6-Nights Idaho Middle Fork of the Salmon River 75-Mile Rafting from $3,495

MT Sobek: Idaho Middle Fork of the Salmon River 75-Mile Rafting

Day 1 Arrive & Prepare for the Best Middle Fork Trip
Get ready to raft! Arrive in Salmon, Idaho, by 5:00 pm and check in to the Stagecoach Inn. At 6:00 pm, meet your expert river guides and fellow adventurers on the hotel's back lawn for a fun welcome orientation. Spirits are high as you learn what's ahead on the Middle Fork and ask last-minute questions. A casual picnic dinner follows, with time to get to know everyone and celebrate the start of your adventure. Afterward, head back to your room to pack your provided waterproof river bags —it's almost time to launch into the wild. The excitement is real. You're about to experience the best Middle Fork of the Salmon River trip around.
Accommodation: Stagecoach Inn
(D)

Day 2 Fly into the Wilderness for Middle Fork Rapids
40-minute backcountry flight
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
Kick off your adventure with a ride to Salmon Airport and a breathtaking flight into the heart of the Frank Church?River of No Return Wilderness. Touch down near Indian Creek, a key access point for your epic river journey. Stop at the historic Indian Creek Guard Station, a 1930s CCC project, before launching onto the river. Navigate your first Class II rapid—Pungo—and take in the wild beauty of the river. Settle into your first riverside camp, where your guides prepare a gourmet dinner. Relax and enjoy your first night in Idaho's remote and rugged backcountry.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp—Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
(B, L, D)

Day 3 Enjoy River Life, Hot Springs & Wildlife
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
This stretch of the Middle Fork offers a calmer pace—the perfect opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the river's many hidden gems. With more time to explore, you can soak in natural hot springs, get in some fly fishing, or jump in for a refreshing swim. Wildlife is abundant in this wilderness—keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats and bighorn sheep along the canyon walls, and bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors soaring overhead. Water level permitting, this is a great day for adventurous guests to try inflatable "ducky" kayaks for self-powered solo thrills on the water. Enjoy campfire stories, a delicious dinner, and the stars above to round out the day.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp—Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
(B, L, D)

Day 4 See Ancient Pictographs & Pristine River Scenery
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
Start your day with a hot drink and hearty breakfast as the sun rises over the canyon. This section of river brings you to Sheepeater pictographs—ancient rock art left by the region's earliest inhabitants. After exploring the site and learning about their culture, continue downstream through a stunning corridor of pine forests, sculpted rock, and lively rapids. All the while, you have the choice between active paddling on the guide-led paddle boat and kicking back on the guide-paddled oar boat—or if the conditions are right, trying out a ducky. It's all part of what goes into making the best Middle Fork trip, and why our guests rave about it.

(B, L, D)

Day 5 Raft the Middle Fork’s Iconic Tappan Falls
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
Today's 15?20-mile stretch delivers some of the Middle Fork's most thrilling rapids and a window into Native American history. Hold on tight as you charge through a series of Class II-IV rapids—Tappan I, the technical drop of Tappan Falls, the splashy excitement of New Tappan, and the rollercoaster ride of Aparajo. Between rapids, keep an eye out for bald eagles, osprey, river otters, and the occasional black bear along the forested banks. Step ashore to explore the remains of Sheepeater pit dwellings—circular depressions that once sheltered the Tukudeka people—and see Kaufman's Cave, where a Scottish prospector once lived alone. It's a day packed with adrenaline, wildlife, and fascinating glimpses into river history.

(B, L, D)

Day 6 Enter the Impassable Canyon
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
Journey through the awe-inspiring Impassable Canyon, where sheer granite cliffs rise dramatically above the river and the wild, remote beauty of Idaho is on full display. The final full day of rafting delivers nonstop excitement with legendary whitewater—including the boulder-strewn chaos of Driftwood, the surging waves of Haystack, and the thrilling squeeze of Goalpost Rapids. Midday, take a short but rewarding hike to Veil Falls, where a delicate sheet of water cascades from high above into a mossy grotto. Visit the historic Earl Parrot homestead before reaching camp and your last night in the wilderness. With unbeatable scenery, rich history, and epic rapids, the Impassable Canyon is the best Middle Fork trip finale.

(B, L, D)

Day 7 Ride Middle Fork Whitewater & Return to Salmon
2-3-hour bus transfer
6 hours/6-15 miles rafting Class II to Class IV rapids
Stagecoach InnWrap up your Middle Fork rafting adventure with a bang—tackling the biggest whitewater of the journey. Foreplay Rapid sets the tone with swift turns and standing waves, followed by the churning hydraulics of Rubber and the powerful, surging drop of Hancock. By now, you've mastered the twists and turns of the river. After the final adrenaline rush, reach the confluence with the Main Salmon River, where you'll leave the boats and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness behind. Reflect on your journey as you return to Salmon, Idaho, where you'll enjoy a hot shower and a well-earned celebratory toast with your guides and fellow adventurers. Spend the evening exploring Salmon's charming downtown and small-town Western hospitality.
Accommodation: Stagecoach Inn
(B, L)

Day 8 Depart from Salmon, Idaho
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and depart at your leisure, taking with you memories of your time on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River—a true bucket-list adventure.
Accommodation: Stagecoach Inn
(B)