For those who prefer warmer climates than the North Pole’s -40 degree temperature or who don’t have a desire to take their family into Polar Bear roaming territory, Idaho’s famous Frank Church Wilderness Area is worth considering. The wilderness area, or “The Frank” as it is commonly referred to, covers 2.2 million acres of pristine wilderness area. Within the region are thousands of springs (both hot and cold), countless wildlife (elk, black bear, and moose), and – perhaps the greatest attraction of all – America’s best river trip: the Middle Fork of the Salmon.

The Middle Fork of the Salmon is a 100-mile stretch of river that begins its journey high in the alpine range and ends at the confluence with the Main Salmon River. Stemming from cold springs, mountain lakes, and the purest snow melt, the Middle Fork is nationally recognized as a superb fishery with amazingly clear water and beautiful cutthroat trout.

A trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon is more than just a check-off on your bucket list. Those who find themselves floating through the Middle Fork canyon are often lulled back year after year. It is a place that defines the word solitude – in it’s truest form – and provides one of America’s few examples of pure, rugged, unaltered, natural beauty. It is a place that leaves impressions, but one that has not been impressed upon. Rather, its visitors leave with a new appreciation or renewed sense of life after their 100-mile float through the Franks proudest work of art.

Solitude River Trips offers six-day rafting and fly fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Owned and operated by river veterans Al and Jeana Bukowsky, their trips, like the river they operate on, are top-notch and true classics. Using an outfitter like Solitude makes an experience down the Middle Fork of the Salmon even more rewarding. Their hospitality, genuine love for the river, experience, and gourmet camp cooking makes it easy to absorb the Middle Fork canyon without worries.

On a select number of their trips, Solitude offers an option to stay at one or both of the Middle Fork’s two remote wilderness lodges. The Middle Fork Lodge, located roughly one third of the way down the river, is typically a first or second night on the river. The Flying B Ranch is located roughly two thirds of the way through the journey. Both lodges are located on the banks of the river and provide a comfortable way to spend a night in the Idaho wilderness.

For more information about rafting or fly fishing on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon, contact Al and Jeana of Solitude River Trips at 1-800-396-1776 or visit them online at www.RiverTrips.com.

It is these moments that, in Idaho, come frequently but leave one speechless. It is difficult to find words that describe the beauty of Idaho. Fortunately, photographer Matt Leidecker, takes the work out of finding those perfect words. His images of Idaho capture the states incredible beauty perfectly. Living in Sun Valley, Matt is in an ideal location to capture some of Idaho’s most beautiful places.

The Middle Fork of the Salmon, which is a popular multi-day rafting trip that takes visitors 100 miles from start to finish, is where Matt first began his photography career. Working as a river guide he considered the canyon a secondary place to call “home”. An avid adventurer, he loved to explore new hikes and found many scenic views over-looking the river.  He currently has two publications about the Middle Fork of the Salmon: a guidebook and a photo journal called “Impassable Canyon”. Both are tributes to the enormous amount of knowledge of this area Matt has obtained through his continuous exploration of the river canyon.

Below: Matt exploring a high-country lake in the Sawtooths.

Off the river, Matt is well known for capturing fabulous shots of the nearby Sawtooth Mountains as well as various peaks around the Sun Valley area. When he’s not photographing the natural landscapes of Idaho, Matt is often hired as a wedding photographer. He’s currently working on a new comprehensive guidebook to the Sawtooth Mountains that should be out by July 1, 2012.

For those floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon make sure you pick up a copy of Matt’s guidebook to the river canyon. It’s available at Riverwear in Stanley and also online at Matt’s website, www.mattlphoto.com. He can also be reached at 208-720-4712 or matt@mattlphoto.com.

Solitude's Sweep Boat

Sweep boats are unlike any other inflatable raft you might see anywhere else. Ranging in length from 22 to 26 feet and with tube diameters of over 30 inches, these boats are behemoths compared to most other personal crafts used to float rivers. Due to their size, sweep boats can carry a massive amount of gear and are used as camp boats that go ahead of the group to set up camp for the night.

Sweep boats have a storied history on both the Middle Fork of the Salmon and Main Salmon Rivers. The first sweep boats were not inflatable but made of wood. Wood sweep boats are commonly referred to as “scows” and are upwards of 36 feet in length.  In the early days, these boats were used to transport supplies from the town of Salmon to Riggins, roughly 200 miles downstream. Once in Riggins, the boats were disassembled because there was no way to transport such a large craft. Hence, the Main Salmon earned the nickname “the river of no return” because the boats would never return to the river after being disassembled.

A Wooden Sweep Boat "Scow"

On the Middle Fork of the Salmon sweep boats have been used to transport materials and goods to the few private lodges and resorts along the river. One of the most famous cargo loads was that of a VW Bus which was taken to the Flying ‘B’ Ranch by sweep boat driver Don Smith. Being in the Frank Church Wilderness Area, ranches and private residences have limited choices when it comes to transportation methods, especially for large and precious cargo (roads are not permitted within a Wilderness Area). A sweep boat, coupled with an experienced “driver”, is capable of providing a safe and economical form of transportation for sites located along the banks of the river.

Today sweep boats allow outfitters to provide a fabulous experience for clients floating on the Middle Fork. Without these big boats outfitters would not be able to carry the gourmet food, deluxe camping equipment, and all the extra stuff that has earned many Middle Fork outfitters glamorous reputations. For more information about rafting or fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon visit Solitude River Trips online or call them at (800) 396-1776.

The dam and the power plant were constructed in May of 1910. Power from the plant was utilized by the Sunbeam Consolidated Gold Mines Company at their mine and mill located 13 miles up the Yankee Fork at Jordan Creek. It didn’t last long, just 11 months, before the company realized their upside-down venture and the power plant and dam were sold at a Sheriff’s Auction in April of 1911.

In 1934 the dam was partially blown up. There are various reports with broad discrepancies outlining the details of how the dam eventually met its demise. One report, from the then-former governor of Idaho, Cecil Andrus, states “a party or parties unknown ran a dynamite-laden raft into Sunbeam Dam.” Another report reads, “In 1910, miners built Sunbeam Dam on the Salmon River east of Stanley, cutting off the sockeye’s migration route. They were thought to have gone extinct in the 1920s. But the fish reappeared in 1931 after sportsmen blew a hole in Sunbeam Dam.”

Those who stop at Sunbeam Dam will find another theory behind the cause of the gaping hole in the dam. A sign at the historic overlook says this:

“The dam’s fish ladders eventually fell into disrepair. Idaho Fish and Game then contracted the blasting of the bank next to the dam to allow fish passage in 1934.”

Regardless of how the dam was blown up there are two things we know are true: Sockeye Salmon have one less obstacle to contend with on their trek to Redfish Lake and whitewater rafters on this stretch of river sure have a unique rapid to navigate.

River Shuttles for the Middle Fork of the Salmon

For most individuals, driving a vehicle from the put-in to the take-out of most rivers is a simple task. Not in Idaho. The Middle Fork of the Salmon flows through the largest wilderness area in the Lower 48. This Wilderness Area, known as the “Frank Church”, offers protections to the land and river that have left the landscape free and clear of roads. Driving around the wilderness area, from the put in at Boundary Creek to take-out at Cache Bar takes nearly six hours (one way) and involves going up and over mountain ridges, a few hours on dirt roads, and traveling through the towns of Stanley, Clayton, Challis, Salmon, and North Fork.

River Shuttles, based out of Salmon, Idaho, is a shuttle service that eliminates this headache from your trip. They can provide shuttles drivers, vans, and even a bus to make your river trip shuttle a breeze. As you enjoy America’s premier wilderness river trip they will work to ensure your vehicle makes it from point “A” to point “B”.

Contacting River Shuttles:

Call them at 1-800-831-8942
Email them at shuttles@centurytel.net
Find them online at www.RiverShuttles.com

The River Company, based out of Stanley, offers first-class day trips in the Stanley area for families and thrill-seekers alike. Their most popular option, the all-day lunch trip, takes you through rapids such as Piece of Cake and The Narrows. While on the river, you will float by singer/songwriter Carol King’s wilderness ranch, have the opportunity to jump into a deep pool at Jump Rock, and enjoy a delicious lunch at a beautiful riverside camp.

Whitewater rafting on the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho

Looking for some “Snorty Whitewater”? From late May through June, The River Company offers a Class IV trip that adds eight river miles and three additional class IV rapids to the standard Class III rafting trip.

The River Company’s professional guide staff will share with you the many secrets of the river, including information about wildlife, salmon, local lore and history, and much more. Kids will surely enjoy their arsenal of funny jokes and you may be lucky enough to catch one of the guides doing a back flip off of a jump rock.

From the moment you arrive at The River Company’s headquarters on Highway 21 in Stanley, Idaho, you will be treated like a cherished guest. Guests from four years old to eighty-four years old are welcome on most trips, with the exception being spring high-water Class IV trips. For more information about rafting in Stanley and the various trip options go to www.TheRiverCompany.com or call them at 1-800-398-0346.