middle-fork-salmon

Middle Fork Salmon River is a river in Idaho. It is a fork of Salmon River.

It ranks #6 among the 28 waters of Idaho in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called Middle Fork, Salmon River, Middle Fork and Middle Fork of the Salmon.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and bull trout.

USGS GNIS record: 386841.

Cache Bar (access). It is launchable. ROW: 'the takeout at Cache Bar'. Downstream end of the Middle Fork trip.

It is upstream of Middle Fork and Main Salmon Confluence.

It is downstream of Impassable Canyon.

Indian Creek (access). It is launchable. ROW: 'our put-in at Indian Creek' (about 4,600 ft).

It is on the stretch Boundary Creek to Indian Creek.

It is downstream of Boundary Creek.

Boundary Creek (access). It is launchable. Head of the 23-mile Boundary-to-Indian section (ROW). ROW does not itself say it is a launch.

It is on the stretch Boundary Creek to Indian Creek.

It is upstream of Indian Creek.

Boundary Creek to Indian Creek (stretch). It is fishable and launchable. ROW: 'the first 23 miles from Boundary Creek to Indian Creek' -- low water in most years, so the trip puts in at Indian Creek.

It is upstream of Impassable Canyon.

Impassable Canyon (stretch). It is fishable. ROW: 'the beginning of Impassable Canyon' is reached at Survey Camp; Earl Parrott, the 'Hermit of Impassable Canyon', had a cabin on the river.

It is downstream of Boundary Creek to Indian Creek.

Middle Fork and Main Salmon Confluence (confluence). 'the Middle Fork's confluence with the Main Salmon' (ROW). Also recorded on the Salmon River.

Flying B Ranch (feature). Named in ROW's Haystack Rapid description; a ranch on the river. Tenure not stated.

Haystack Rapid (feature). 'Haystack Rapid just below the Flying B Ranch' (ROW).

Hospital Bar (feature). 'the hot spring at Hospital Bar' (ROW). Position not stated.

Survey Camp (feature). ROW: 'Once we reach Survey Camp ... the beginning of Impassable Canyon'.

It is on the stretch Impassable Canyon.

Tappan Falls (feature). 'the Tappan rapids and exciting Tappan Falls' (ROW). Also called Tappan Rapids.

Veil Falls (feature). Hiked after lunch on Day 5 of ROW's trip. Position not stated.

Waterfall Creek (feature). Tributary named on Day 5 of ROW's trip. Position not stated.

Float: Boundary Creek to Indian Creek, from Boundary Creek to Indian Creek, 23 miles.

Float: Indian Creek to Cache Bar (guided float), from Indian Creek to Cache Bar.

Sourced from 1 independent fly site.

Sources: cdn.orvis.com (retrieved 2026-10-20), rowadventures.com and stanleycc.org.

Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.