Salmon River (Main): Corn Creek to Carey Creek

Flow

• USGS Gauge:  Salmon River at White Bird ID
• NOAA Northwest River Forecast Center: Salmon – at Whitebird (WHBI1)
• Recommended range: 2,000 cfs to 23,000 cfs 
• On average, spring runoff peaks in early June and flows commonly exceed 23,000 cfs in the months of May and June

Put-in and Take-out

Put-in

• Corn Creek River Access Site. This Forest Service site has a staffed office that issues permits and conducts gear checks. The adjacent 18-site campground has restrooms and potable water.

Take-out

• Carey Creek Boat Ramp. On river left immediately after the Wind River Pack Bridge, it has a large parking lot, picnic tables, and toilet.

On the River

The flow level changes the difficulty and features of rapids and the availability and nature of campsites. The most complete source for how the river changes with different flow levels is Eric Jackson Newell’s Idaho’s Salmon River, A river runner’s guide to the River of No Return, Corn Creek to Carey Creek.

Campsites

Some camps can only be used if reserved, and some are available on a first-come basis. Information on reserved sites is available at the Corn Creek put in and in an information packet provided by the Forest Service with permits obtained through the lottery. To reserve campsites, submit camp choices between 5PM the day before launch and 9AM the day of launch; the on-site ranger will then assign reservations at 9AM on launch day. No layover days are allowed in reserved camps. “Small camps” can only be used by groups of 20 people and fewer, and “large camps” by groups of 21 or more.

Notable features

• Pictographs: The Legend Creek Pictographs at mile 4.4 river right are the best preserved on the river. Pictographs at mile 39.8 river right (of questionable authenticity) are about 200 feet above the river. Other pictographs include those on river right at miles 47.6 and 48.4,
• Hot springs include Hot Tub Hot Spring at mile 22.3 river left and Barth Hot Spring, mile 22.8 river left.
• Side hikes: Numerous opportunities for hikes include three accessed from just past the Campbells Ferry Pack Bridge, mile 42.4.
• Buckskin Bill Homestead at mile 52.5 consists of structures, a small museum, and a small store with basic supplies including drinks and ice cream.

Rapids

There are nearly 50 named rapids on the Main Salmon. See Newell’s guidebook for detail on rapids and how they change with flow level. For purposes of trip planning, the following list of Class III and IV rapids provides a general sense of the Middle Salmon’s level of difficulty:

• Ranier Rapid (Class II to III-) mile 8.0: Big waves with a hole right of center mid-way through. Run is down the middle.
• Alder Creek Rapid (Class II to III) mile 8.6: Big rollers; run left or scout from left bank.
• Lantz Rapid (Class II to III) mile 11.2: A backward “S” turn pushes hard against the right bank forcing a hard left turn at the end of the rapid.
• Devil’s Teeth Rapid (Class II+ to III-) mile 12.9:  To avoid rocks that emerge at lower flows, the cleanest channel is left of center.
• Black Creek Rapid (Class III to IV) mile 20.8: The steepest drop on the river. Scout on left. Generally best run right or left.
• Five Mile Rapid (Class III), mile 34.3: A big hole and corkscrew wave in the wave train midway through the rapid just right of center at lower flows. Run far right or run left of center and move hard right once past the hole.
• Split Rock Rapid (Class III-), mile 34.6: Standard run is just right of center to the right of the rock.
• Big Mallard Rapid (Class III to IV, mile 36.9): Scout from right (from Lower Yellow Pine Bar camp) or left; left provides a better view. Run right or left to avoid hole at bottom of rapid.
• Elkhorn Rapid (Class III to IV) mile 40.2: The longest and often the most complicated rapid on the river. Can scout from left or right. A large boulder at the top and can be run to either side; there are a number of smaller boulders  downstream. The rapid ends with current pushing into or over a large rock to be avoided.
• Ludwig Rapid (Class III) mile 54.7: Around a blind left corner. Most run left but there are multiple lines.
• Dried Meat Rapid (Class III-) mile 75: Most commonly run down the tongue.
• Chittam Rapid (Class III to IV) mile 78: The main current pushes through a couple of holes and into a wall. Scout far right.
• Vinegar Creek Rapid (Class III to IV) mile 78.7: Scout from right bank. At lower flows run right of center to avoid two large holes in dead center. At higher flows run down the tongue or right.
• Carey Falls (Class II+) mile 80.4: A wave train on far right leads to a hole; there is a clean line on the left.

logistics

Permits

• Permits during peak season (in 2025, June 20 to September 7) are through the 4 Rivers Lottery on recreation.gov. In 2025, lottery applications open December 1 and close January 31, with results available February 14. Unconfirmed, declined and cancelled lottery dates are released for reservations on March 16 starting at 8AM Pacific Time. Outside the lottery period, permits are self-issue.

Guides, Maps and On-Line Resources

• Idaho’s Salmon River, A River Runner’s Guide to the River of No Return, Corn Creek to Carey Creek, 2023 (Third Edition), by Eric Jackson Newell, Black Canyon Guides, Cache Valley, UT, 81 pages
• American Whitewater:  Salmon 6 – Corn Creek to Carey Creek (The Main Salmon)
• Whitewater Guidebook: Main Salmon River

Car Shuttles

• The shuttle is a monster: nearly 400 miles from Corn Creek to Carey Creek. There are several shuttle services. Because of the distance, shuttle costs are relatively high.

Water

• The safest option is to bring water. River water must be filtered.

Waste

Human waste must be carried out. It can be disposed of at these 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)

Fires

Fires must be built and contained on a firepan  at least 144 square inches and with  minimum 3-inch-high sides. Ashes must be packed out.

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

• Difficulty: Class IV River
• Length: 80.9 mi
• High Point: 2,950 ft

• Land Manager: Salmon-Challis National Forest
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12