| Middle Fork Salmon River | |
| Map: | Middle Fork Salmon River Watershed.png |
| Map Size: | 240 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA#Idaho |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States##Location of the mouth in Idaho |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Idaho |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.4492°N -115.2308°W |
| Mouth: | Salmon River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.2972°N -114.5933°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 3015feet |
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a 104adj=midNaNadj=mid river in central Idaho in the northwestern United States.[1] It is a tributary to the Salmon River, and lies in the center of the 2.5e6acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area.
The middle fork is an exceptionally popular and difficult whitewater rafting and kayaking destination.[2] Given Federal protection in 1980, the wilderness area it lies within is part of the largest roadless tract left in the lower 48 states.[3] [4]
The Middle Fork is a heavily whitewatered 104adj=midNaNadj=mid tributary of the Salmon River, the main tributary of the Snake River, which in turn is the main tributary to the Columbia River. The nearest town is Stanley to the southeast. The Middle Fork's elevation starts at above sea level and drops down to at its mouth. The 47adj=midNaNadj=mid Bear Valley Creek and Marsh Creek converge to form the Middle Fork.[5] The Middle Fork has around a hundred tributaries; some of the larger are Rapid River, Loon Creek and Camas Creek, all from 20to in length. The Middle Fork flows through 2500sqmi of rugged terrain known as the Salmon River Mountains, peaks of which reach .[6]
A permit is required to travel down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, which can be obtained through the Four Rivers Lottery and Permit Reservation System. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River permit season runs from May 28 - Sept. 3. Pre and the post season launches are first-come, first-served.[2] Getting a recreational permit to float the Middle Fork is notoriously difficult and is awarded through a lottery system.[7] There are a combined total of seven commercial and recreational launches a day. To become a permit holder you have to be 18 years old. The permit holder must work with a group to take care of the fees. The permit cannot be given to someone else, and the permit holder must be there at all times on the river. The permit holder must make sure that the rules, which are given by the United States Forest Service, are followed. An example would be that they must have a fire pan and some sort of portable human waste containment system (groover, WAG BAGs, etc.).[8]
The Middle Fork has three hundred raftable rapids. Some of the well-known rapids on the Middle Fork are Dagger Falls, Sulphur Slide, Velvet Falls, the Chutes, Power House, Pistol Creek, Tappan Falls, Red Side, Weber, Cliffside, Rubber, Hancock and Devil's Tooth. All but one of these are class III+ to class IV (on the scale of I to VI International scale of river difficulty classification system), with Dagger Falls being class V.[9]
The Middle Fork has six natural hot springs in the first 52miles of the river, Trail Flat, Sheepeater, Sunflower, Whitey Cox, Loon Creek and Hospital Bar. The hot springs vary in temperature and are all very popular places to stop on the river.
During his second summer in office in 1978, President Jimmy Carter and his family vacationed in the West in the latter half of August, which began with a three-day, 70miles float trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Interior Secretary Cecil Andrus, the former (and future) governor of Idaho, was also in the party, joined by his family.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]