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Hughes River Expeditions

 

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Hughes River Expeditions, Inc.
P.O. Box 217
Cambridge, ID 83610
(800) 262-1882
(208) 257-3477
Fax: (208) 257-3476
info@hughesriver.com

 

Middle Fork of the Salmon Rafting Vacations

Whitewater rafting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River are a spectacular outdoor vacation. The Middle Fork is famous as America's best river rafting trip. From the put-in at Boundary Creek (elevation 5,700 ft.) to the take-out at Cache Bar, 100 miles downstream, the Middle Fork descends 2,700 feet. We float through dense forests, along sage and mountain mahogany covered hillsides, and finally between the sheer granite cliffs of Impassable Canyon.

There are plenty of rapids. Velvet Falls, Powerhouse, Pistol Creek, Tappan Falls, Haystack, Porcupine, Redside, Rubber, Hancock, and many more make the Middle Fork a first-class white water run. At the put-in, the river is small, steep, rocky, and tricky. Tributaries gradually quadruple the Middle Fork's volume. As the stream transforms into a major river, quiet pools and calm stretches alternate with the rapids. The last day, the Middle Fork's full force is focused into the whitewater of Impassable Canyon.

Survey CampFishing is excellent. The Middle Fork is a "blue ribbon" Westslope Cutthroat trout fishery, and a spectacular dry fly fishing stream. Regulations are "catch & release" with single, barbless hooks. (Fishermen can arrange small rafts or McKenzie drift boats with 2 fishermen/boat & guide service. Check for rates and details.)

The area offers an incredible variety of wildlife, including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mule deer, elk, cougar, black bear, otter, coyote, osprey, eagle, forest grouse, chukar partridge, and kingfisher.

We stop to enjoy hot springs and to investigate Sheepeater Indian (Mountain Shoshoni) pictographs, hunting blinds, and teepee rings. Camps are beautiful. You can plan a morning or evening hike directly from camp. Other highlights include visits to the White Goat Mine, "Set Trigger" Purcell's grave, Rattlesnake Cave, Waterfall Creek, Cathedral Cave, and the cabins and ladders of "the hermit of Impassable Canyon" - Earl Parrott.

The Middle Fork was protected by Congress in 1968 as one of the original National Wild Rivers. We float inside the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the huge Frank Church- "River of No Return" Wilderness (the largest wilderness in the continental U.S. - 2.36 million acres).

HUGHES ON PUBLIC TV!

"A Middle Fork Journey" on Outdoor Idaho - A Middle Fork Journey. A DVD of the show is available on request. Contact the Hughes office. To view a clip with Jerry, click the following link: click here

Hughes River Expeditions, Inc. is operated under special use permit with Salmon-Challis National Forest. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.