July 31 - August 6, 2026

We flew to Boise, Idaho, then drove 5 hours through the mountains to the small town of Salmon. We met our guide from Hughes River Expeditions and set off for the river the next morning. After a short flight to Indian Creek airstrip at river mile 25, we set off down the free-flowing Middle Fork of the Salmon River for 75 miles over six days.

Each day, we woke up and packed our dry bags while the guides cooked breakfast. While we ate, they packed up camp and loaded the sweep boat with tents and gear. The sweep boat went downstream to our next camp, where they put up the tents, unloaded our dry bags, and set up the kitchen and dining table. We chose an oar boat, paddle boat, or inflatable ducky, and floated down the river. We paddled through rapids and calmer stretches, surrounded by a spectacular ever-changing canyon.

We stopped for hot springs, pictographs, waterfalls, and lunch. Along the way, we watched bald eagles, osprey, merganser ducks, and bighorn sheep along the river. When we arrived at camp, we chose a tent and relaxed while the guides prepared appetizers and cooked amazing dinners, including Dutch oven baked biscuits, cornbread, and cake for dessert. The last day, we floated through Impassable Canyon where sheer granite cliffs closed in along the river.