The Main Salmon River

  • Length: 82 miles
  • Gradient: 12 fpm
  • Difficulty: Class III
  • Season: April - October
  • Rec. Level: 2,000 - 25,000 cfs
  • Agency: USFS
  • Permits: USFS
  • Put-in: Corn Creek
  • Take-out: Carey Creek

A rafting trip down the Main Salmon River makes for a wonderful family vacation. It is best know for its big canyon, sandy beaches, and big water rapids. Most trips cover the 84 miles of wilderness in five or six days.

Rafts on the Main Salmon RiverThe Main Salmon begins where the Middle Fork of the Salmon ends, so many groups do both trips together for a 10 to 14 day river trip. If you are doing the Main Salmon by itself you'll put in at the Corn Creek Ranger Station. Once you've floated below Corn Creek you're headed deep into the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

The rapids on the Main Salmon have big waves and holes and require skillful maneuvering. Even though they are big, they are often run in small inflatable kayaks for big thrills. Big calm pools below the rapids allow for time to recover from flips that can occur. The legendary Class III rapids on the Main Salmon are Split Rock, Salmon Falls, Big Mallard, Chittum, and Elk Bar.

You'll really get the sense of being in the wilderness while on the Main Salmon. There are great hikes from each of the camps up side creeks and along the canyon. This place is huge and you really get a sense of the area as you float down the river. Even though this is a large wilderness area, there are several spectacular lodges along the way that can be used to make your stay more comfortable.

Perhaps the best aspect of the Main Salmon is the large, sandy beaches. These make for a great environment to play frisbee, volleyball, capture the flag, or any number of games. The combination of fun camps, grand scenery, and fun rapids make this a great trip for families with children.

Email Email This Page | Site Map | Home | Copyright © 2009 Tallac Designs