Itinerary

DAY 1 » Meet the group at 7:30am. A two-hour ride by bus to Boundary Creek begins the trip into the Idaho wilderness. Fir and Spruce fragrances fill the crisp forest air at 6,000 feet above sea level. After orientation, and loading of personal gear, you'll choose a raft (paddle boat or oar-boat) and climb aboard. The Middle Fork rapids come fast and steep for the first fiftteen miles, coming in quick sequence. Enjoy a riverside lunch stop where you'll learn about caring for the wilderness environment. We arrive at camp about 4:00pm, having traveled roughly a dozen miles the first day. Enjoy free time for fishing, reading, hiking or simple relaxation. Hors d’oeuvres are served about 6:00pm and dinner around 7:30pm. After dinner, enjoy the warmth of a campfire and the shared stories of life and the river.

DAY 2 » Freshly brewed coffee will greet your morning about 7am. Enjoy breakfast, then break down camp and prepare for a day of spectacular scenery and fun. Visit a couple of pioneer homesteads during the first few days. Wildlife, miner's claims and bird watching are fare for the day. Scores of fun rapids fill the day as the river plunges through the steep mountain valleys. The “Duckies,” (inflatable kayaks), will be pulled out to play on the water for those willing. Sunflower Flat Hot Springs will be a welcome reward, with half a dozen pools above the river tumble over a cliff, creating the perfect natural shower. Settle into camp life again around 4pm, enjoying your free time. Stargazers will enjoy being lulled to sleep after another delicious meal cooked by the guides.

Day 4 » Rapids fill each day with excitement. Scan the shores for natural mineral licks, where big horn sheep are usually seen. Fishermen in the group will find the river stocked with trout, while birdwatchers may see falcons and golden eagles. A dip in Hospital Bar is mandatory if you want it's healing power. Tappan Ranch is a highlight of the day as well.

Day 5/6 » One of the most dynamic rapids on the river, Haystack Rapid, is the challenge of the day. This rapid stands at the head of Impassable Canyon. Constricted by the narrow walls, the river becomes a wild bucking bronco, filled with whitewater action. Waterfall Creek is a the reward of a steep hike into the Bighorn Crags. Find refreshment under the falls and finish cooling off with a jump in the river. Neck-bending panoramas greet the river traveller where the river has carved into the Idaho batholith – the largest single piece of granite in North America. A visit to Veil Falls- a grotto graced by the spirits of ancient pictographs will convince you that you are among some of the most incredible scenery on earth.

Learn of Impassable Canyon's legendary hermit- Earl Parrot- whose story is as tall as the mountain valleys themselves, adding yet another dimension to the lore of the Middle Fork River.

A sprawling sand beach several milesupstream of the confluence with the Main Salmon provides a place for the final lunch stop. At the takeout, gather your personal gear and board the waiting bus that will take you to the town of Salmon. After a shower and a change to fresh clothes, meet your guides for a hosted farewell dinner.

More information from Western River Expeditions:

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