Our Middle Fork of the Salmon rafting trip is 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.
I have gone on 4 Hughes trips over 25 years. The Hughes crews are always great.
J. Lewis, Boise, ID
Rafting The River
There are plenty of rapids. Velvet Falls, Powerhouse, Pistol Creek, Tappan Falls, Tappan III, Haystack, Bernard Creek, Waterfall Creek, Porcupine, Redside, Rubber, Hancock, and many more make the Middle Fork a first-class whitewater 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.
Middle Fork is a Class III-IV whitewater river, with several Class IV rapids.
Fly Fishing Information
Fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon is excellent. The Middle Fork is a “Blue Ribbon” Westslope Cutthroat trout fishery, and a spectacular dry fly fishing stream.
Every one of our Middle Fork trips is outfitted for fly fishing included in the price of the trip! Many of our summer guests plan to include fly fishing as some part of their Middle Fork trip. Fishermen often prefer to bring their own gear, but we have everything you need available on the trip. Check with the Hughes office for details.
More experienced fishermen can arrange fishing rafts with 2 fishermen and a guide per raft. Check for rates and details.
Wilderness Expedition Raft Trip
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).
We had a great time! Thank you to all the guides for your awesome work; keeping us safe and WELL FED! Fellow guests – really enjoyed your company… ‘Life is an adventure.’
C. Phillips, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Trip Schedule and Rates
5 or 6 Day Expedition – 75 or 100 River Miles
| Dates | Length | Adult | Youth |
| June 4-8* | 5 Days | $2,500 | $2,340 |
| June 13-18 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| June 22-27 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| June 30-July 5 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| July 8-13 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| July 16-21 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| July 24-29 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| August 1-6 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| August 9-14 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| August 17-22 | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| August 25-29 | 5 Days | $2,500 | $2,340 |
| September 2-7** | 6 Days | $2,890 | $2,760 |
| September 12-17*** |
6 Days | $3,700/angler | $3,700/angler |
| September 21-25**** | 5 Days | $3,375/angler | $3,375/angler |
| September 27-October 2***** | 6 Days | $3,700/angler | $3,700/angler |
*June 4-8 Hot Whitewater, Hot-Springs & Hikers Special
**September 2-7, Jazz Trip
***September 12-17 Classic Middle Fork Fly Fishing Trip
****September 21-25, Upper Middle Fork Fly Fishing (Top 25 Miles)
*****September 27-Oct. 2, Cast & Blast. Fishing for Cutthroat & Hunting for Chukar Partridge
Book Your Middle Fork Trip Online
Deposits to Confirm
- 5 Days – $550/person
- 6 Days – $700/person
Middle Fork Fishing Boat Rates (based on 2 fishermen/boat & guide)
- 5 Days – $3,300/angler
- 6 Days – $3,700/angler
Final Payments are due 60 days prior to Launch.
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee requires collection of $4/day/person. This fee will be added to the above listed trip cost.
This institution is operated under Special Use Permit by Salmon-Challis National Forest. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Youth Rate applies to kids, teens, and undergraduate students.
Flight cost from Stanley to the river is $150/person when required by road, water, and weather conditions.
I want to tell you how much we all so enjoyed our Middle Fork trip last week with Hughes River Expeditions. … Just wanted to say again how great your guides were to us, the camps, each day of the float, their knowledge of the history and the environs. Tony, Josh, Jessica, Dagny, Jacob, Nathan, and Nick, all worked so well together and represent you and Hughes River so well. We would recommend this trip to all our friends…. It was everything we hoped for and more.”
H. Hedrick, Boise, ID
