⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
100 mi
Length
Class IV–V
Difficulty
3000–8000 cfs
Optimal
2,800 cfs
Avg Flow
2,550 cfs
Hist. Median
#13309220
USGS Gauge
National Wild & Scenic River · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness · Float Plane Access Only
The premier wilderness river trip in North America — 100 miles through the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest roadless area in the lower 48. Accessible only by float plane or a 28-mile trail. Begins at 6,000 feet elevation with Class IV–V whitewater and descends 3,000 feet through Impassable Canyon to join the Main Salmon. Grizzly bears, gray wolves, mountain goats, and Chinook salmon share the corridor.
Trip sections
Boundary Creek to Indian Creek — Class IV–V, upper canyon, Marble Creek and Velvet Falls
Indian Creek to Pistol Creek — Class III–IV, open valley, best camps
Pistol Creek to Main Salmon — Class IV–V, Impassable Canyon, Rubber and Hancock rapids (Class V)
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for all launches
Four Rivers Lottery — Middle Fork Salmon
Managed by: USFS Salmon-Challis National Forest
Type: Lottery
Required for: All launches
Application Window
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 31
Results announced: Mid-February
Season & Logistics
May 28 – September 3
Group size: 1–24 people
Cost is a per-person/per-day recreation fee plus a permit issuance fee — varies by year and trip length. Current schedule on the USFS site. One application per person across all four rivers in the lottery system (Middle Fork, Main Salmon, Selway, Hells Canyon). The same person cannot lead more than one trip per river per year. Best launch windows (June–July) take 5+ years to win for desirable dates. The cancellation list opens after the lottery and is the realistic path for shoulder-season trips.
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Commercial trips available
Roughly 10,000 people float the Middle Fork annually. Multiple licensed outfitters run guided 6-day fly-in trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Middle Fork Rapid Transit
Middle Fork guided and fly-in expeditions
Rocky Mountain River Tours
Middle Fork Salmon multi-day commercial trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.