Salmon River (Lower): Hammer Creek to Heller Bar

Flow

• USGS Gauge:  Salmon River at White Bird ID
  USGS Water Dashboard here
• Northwest River Forecast: Salmon at White Bird here. 
• Recommended range: 3,000 CFS to 15,000 CFS 
• Historically, the Lower Salmon experiences flows from 10,000 to 60,000 CFS between May through June. Flows are sub 10,000 CFS starting typically in July and sub 5,000 CFS typically from mid-August through autumn. Note that Slide Rapids is ‘barely a riffle’ at flows of 10,000 CFS or below, but becomes Class V or above at 20,000 CFS and above. 

Put-ins and Take-outs

Put-in Locations

• Hammer Creek. This site administered by the Bureau of Land Management has 12 campsites, a ramp providing river access, drinking water, restrooms and a RV dump station. Located at river mile 52.5.
• Pine Creek Launch is located immediately below Pine Creek Rapid at River Mile 42.2. This access is a take-out for the shorter day run and a put-in for the multi-day trip that continues down to the Snake River. Potable water is available in the campground here. 

Take-out Locations

• Heller Bar is located on the Snake River on the Washington side is the first road-accessible access located 20 miles downstream of the Salmon-Snake confluence. The facility is used by floaters coming down the Salmon, Snake, and Grand Ronde Rivers as well as jet boaters headed upstream. It is administered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires a Discover Pass. Dispersed camping is available at the site.

On the River

Peak flows between mid-May and late July will change the degree of difficulty on the river. Monitor flows closely. Using river miles from the BLM Boater’s Guide map, major rapids include:

On the Salmon River

• Hammer Creek put in, River Mile 52.5
• Green Canyon Pictographs, River Mile 45. A short trail river right takes you to well preserved pictographs. 
• Wright Way Rapid, Class III, River Mile 44.7. Sharp wave with big drop takes you to the wall at the bottom. Long Class II rapid below. 
• Demon’s Drop Rapid, Class III, River Mile 43.8. Large curling waves at some flows. Turbulence in the center indicates a hole.
• Pine Bar Rapid, Class III, River Mile 42.6. Steep rock garden littered with holes is most difficult in low water. 
• Bodacious Bounce Rapid, Class III, River Mile 26. Big waves can get tricky at low water. Scout below 4,000 CFS.
• Snowhole Rapid, Class IV, River Mile 23.4. Large rocks require maneuvering with the preferred line dependent on river flow and your skill. The rapid has a good scout from river left and the preferred line is generally down the center right, maneuvering around rocks along the way. Relatively straightforward with the correct line. 
• Half and Half Rapid: Class III, River Mile 25.2. So called because half the time you make it. Big holes to avoid. Scout from river right.  
• China Rapid, Class III, River Mile 18.75. Long blind S curve rapid requires some maneuvering and can be scouted from river left.
• Eagle Creek Rapid: Class III River Mile 12.8. Holes and rocks to avoid. 
• Slide Rapid, Class II - V, River Mile 3.9. A massive rockslide on the left causes barely a riffle at 10,000 CFS to class V at flows above 20,000 CFS. 

On the Snake River

• Confluence of Salmon at River Mile 0 and Snake River at River Mile 188
• Beware of jet boat traffic
• Wild Goose Rapid, Class III, River Mile 173. Short drop with turbulent waves.
• Heller Bar takeout, River Mile 168.25 on the Washington side, just above the confluence of the Snake and Grand Ronde. 21 miles to Asotin WA via gravel road. 

Logistics

Permits

• River Permit: Self-issue permits are required (at no cost) for all private trips below Hammer Creek from July 1st – Labor Day and all overnight trips year-round. You can get a self-issue permit at White Bird Gravel Pit, Hammer Creek, Pine Bar, Graves/Rock Creek, the BLM office in Cottonwood, or online on the Idaho BLM website 

Guides, Maps and On-Line Resources

• The Lower Salmon River Boating Guide, Vinegar Creek to Heller Bar, BLM. Downloadable from the BLM here. This can also be purchased in hardcopy via Amazon. 
• American Whitewater:  Salmon 9 - Hammer Creek to Snake River confluence (Lower Gorge)

Car Shuttles

• Heller Bar to Hammer Creek is 116 miles by road, an approximately 2:30 hour trip. Commercial shuttles are available. 

Water

• Given that the Salmon passes through agricultural areas, carrying drinking water is recommended. 
  Per the BLM Boating Guide: Although water quality is high, river water is not considered potable without treatment or filtering due to the possible presence of Giardia. Bring your own drinking water or plan to filter or boil stream and river water. There are several recreation sites with potable drinking water but nothing downstream from Pine Bar.

Waste

Human waste must be carried out. It can be disposed of at the following sites:

• Asotin, Washington—Chief Looking Glass Park on 1st Street (SCAT Machine©)
• South Riggins, Idaho—Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Office (Forest Service) at 1339 Highway 95 (SCAT Machine©)
• White Bird, Idaho—Hammer Creek Recreation Site at river mile 52 (RV dump station)

• Suitable Activities: Packrafting
• Seasons: January, February, March, April, July, August, September, October, November, December
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Class III River
• Length: 52.0 mi
• High Point: 1,440 ft

• Land Manager: Idaho BLM
• Parking Permit Required: BLM Permits & Passes
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12