middle fork links

middle fork lodge gauge

middle fork mouth gauge

wilderness outfitters at simplot ranch (loon)

flying b ranch

sawtooth transportation

salmon air

the middle fork of the salmon ranks right near the top according to most people.   the top of what is the only real question.  lets just say it has great balance.  it's not too difficult and it is not too easy.  it's flows range from rather treacherous to rather technical and everything in between.  the scenery is great.  it exists in a huge wilderness area, but it is not so remote so as to cause greatly increased danger or hardship under most circumstances.  it is 100 miles of enjoyment.

people who love the mountainous outdoors would struggle to get bored with middle fork country and floating the middle fork itself is one of the best and most fun ways to see the country.  the river and area hold enough allure that people wanting to float it will take considerable risks to do so.  from floating down marsh creek to floating in very high and dangerous flows (or both) many rafters do what they can to float this river.

permits are always required and can be difficult to obtain during may, june, july and august, the prime floating season.

typical middle fork trips begin at boundary creek.  right off the bat things move fast and for just more than 20 miles they keep up a good pace through the most narrow parts of the entire trip.  in all flows the upper 20 miles are much more difficult than are the remaining 80 miles.  in higher and lower flows this difficulty is somewhat increased.  in medium flows this river can certainly cause havoc, but a reasonably experienced oarsman can manage it if he stays alert and uses good river sense.   at any flow even a reasonably experienced oarsman would feel a sense of relief to be accompanied by someone who knows this river well.

log jams and mud slides often create surprises with varying degrees of danger and difficulty.  these occur almost annually and often in multiples.  for many years, however, the remnants of these have washed away a little more each year leaving all but cramer to hold an elevated status of a named rapid that people treat with respect.

between boundary creek and cache bar velvet falls is the one consistent surprise on this river at this point in time.  chances are very good that if you don't know where it is then it will sneak up on you and luck will be all that gives you a successful passage.

besides velvet falls every other rapid is either easy to see, stop and scout, or they will likely be run successfully if the oarsman remains alert an can maneuver his raft with adequate skill.

pistol creek rapid may be a possible exception to this read and run perspective, but often times even scouting pistol does not lead to a better run through it except that a scout will alert you to avoid the hole on river left that guards the left entry to pistol's "s" turn.  beyond that pistol takes a bit of practice ;)

we love floating the middle fork as often as possible.  why work in the yard for the weekend when you could be floating the middle fork?  it is a valid question to us!