter, 3 public). Outside the season it's first-come. Reservations open Oct 1 for the following year.

The Middle Fork Salmon — USFS Wild and Scenic, lottery-permit required.
100 miles through the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness with
continuous Class III-IV whitewater, natural hot springs, pictographs, and
huge pine-forested canyon walls. Typically run as a 6-day trip. Velvet
Falls, Pistol Creek, Tappan Falls, and Rubber are the standout rapids.

✓ Real river route loaded

🏕 Campsites (12)

Velvet Falls Camp Mile 5.5 • ★★★★

Mackay Bar Ranch Mile 5.7

Mackay Bar Pack Bridge Mile 6.9

Sheepeater Hot Springs Mile 13.0 • ★★★★★

Indian Creek Mile 25.0 • ★★★★

Pistol Creek Mile 27.5 • ★★★★★

Loon Creek Mile 43.0 • ★★★★★

Tappan Falls Camp Mile 55.5 • ★★★★

Big Creek Mile 78.0 • ★★★★★

Waterfall Creek Mile 81.0 • ★★★★

Ouzel Mile 85.0 • ★★★★

Stoddard Mile 95.0 • ★★★★

🌊 Rapids (42)

Sulphur Slide Class III • Mile 3.0 Velvet Falls Class IV • Mile 5.0 Powerhouse Class III+ • Mile 10.0 Pistol Creek Class IV • Mile 27.0 Tappan Falls Class IV • Mile 56.0 Haystack Class III • Mile 63.0 Jackass Class III • Mile 66.0 Webber Class III • Mile 78.0 Porcupine Class III • Mile 82.0 Redside Class IV • Mile 88.0 Weber (Lower) Class III • Mile 90.0 Cramer Creek Class III+ • Mile 93.0 Hancock Class III • Mile 96.0 Rubber Class III+ • Mile 98.0 House Rock Class III+ • Mile 99.0 Killum Rapid Class II Gunbarrel Rapid Class II Rainier Rapids Class III Alder Rapid Class III Lantz Rapids Class II-III Devil's Teeth Rapid Class III Salmon Falls Class II Black Creek Rapid Class IV Hancock Rapid Class II Maisies Rapid Class II Bailey Rapid Class III Bargamin Rapid Class II Allison Ranch Rapids Class II Sapp Creek Rapid Class III Five Mile Rapid Class III Split Rock Rapid Class III Little Stinker Rapid Class II Big Mallard Rapid Class III Little Mallard Rapid Class II Elkhorn Rapids Class III-IV Growler Rapid Class II-III Don't Lose Me Now Rapid Class II Whiplash Rapid Class II-V China Bar Rapid Class II Boise Bar Rapid Class II Action Jackson Rapid Class II Ludwig Rapid Class III