Salmon River (Idaho)

Robbie L. Giles ©

Salmon River Canyon 2004

The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is known as The River of No Return and flows for 425 miles (684 km) through central Idaho, draining 14,000 square miles and drops more than 7,000 vertical feet between its headwaters above the Sawtooth Valley to its confluence with the Snake River at 910 feet. Cities located along the Salmon River include Stanley, Clayton, Challis, Salmon, Riggins, and White Bird.

The headwaters of the Salmon are in the mountains of central and eastern Idaho (Lemhi Range, Sawtooth, Salmon River Mountains, Clearwater and Bitterroot Range). The main fork of the Salmon is joined by the Yankee Fork, East Fork, Pahsimeroi, Lemhi, North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and Little Salmon rivers before converging with the Snake River. This occurs on the Oregon-Idaho border, north of Hells Canyon, fifteen miles south of Washington and 40 miles (60 km) south of Lewiston. The famed Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of the premier recreational rafting and kayaking rivers in the world.

The Salmon River contains most of the remaining salmon and steelhead habitat in the Columbia River Basin. Despite the abundant salmon habitat in the river, these fish have been declining, in large part to the effects of four federal dams (Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite) on the lower Snake River in Washington.

Ten miles downstream of its confluence with the Middle Fork, the Salmon River becomes the dividing line for the two time zones in Idaho: Mountain time to the south, Pacific time to the north.

Anthropology

There is evidence of inhabitance by man to as much as 8,000 years ago. Much of the area was inhabited by several tribes, including the Nez Perce. The river was a rich source of food for the indigenous people of the area.

Corps of Discovery

In August of 1805, just after crossing the continental divide, Lewis and Clark ventured down the Salmon River, but found it to be too rough to be navigable. Clark wrote:

"...I shall in justice to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis's river. ...The Westerly fork of the Columbia River present Salmon River is double the size of the Easterley fork present Lemhi River & below those forks the river is ...100 yards m wide, it is verry rapid & Sholey water Clear but little timber."

The honor didn't last long; by 1810 maps of the area were already referring to "Louis's River" as the Salmon.

Gold

In the 1860's there were placer deposits of gold found in the area along the river and the gold rush was underway. Miners came to the area, causing clashes with the Nez Perce on their ancestral tribal lands. Many historic and present day mines (including dredging operations) can be seen while traveling along the river.

Recreation

Two segments (the Middle Fork and a section of the main Salmon River) are protected as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. Today, the Salmon is a popular destination for whitewater kayaking, canoeing or rafting. The Middle Fork, over 100 miles (160 km), travels through the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area. The South Fork flows through Payette National Forest. The main fork raft trip run is slightly less than 100 miles (160 km) and ends south of White Bird, although the stretch of river is 125 miles (200 km). Single and multiple day trips on the river are available and offer beautiful views of wildlife and scenery. The river canyon allows for magnificent views of the complex geology of the region. The canyon is the second deepest on the North American continent.

Campgrounds along the river are available and offer stunning views of the river. Hiking and mountain biking are popular in the area.

U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey
of Oscar Risvold

Salmon River Canyon 1945

Wildlife

Fish - Several fish hatcheries are located on rivers which join the Salmon.

Mammals

Birds

External links

Lewis and Clark | Rivers of Idaho