Oregon Rogue Illinois Idaho Middle & Main Salmon Arizona Grand Canyon River Levels Conservation	Middle & Main Salmon Known as "The River of No Return," the Salmon River is the longest free flowing river (425 miles) within one state in the lower 48. It originates in the Sawtooth and Lemhi Valleys of central and eastern Idaho, and snows from the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains in the south, and the Clearwater and Bitterroot Mountains in the north, feed this wild river. The upper section passes through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, while the lower section forms the southern boundary of the Gospel-Hump Wilderness. The Salmon flows through a vast wilderness in the second deepest gorge on the continent. Only the Snake River (Hells) Canyon is deeper. The Salmon's granite-walled canyon is one-fifth of a mile deeper than the Grand Canyon. For approximately 180 miles, the Salmon Canyon is more than one mile deep. Largely due to this incredible wilderness, Congress designated 46 miles of the river, from North Fork to Corn Creek, as a recreational river and 79 miles, from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar, as a wild river.

From North Fork to Corn Creek, the spectacular canyon of the Salmon River has exposed some of the oldest known rocks in the state of Idaho. In the vicinity of Shoup, these rocks, called gneiss, have been dated as 1.5 billion years old. From Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar, the majority of the rocks exposed in the canyon walls are part of the Idaho Batholith. These rocks are generally called quartz monzonite and are approximately 65 million years old. The canyon itself was formed 35 to 45 million years ago.

This rugged canyon provides habitat 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 migrations. Chukar, partridge, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, and spruce grouse are also common residents.

The main stem of the Salmon River provides habitat for a variety of fish species. These include: cutthroat trout, bull trout, rainbow trout, mountain white fish, sockeye salmon, chinook salmon (spring/summer/fall run), steelhead, smallmouth bass, squawfish, sucker and sturgeon. The river offers high quality sportfishing for resident populations of cutthroat and rainbow trout, steelhead and whitefish.

Evidence suggests that man first inhabited the Salmon River country 8,000 years ago. White man came to the Salmon river in the very early 1800's following Lewis and Clark's 1805 expedition. There are several Native American and pioneer historical sites to visit along the river corridor. Many, such as the Jim Moore place, an early mining claim, are on the National Register of Historic Places.

click for schedule information