Kayaking the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is America's premier alpine whitewater experience. Kayaking down the Middle Fork provides a once in a lifetime trip for many kayakers, although many find themselves returning year after year to experience the solitude of the wilderness, excellent whitewater, the incredible Impassable Canyon and crystal clear water.

River Flow

Kayaking trips down the Middle Fork cover the same stretch as rafting trips. Most will cover 100 miles in 6 days, with put-in at Boundary Creek and take-out at Cache Bar 4 miles down the Main Salmon. As the Middle Fork is free of dams, the flow varies throughout the summer, with the biggest whitewater in late May and through June. Most rapids are Class III with an occasional Class IV during this high water season.

August and September are less appealing for kayakers as the water flow decreases. The lower flow causes put-in to be moved 25 miles down river, which requires an air taxi flight into Indian Creek. Getting hard-shell kayaks into these small planes creates a challenge. However, this is an excellent time of year for amateurs and beginners to give an inflatable kayak, or ducky, a try.

Kayak Rental

Kayak rental is available at a few places if you're heading to Idaho by air. In Boise, Idaho River Sports offers kayak & gear rental, which could be picked up after a flight into Boise and before heading to Stanley for put-in. Blackadar Boating in Salmon offers gear, raft, kayak and ducky rental. Sawtooth Adventure Company in Stanley has inflatable kayaks, gear and a new fleet of whitewater, hardshell kayaks. With any rental, always call ahead to reserve your gear!

Kayak Instruction

Different outfitters on the Middle Fork provide kayak instruction and some instructors bring students to the Middle Fork to run trips that include paddling instruction. Either way, raft support is usually necessary to carry gear for this six-day excursion.

DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking, run by Phil & Mary DeRiemer, leads trips down the Middle Fork during the high-water season in June or early July. DAK was named by Outside Magazine as running the top Whitewater Kayaking School in their February, 2008 article School's In: The Best Places to Learn.