Sunbeam Run (Stanley to Sunbeam Dam)
Idaho – US
- Class
- III- to III+
- Length
- 13 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 22.7 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 6,220 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 5,925 Feet
- Typical season
- April to October
Current Flow
1,010 CFS
Gauge height: 3.23 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- SALMON RIVER BL YANKEE FORK NR CLAYTON ID Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 600 |
| Average | 2,500 |
| Maximum | 6,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The section of the Salmon from Stanley down to where the old Sunbeam Dam headwall used to sit is known as the Sunbeam Run. At one time a good portion of this run was a lake until the dam was destroyed. The Salmon has returned to a free flowing river here but remnants of the dam remain.
This is a popular class III run and is enjoyed by all variety of craft. In late season condition you'll find inner tubers enjoying this stretch as well. Many anglers frequent this area due to awesome fishing so be considerate of wading fishermen and give them a wide berth as you float by.
Highway 75 follows the river so setting up shuttles or scouting features can easily be done. Stanley has a wide variety of services at your disposal from gas and groceries to lodging. The hardcore river rats will opt out for the abundant camping in the vicinity of Stanley.
The first few miles from Stanley down to Mormon Bend are generally class I to II swift water offering great scenery and fishing. Below Mormon Bend the river picks up as it enters into a canyon with several riffles and named rapids down to the take out.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mormon Riffle | II to II+ | 2,500–— | Just below the Mormon Bend access and campground is a small riffle. Straight forward. |
Read and run |
| 2 | Rough Creek Riffle | II to II+ | 6,000–— | Some class II water just upstream of the rough creek bridge. |
Read and run |
| 3 | Shotgun Rapid | III+ to IV | 6,000–— | This is one of the biggest rapids on the upper stretches of the Salmon. The river narrows on this straight away and creates some nice drops. At high flows this rapid is a solid IV. Lower flows take some of the bite out of its bark. Recommend scouting to pick your line. |
You can scout and portage (if you like) easily on river left where the highway is. |
| 4 | Sunbeam Rapid | III to IV- | 6,000–— | Where the old dam was and removed is another good sized rapid for the upper stretches of the Salmon. This drop is shorter than Shotgun rapid. Sunbeam is a funnel style rapid. Get your momentum up and punch it. |
Can be souted on river left but the banks are steeper here. Most read and run. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Stanley Putin | 6,220 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | See here for more info. |
| Put-In | 4 Aces Creek | 6,185 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | This area is a couple miles down river of Stanley. It is generally used by anglers. You could walk a kayak on or off the river here though. No ramp or raft access. |
| Put-In | Mormon Bend | 6,101 Feet | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Vehicles | This is a nice access site and also has camping. For those wanting to get more rapids in they can put in here and skip some of the flatter water above here. This is a good fishing access spot as well. The ramp is on river left just around the bend. If you are taking out here make sure to be on your toes so you don't miss it. Eddy access at the ramp isn't the best. |
| Take-Out | Yankee Fork Access | 5,925 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Just below the sunbeam dam site the road has a pulloff and a primitive ramp you can use for access. There is not a large parking or staging area here. You could use the dam overlook site for that if needs be. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp | Yes | No | This camp is mainly accessible by vehicle. Some of the spots are right on the river and could be used to launch smaller craft. |
| Casino Creek Camp | No | No | This camp is on river right and has a little more privacy than the other camps on this stretch. This camp is still accessible by car though. Kayak or IK launch or take out is possible here. |
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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