We are also entering the second deepest canyon in North America, as the Salmon has cut a path over six thousand feet deep through the mountains of Idaho. The first couple of days on the Salmon the canyon is quite steep and rocky, forested with Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. Then the canyon opens up and the trees become fewer. After we pass the confluence with the South Fork of the Salmon the canyon narrows and gives us a fantastic display of geologic upheaval and erosion. Wildlife is common in the canyon. Big horn sheep wander so close it is hard to believe they are wild. Deer are more shy. Bear may show themselves while we are floating, but avoid camp. Once in a while we see a lone moose, and eagle sightings are common.

     We begin our trips below the confluence with the Middle Fork, so we have the combined water of two of the major rivers in the West. The Salmon is also the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states, and drains 14,000 square miles of mountainous terrain, an area the size of Connecticut and Vermont combined.
     During its unimpeded spring run-off the river will flow at up to 50,000 cubic feet of water per second in normal years, and even in the driest of years it has enough water throughout the season to provide a first-rate whitewater experience!

The first couple of days on the Salmon the canyon is quite steep and rocky, forested with Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. Then the canyon opens up and the trees become fewer. After we pass the confluence with the South Fork of the Salmon the canyonnarrows and gives us a fantastic display of geologic upheaval and erosion. Wildlife is common in the canyon. Big horn sheep wander so close it is hard to believe they are wild. Deer are more shy. Bear may show themselves while we are floating, but avoid camp. Once in a while we see a lone moose, and eagle sightings are common.
Echo Raft Co. is our associate outfitter.