On the evening of August 2nd, 2023 heavy rains near the Boundary Creek Launch Site on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River triggered several landslides (aka “debris flows” or “blowouts”) that blocked the river. These landslides brought trees down to the river which floated down and created several river wide logjams. Debris flows are the result of intense microburst storms that occur over previous fire scars in steep terrain. Last August several of these landslides occurred at Ramshorn Creek and Spike Creek blocking the river… Read More
Still looking for that perfect landscape photo or Instagram selfie? The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a great place for photographers to hike and capture sweeping vistas of the vast Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The Middle Fork Trail follows the first 80 miles of the river from Boundary Creek to Big Creek, allowing for access to countless river views and side trails. You and your camera might like these suggestions for hikes that hide some breathtaking landscape and selfie photo moments. Mile… Read More
At 11:27 AM on August 21, 2017 there will be a total solar eclipse on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Total Solar Eclipse: This rare event occurs when (a) moon appears in the sky far enough up that it appears to be the same size or larger than the sun and (b) it passes exactly in front of the sun and blocks out all light for a short period of time. Viewers must be in the path of the totality in order to experience… Read More
High water on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River begins at 5 feet when the river is quite continuous, the water is cold, and recovery from a flip or swim can be difficult. Here are some things to consider before paddling the Middle Fork at high water: Everyone should have PFDs that fit them well, have plenty of flotation, and are relatively new Wetsuits or drysuits should be mandatory for everyone Guides should be experienced with high water, proper boat spacing, and flipping rafts back… Read More
Here is some general advice about running low water trips (below 2.2 feet) on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Consider flying all of your people and equipment into Indian Creek to avoid the most difficult sections at low water. If you do launch from Boundary Creek pack light and fly as much gear as possible into Indian Creek. I recommend Gem Air. Deflate your tubes. Then deflate them some more. If you’re getting stuck often then deflate them even more. Avoid boat pile ups… Read More
The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, or “the Frank Church” for short, is one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48, second only to Death Valley. Its 2.4 million acres are a gem of preserved green trees and pristine clear waters; a sanctuary for a wide variety of birds, fish, and mammals. Senator Frank Church and Wilderness Frank Church himself was a senator and environmentalist from Idaho. He grew up in Boise and earned a law degree from Stanford University. He was… Read More
