Challis Bridge to Deer Gulch
Idaho – US
- Class
- II
- Length
- 23 Mile(s)
- Put-in elevation
- 4,989 Feet
- Typical season
- March to October
Current Flow
1,730 CFS
Gauge height: 2.79 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
▲ 2.50/hr (12h) ▲ 1.25/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- SALMON RIVER AT SALMON ID Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 800 |
| Average | 2,500 |
| Maximum | 7,000 |
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
From Challis bridge the land flattens out some for the next few miles and the river diverges into several channels. This makes for some good exploring and fishing through this small valley. The river through this section also contains a large amount of private land. Be respectful and only access the river at appropriate access points.
Even though the river is calm and mainly class II water you have navigation and debris issues through this section.
Rapids
No rapids added yet.
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Challis Bridge Access | 4,989 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | See access description here. |
| Put-In | Pennal Gulch | 4,874 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | A small access road heads over to the river on the west side or (river left). This is good access for fishing and hunting and smaller craft access on the river. |
| Put-In | Watts Bridge Access | 4,731 Feet | Yes | No | Yes | All Vehicles | This is on river left on the downstream side of the Highway 93 bridge. This area has camping, picnic tables, restrooms and good fishing access. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challis Hot Springs Campground | Yes | No | This is a paid campground with full services. Bonus is the hot springs here. |
| Cottonwood Campground | Yes | No | This is a fee campground accessible by vehicle just off of Highway 95. Some access to the river is available here as well as decent bank fishing. |
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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