White Water Rafting on the Middle Fork
The Middle Fork of the Salmon, affectionately known as simply "The Middle Fork" is the gem of alpine white water rafting trips. Permits are highly sought-after for the week-long, 96 mile journey down the Middle Fork. As part of the Four Rivers lottery system administered by the US Forest Service, permits for the Middle Fork are granted in late February each year. Permits are apportioned to commercial guide services and private individuals, with a total of 7 groups allowed to launch each day. Those lucky enough to win a Middle Fork permit are on their way to a delightful week of moderate to challenging white water action punctuated with evening and morning soaks in wonderful crystal clear, odorless hot springs. The names of these springs, Trail Creek, Sheep Eater, Sunflower, Loon and Whitey Cox are as famous as the Middle Fork's major rapids.River trips down the Middle Fork of the Salmon also offer excellent trout fishing, and side hikes to explore the many old mining and Native American historical sites along the river corridor. Each Middle Fork rafting trip begins in the cool alpine environment at Boundary Creek launch ramp and gradually winds its way due north, through forests, canyons, and meadows of the Frank Church Wilderness, finally passing through the vertical rock walls of Impassible Canyon, to emerge amongst rock and sagebrush as the Middle Fork joins the Main Salmon.
The last five miles of a Middle Fork trip are on the Main Salmon, leading to the take-out at Cache Bar ramp, about 45 miles due west of North Fork, Idaho. Along its course, the Middle Fork crashes over legendary rapids including Sulphur Slide, Velvet Falls, Powerhouse, Tappan Falls, Redside, Weber, Rubber, and Hancock. And don't forget about Cramer, offering a last kick of adrenalin a mile before the take out. As for campsites, trip leaders must reserve all campsites they intend to use before each rafting party launches. And the Middle Fork campsites are some of the most scenic of any western river. May you be so lucky as to take a river rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon!
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Learn about taking rafting trips like these at Introduction to Multi-Day River Rafting Trips To view the Google Maps satellite photo of Boundary Creek click here. Zoom up or down, and drag the photo to follow the river.