Floating the Wild Main Salmon River

The Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980, in addition to establishing the River of No Return Wilderness (renamed the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness in 1984), amended the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to include the 79-mile section of the Salmon River from Corn Creek Campground to Long Tom Bar as a Wild River. The Wild segment of the Salmon River is located in Central Idaho and originates at Corn Creek Campground, 46 miles west of North Fork, Idaho. It flows 79 miles west to Long Tom Bar, which is 28 miles east of Riggins, Idaho. The upper section passes through the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness. The lower section forms the southern boundary of the Gospel Hump Wilderness.

Each year, approximately 10,000 people float the Wild section of the Main Salmon River. Depending on water flow levels, the Wild section of the Main Salmon provides a moderate to fast-paced whitewater floating experience.

The Wild section of the Main Salmon flows through the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness. The Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness Management Plan provides program management direction for activities that occur in the Wilderness, including floating the Wild section of the Main Salmon River. Specific guidance for management of activities on this section of river is provided in Chapter 2 of the Plan, starting on pg. 2-63.

A permit is required to float the Wild stretch of the Main Salmon.

Jetboaters – click here for more information about how to get a permit to run the Main Salmon.

For information about how to reserve a float permit and what you need to know once you have a reservation, use the links below. Each link takes you to another webpage that provides information about the bulleted items. For simplicity, these webpages refer to the Wild stretch of the Main Salmon as just the Main Salmon.

Obtaining a Permit to Float the Main Salmon River