Rivers We Float

Salmon River (Class III)

Trip length: 4 and 5 days

Season: July through October

Pre-Trip Meeting Place:Quality Inn and Suites Clarkston, WA

Ages:Perfect Family vacation: ages 5 and up

Closest Airport: Lewiston, Idaho

Ahhhh... the Salmon River… its warm waters, beautiful white sand beaches, deep pools, and exciting class III whitewater provide the perfect setting for family fun. At 425 miles in length, it’s the longest free flowing, undammed river in the Lower 48. We run the 53-mile section of this river known as the Lower Gorge. Exquisite geologic formations are revealed as the water flows through four spectacular canyons: Green, Cougar, Snow Hole, and Blue Canyon. Large white sand beaches figure prominently on the semi-arid riverscape. They provide the ideal setting for excellent camping, relaxation, and the river trip of a lifetime.

History in the canyon is abundant. Pictographs created by early inhabitants and sites of human activity bring to life the stories of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians, as well as Chinese miners and early settlers. We will have an opportunity to explore these archeological sites discovering stories of the past inhabitants of the area.

The pool and drop characteristic of the Salmon RIver makes it a perfect river for the “Row-Your-Own Adventure”. The pools are long, calm stretches punctuated by steep drops, where we find our whitewater. These pools give us time to prepare for the upcoming whitewater, practice our skills, swim, relax, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and have stimulating conversations with our boat mates. The drops provide us with exhilarating whitewater, followed by calm pools that safely catch us after we run through the rapids. This creates a very forgiving and fun place to learn to row. The warm waters also allow us to swim long stretches of the river. There are many rapids that we have found to be safe for swimming. You will have so much fun swimming in this river that it will be hard getting you back in your boat!