Salmon
6 - Corn Creek to Carey Creek(The Main Salmon)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 80 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Permit | Permits are required year-round for individuals wishing to float the Wild section of the Salmon River, which extends from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. The lottery control season extends from June 20 through September 7. Application due January 31. No more than eight float boat parties are allowed to launch each day. Outside the lottery season, the number of launches is unlimited, but a trip permit is required before launching. A maximum of 30 people is allowed per group. |
| Gauge | Salmon River at White Bird Id |
| Flow Rate as of 34 minutes | 42800 cfsabove recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 1, 2026 |
River Description
The Main Salmon is a classic Idaho multi-day whitewater trip that usually takes paddlers 6-7 days to traverse. The 78-mile run begins several miles downstream of the Middle Fork Salmon confluence at a launch site called Corn Creek. Most paddlers end their trip at Carey Creek, upstream of Riggins, Idaho. In between is some outstanding whitewater and scenery. Camping is typically on big sand beaches or campsites nestled among ponderosa pines. The scenery is a mix of cliffs, canyon grasslands, and lush tributary valleys. There are many great side hike options to pictographs, a hot spring, overlooks, and up side-streams (several of which can be paddled).
The river is drop-pool, with a nice mix of rapids ranging from Class I to Class III+/IV- at moderate flows. The rapids are almost always characterized by large clean wave trains, and the more difficult rapids throw a hole or rock in the mix that require dodging. As flows drop into late July/August, you'll see many skilled rowers out on the river with their kids. At higher flows, the river packs bigger punch with flipping a raft more possible in more places.
There are some good river map books and apps that can be bought to help navigate the river and keep track of camps and hiking options. Note that some older books will fail to mention Black Creek Rapid, which formed in 2011 and backs water up to Salmon Falls. It is one of the more powerful rapids on the run.
A lottery-based permit is required to paddle the Main Salmon in the primary recreation season. Even though the Main Salmon flows through designated Wilderness and is a Wild and Scenic River, you will see some jet boats and a few ranches. At times the jet boat traffic can be pretty intense. With this said the Main Salmon remains a wild place and a beautiful river. The shuttle is epic, and many groups choose to hire a company to take their car to the take-out.
Corn Creek Launch Site Hydrograph (link broken)
River Features
Corn Creek Boat Ramp
Launch point for trips on the Main Salmon with a river office staffed during the boating season to issue permits and conduct gear checks. A large concrete ramp provides space for trips to launch but please keep your gear contained. An adjacent campground with 18 sites has a toilet and water and is the standard meeting point for trips who typically rig the day before launch and stay in the campground. The campground does get busy.
Killum Rapid
Gunbarrel Rapid
Horsecreek Rapid
Legend Creek Pictographs
Ranier Rapid
Alder Creek Rapid
Lantz Rapid
Named for Frank Lantz, a Forest Service Ranger who lived here form 1925 to 1971. There are several camps in this area.
Devils Teeth Rapid
Little Devils Teeth Rapid
Blackadar Camp
Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RR):
45.466800, -114.954383
Salmon Falls
The formation of Black Creek Rapid in 2011 backed up a pool that has submerged Salmon Falls.
Black Creek Falls
A debris flow from Black Creek in April 2011 created this rapid.
Sabe Creek Rapids
Hot Springs Pool
This hot spring on river left has a masonry-walled tub. At lower water you will find a small beach that disappears at higher flows. The tub is accessed by climbing up the rocks. Coordinates for the tub are: 45.507650, -115.035917.
Barth Rapid
Hancock Rapid
Hancock Camp
Hancock Camp is on river left below its namesake rapid.
Masies Rapid
Magpie Creek Camp
Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RL):
45.548600, -115.154117
Bailey Rapid
Allison Ranch Rapid
Sapp Creek Rapid
Five Mile Rapid
Split Rock Rapid
Stinker Rapid
Yellow Pine Bar - Private Ranch
Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RR):
45.542417, -115.250283
Big Mallard Rapid
Little Mallard Rapid
Elkhorn Rapid
One huge boulder in the middle and smaller boulder throughout. You can run to either side of the larger boulder at the top depending on flows and your preferred line. The rapid continues on downstream for a ways with run out that includes smaller boulders to avoid. A scout on the left is possible.
Elkhorn - Big Rock
Midstream boulder in the run out of Elkhorn that is inconsequential at low water but forms a feature to be avoided at higher flows.
Growler Rapid
Jim Moore Camp
Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RR):
45.484967, -115.342617
Whiplash Rapid
Reed Creek Rapid
China Bar Rapid
rapid
Big Blowout Creek Rapid
Boise Bar Rapid
Fivemile Bar - Buckskin Bill Homestead
Site of the homested of Sylvan Hart, otherwise known as Buckskin Bill. The site features an eclectic collection of structures, including the gun tower that looks out over the river, and a small museum of his possessions (tools, knives, and firearms). A small store has some basic supplies including drinks, snacks, and ice cream.
Jackson Bar Rapid
Ludwig Rapid
Mann Creek Rapid
Mann Creek Camp
Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RL):
45.394650, -115.588150
Warren Creek Rapid
James Ranch Rapid
Petes Rock Rapid
Campbells Rock Rapid
Polly Bemis Ranch - Private
Polly Bemis Ranch https://www.pollybemis.com/ is private ranch with recreational and social facilities avaiable to members with membership capped at 100. Bruce Bradshaw gives the coordinates (RL): 45.433767, -115.667900
Bull Creek Rapid
Cottontail Rapid
Can Opener Rapid
T Bone Creek Rapid
Little Growler Rapid
Dried Meat Rapid
Chittam Rapid Rapid
Vinegar Creek Boat Ramp
This access is at the end of County Road 1514. There are 3 ramps at this site but it sees a significant amount of jet boat traffic and more limited parking making the Carey Creek access just downstream the primary access site for river runners.
Vinegar Creek Rapid
During higher flows this rapid is washed out. During lower flows numerous holes and rocks appear. River mile 111.9.
Carey Falls (aka Gold Hole)
This rapid has a popular hole for kayakers. River mile 110.2
Carey Creek Boat Ramp
This access is a popular alternative take-out for the Main Salmon and a put-in for trips on the roadside run down to Riggins. The site has a large parking area and paved ramps providing easy access to the river. It is located at river mile 109.8.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe picked up a cancellation permit for the Main Salmon and did a 5 night 6 day trip from Vinegar Creek to Carey Creek with a group of 4 families. We launched on August 25th and took out on August 30th. Flows varied between 4400 cfs and 4700 cfs on the White Bird gage. We enjoyed big sandy beaches and lots of swimming in the river. We camped at Upper Devils Teeth Camp, Sandy Hole Camp, Reed Creek Camp, Rabbit Creek Camp, and Johnson Creek Camp.
'Why use the gage at Whitebird? The Main Salmon run normally is from Corn Cr. to Carey Cr. Whitebird is many miles downstream of Carey Cr. There is a gage at Shoup, ID that is below Corn Cr. and above Carey Cr. i.e. in the actual run itself. Wouldn't this be more representative of the flows to expect' -----
Actually the Shoup gauge is a ways upsteam of the Corn Creek launch. To get a better representation of the flow at Corn Cr add the gauges Middle Fork Salmon near Shoup and the Main Salmon near Shoup. That'll give you a good view of the water near the put in. Some people use the Whitebird gauge because it's closer to the flows you'll see near the take out. Pull the Little Salmon flows out of Whitebird and you get a fair representation of what's going on with all the side creeks dumping into the Main Salmon above Riggins and the take out. Typically Whitebird is about double the flow at Corn Creek.
Just for clarification - the Shoup gauge is about 25 miles above Corn Creek.
Why use the gage at Whitebird? The Main Salmon run normally is from Corn Cr. to Carey Cr. Whitebird is many miles downstream of Carey Cr. There is a gage at Shoup, ID that is below Corn Cr. and above Carey Cr. i.e. in the actual run itself. Wouldn't this be more representative of the flows to expect?
new online whitewater guide for idaho and montana area paddling - check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com
his is 13 year-old Rose running part one of Elkhorn Rapid on the Main Salmon.
Thirteen year-old Rose running part one of Elkhorn Rapid on the Main Salmon.
Keith runs Bailey in his IK
This is 13 year old Rose Hodges running the jet boat slot in Salmon Falls. She has just recovered from a roll.
This is 13 year old Rose Hodges running the jet boat slot in Salmon Falls. She has just recovered from a roll.
16 Year-Old Rachael runs her first Class III.
waypoints
45.369183, -114.686433, 46.4M, Corn Creek, RR
45.418600, -114.868517, 57.2M, Lantz Bar, RR
45.466800, -114.954383, 63.4M, Blackadar, RR
45.507650, -115.035917, 69.0M, Hot springs pool, RL
45.548600, -115.154117, 76.1M, Magpie Creek, RL
45.542417, -115.250283, 82.6M, Yellow Pine Bar, RR
45.484967, -115.342617, 89.0M, Jim Moore, RR
45.413150, -115.467800, 99.1M, Fivemile Bar, RL
45.394650, -115.588150, 107.2M, Mann Creek, RL
45.433767, -115.667900, 112.5M, Polly Bemis, RL
45.453250, -115.946100, 127.6M, Carey Creek, RL
Big water in a big canyon.
Scene in the upper part of the Main Salmon.