View the PDF
Did you know this page comes in a PDF format? Download it, print it, take it with you!
Fish
The Salmon River system has the best steelhead and Chinook habitat in the entire Columbia basin. These fish migrate farther and spawn at higher elevations than nearly any other anadromous runs on Earth, overcoming eight dams along their arduous, 900-mile journey. The Salmon is a stronghold for bull trout and home to westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish.
Wildlife
With areas seldom touched by humans, the Salmon River basin provides outstanding habitat for wildlife, including black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, elk, gray wolf, Canada lynx, sage grouse, moose, deer and wolverine. And you have to count orcas on any list of Salmon River wildlife; they depend so heavily on salmon that their very survival hinges on plentiful runs of Salmon/Snake River Chinook.
-
Paddle
The Middle Fork is quite simply the finest multi-day wilderness float in the West. The incredible six-day, 100-mile trip begins at Boundary Creek, with more than 100 class III-IV rapids and gorgeous side hikes. You can also boat the Lower Salmon River gorges over four days to meet the impressive Snake River confluence. Idaho River Journeys, Winding Waters River Expeditions and Northwest Rafting Co. are among the best guides out there.
-
Fish
An anglers dream, the Salmon River offers hundreds of miles of epic trout, salmon and steelhead fishing, including arguably the best catch-and-release fishing in the nation on the Middle Fork. The Little Salmon as well as tributaries in the Stanley Basin can be excellent steelhead destinations. Timing depends on peak runoff.
-
Hike
The remote and spectacular Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trail follows the Middle Fork for nearly 100 miles. In the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, explore the beautiful mountain vistas on trails like the Stanley Lake Creek Trail, which ascends to a set of waterfalls that rage with snow melt in June. The Iron Creek Trailhead leads to postcard-perfect views of Sawtooth Lake reflecting Mount Regan above.
The WRC Story
At the headwaters of the Salmon River, snowcapped peaks tower over small tributaries that serve as some of best nurseries for salmon and steelhead in the Snake-Columbia basin. WRC is protecting a series of properties on these tributaries to ensure plentiful water and habitat for fish. In the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, WRC safeguarded critical reaches of Pole Creek in 2016 and Goat and Meadow Creeks in 2018. On Goat and Meadow Creeks, we transferred key water rights to the State of Idaho to keep them permanently in-stream—the first time in state history. Now we are working to conserve a haven for imperiled salmon at Cape Horn Ranch, at the source of the Middle Fork, placing significant water back in-stream for Chinook and steelhead. In 2014, we safeguarded access to the boating put-in/take-out at Pine Bar and conserved important fish habitat on the mainstem Salmon River.
Best Time of Year
- Salmon fishing
- Apr-Jul
- Trout fishing
- Jun-Sep
- Steelhead
- Oct-Mar
- Boating
- May-Sep
