Salmon River - East Fork to Challis Bridge

Description

This is another excellent fishing section. If you like catching steelheads, get your drift boat or fishing raft out and go crazy on this 20 miles stretch. There are several put in and take out options to shorten or lengthen the run.

Not much as far as rapids here. Keep an eye out for sweepers, wood jams (in spring) and rocks. Overall this is a great class II stretch with great scenery. The river turns north at East Fork as it makes it's way to North Fork.

Mt Borah, tallest peak in Idaho, is not far from Challis. If you are in the area it is worth heading over there and looking at the fault line crack left from an earthquake not long ago.

Statistics

Author
Class	II
Current Flow	2490.0 CFS 05-01-2024 15:00 View River Forecast
Recommended Flow	Minimum: 600.0 Average: 2000.0 Maximum: 8000.0
Typical Season	Begins: March Ends: October
Recommended Use	Kayaking: Yes Rafting: Yes Canoeing: Yes SUP: Yes Packrafting: No Fishing: Yes
Primary Gauge	SALMON RIVER AT SALMON ID
Length	20.0 Mile(s)
Gradient	18.5 FPM

Type	Name	Description	Camping?	Water?	Boat Ramp?	Vehicle Access
Put-In	East Fork Access	See access info here.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Deadman Hole Access	This is a primitive access area with dispersed camping. If you are wanting to fish from the banks or do a little wading, this is a good area.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Bayhorse Access and Camps	This is a nice area with paid camping and spots for trailers or RV's.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Challis Bridge	On the south side of the Highway 93 bridge is the Challis Bridge take out. This is mainly an access point and day access to the river. No camping here.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles

Rapid Name	Description	Class	Recommended Flow
Challis Rock Garden	Once you cross under the bridge the river picks up some. There are more rock features to navigate around. Canoeists and Drift boaters need to be on their toes more here. This can also be a good place for beginning kayakers to practice their eddy outs and ins.	II	Minimum: 6000.0 Maximum:
Diversion Dam	Stay river left here as the diversion dam is on the right.	II	Minimum: 6000.0 Maximum:
Diversion Dam	Stay river right here as the diversion dam is on river left.	II	Minimum: 6000.0 Maximum:

Camp Name	Description	Fee?	Beach?
Below East Fork Camp	An open area just on the downstream side of the bend on river left.	No	No
Rattlesnake Creek Camp	A nice sand bar offers open camping at the mouth of Rattlesnake creek on river left.	No	Yes
Island Camp	There are a couple of islands on the river bend. The biggest has decent camping but isn't very shady.	No	No

Salmon River - East Fork to Challis Bridge

Idaho-US

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