The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of Idaho. The legendary explorers Lewis and Clark traveled part of the Salmon River but thought it was too rough to navigate. For a short time The river was also known as Lewis's River. Another name for this wild, untamable body of water is the River Of No Return.

The Salmon River has two major parts, the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon River. Both offer great rafting experiences, with rapids in the Class III to Class IV range. When the Main Salmon floods, the rapids become Class V.

Salmon River rafting trips take rafters through the second deepest gorge on the continent, exposing them to pristine, beautiful wilderness and Native American and early settler artifacts. The Salmon River Gorge that the Main Salmon passes through is even deeper than the Grand Canyon; the Snake River Canyon is the only one deeper in all of North America. The shores of the Salmon River are rich, sandy beaches perfect for relaxing. People who travel further inland will find Native American ruins and ghost towns formerly inhabited by early settlers. Rafters can see a wide variety of stunning wildlife along the riverbanks.

Salmon River rafting trips on the Main Salmon are permitted June 20th through September 7th. The Middle Fork is open all year round but is busiest during the summer months. The rapids on the Salmon River range from Class II to Class IV, providing enough variation for all rafters. Tours encompassing certain parts of the river are designed to appeal to travelers looking for particular classes of rapids.

The rafting on both major parts of the Salmon River is well-known nationwide because much of the Salmon River is so hidden from civilization that it has never been settled or modernized in any way. Salmon River rafters are some of the few people who get to experience this land.