IDAHO'S MAIN SALMON | "The River of No Return"

The Main Salmon River originates in the Sawtooth and Lemhi Valleys of Central and Eastern Idaho. It is 425 miles long and drains 14,000 square miles. From elevations above 8,000 feet, the Salmon cascades to an elevation of 905 feet before it joins the Snake River. The river is historically known as the "River of No Return".

The Salmon River flows through a vast wilderness in the second deepest gorge on the continent. The Salmon's granite-walled canyon is one fifth of a mile deeper than the Grand Canyon. For 180 miles, the Salmon Canyon is over one mile deep. In the 151 miles from North Fork to Riggins, the Salmon drops a total of 1,910 feet, more than 12 feet per mile. Peak flows occur from the middle of May to early July. The Frank Church River of No Return and Gospel Hump Wildernesses borders the Wild section of the river from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. It is this section Mackay Wilderness River Trips floats.

Wildlife Abounds! - The Salmon River Canyon provides habitats for an abundant and varied wildlife resource. Big game species commonly observed along the river include bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, black bear, cougar and moose. Small mammal populations also are well represented by species such as bobcat, coyote, red fox, porcupine, badger, beaver, mink, marten, river otter, muskrat, weasel, marmots, and skunks. Waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds are particularly abundant during seasonal migration. chukkar, partridge, blue grouse, ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are common residents.