Lower Salmon
Get notified when the Lower Salmon guidebook is available for download on the FarOut app with offline navigation, photos, and lifetime updates.
Salmon River, Idaho
lower Salmon River Rafting Guide
Huge, sandy beaches. Pool-drop rapids, big eddies to swim in, and no permits required make the Lower Salmon a great choice for a multi-day trip.
4.8★★★★★ 23K+ Reviews
Our Lower Salmon guide will be available soon for download & offline navigation on the FarOut app!
Please add your name to be added to the interest list and we will email you once it’s released.
Flows
The gauge to review is the Salmon River Gauge at White Bird, Idaho. This gauge is located just upstream from Hammer Creek. A link to that gauge is located here.
Being a free-flowing river, the Lower Salmon will see substantial flow variance throughout the year. The BLM does not recommend boating the Lower Salmon at flows at or above 20,000 CFS.
Permits
A self-issue permit is required below Hammer Bar. Additionally, crafts will need an Idaho Invasive Species Sticker and a Washington State Discover Pass for parking at Heller Bar.
Self issue permits can be found online or at White Bird Gravel Pit, Hammer Creek, Pine Bar, Graves/Rock Creek, or the BLM office in Cottonwood.
Because of the self-issue permit, and the attributes of the Lower Salmon as a multi-day trip, this river has become very popular. If you’re looking to avoid crowds, consider a trip that doesn’t fall on the weekend and to plan going before mid-July and after mid-August.
Ask a River Ranger Video
The BLM has created a helpful video called “Ask a River Ranger: Lower Salmon Edition” which we suggest watching as you do your Lower Salmon river research. That video is linked here.
Hammer bar to heller bar – Class II, III, & IV
75 beautiful miles of Class II and III rapids with beach camping and warm water. This section of the Lower Salmon requires a self-issue permit.
Mile 0 – Hammer Bar Put-in
River Left. Hammer Bar is the most commonly used put-in for the Lower Salmon River.
Mile 0.5 – Rollercoaster Rapid
Class II. Rollercoaster is a read-and-run rapid, with a long set of fun waves.
Mile 0.8 – Trespass
River Left. Trespass is a medium-large camp on river left.
Mile 1.0 – Trepass II
River Left. Large camp with some steep areas.
Mile 1.1 – Trespass III
River Left. Large campsite with some overgrowth.
Mile 2 – Apricot Bar
River Left. Large beach capable of holding large groups.
Mile 2.5 – Big Rock
River Left. Aptly named after the Big Rock in the middle of the campsite. Medium to large site.
Mile 2.7 – Lower Big Rock
River Left. Just below Big Rock campsite, this beach is a bit smaller and has some growth scattered in it.
Mile 2.9 – End Lyons Bar
River Right. Some swift water makes stopping here challenging during high water, make sure to pull into the eddy near the top of the site. Medium to large beach camp
Mile 3.3 – Upper Coffee Grinder
River Left. Upper Coffee Grinder is a large camp.
Mile 3.5 – Coffee Grinder
River Left. Coffee Grinder is a very large camp capable of holding large groups.
Mile 3.6 – Lower Coffee Grinder
River Left. Lower Coffee Grinder is a large campsite.
Mile 4 – Bigfoot Island
Class II. Bigfoot Island can be run on either side of the island. River right tends to be a bit shallower and getting stuck on rocks during low water is very easy. River left has a steep chute that has large fun waves. Small heads up, there is a rock wall to avoid on river left.
Mile 4.5 – Swallows Beach
River Left. Swallows Beach is a medium to large beach shortly after Big Foot Island.
Mile 5.1 – Xmas Tree
River Left. Xmas Tree is a small to medium campsite with a somewhat steep entrance.
Mile 5.6 – Bat Cave
River Right. Medium to large site. As this camp is on the eastern side of the river sun stays later into the night, but comes up much later in the morning.
Mile 5.9 – Sandpiper
River Left. Sandpiper Camp is a medium to large camp
Mile 6.1 – Toads
River Right. Medium-sized camp with a large rock on the downstream side.
Mile 6.4 – Across From Schwartz
River Right. Small to medium beach that is long but not very wide.
Mile 6.5 – Upper Schwartz
River Left. Medium campsite with a tree near the center that can provide shade that is not commonly found on the river during the summer months.
Mile 6.7 – Schwartz Bar
River Left. Schwartz Bar is the final large campsite before entering Green Canyon. Remnants of mining activity can be seen in the rock near here.
Mile 6.8 – Schwartz Eddy
River Left. If Schwartz Bar is occupied, Schwartz Eddy Camp just downstream is a medium beach with a large eddy that makes access easy.
Mile 7.1 – Pictograph Beach
River Left. Medium to large beach with some shady spots and many rocks littering the ground.
Mile 7.3 – Upper Green Canyon Rapid
Class II. Upper Green Canyon rapid is an S-turn that likes to force you into a large rock face on the right. When the water is high, this rapid can be a significant trap. Work left throughout this rapid.
Mile 7.6 – Lower Green Canyon Rapid
Class II. Lower Green Canyon forms a fun wavetrain during high water. At low water, watch out for rocks and holes, which require some maneuvering to avoid.
Mile 8.0 – Wright Way Rapid
Class III. Wright Way is a sharp drop with large waves. The current will push you towards a wall near the bottom river left, which can be avoided by pushing towards the right. However, there is a strong eddy on the right to be avoided. At the end of the rapid, enjoy a fun sequence of Class II waves.
Mile 8.2 – Unnamed Rapid
Class II. Below Wright Way is an unnamed riffle, mostly of note if you would like to camp at Green Canyon Camp, which lies just downstream of this riffle on the left-hand side.
Mile 8.3 – Green Canyon Camp
River Left. Large campsite directly after a long string of class II rapids, make sure to catch the eddy.
Mile 8.6 – Demon Camp
River Left. Demon Camp is a medium to large camp. Don’t let the name fool you, this is a pretty nice camp at most flows.
Mile 8.8 – Lower Demon Camp
River Left. Lower Demon is the final campsite before Demon’s Drop Rapid. Depending on timing, Lower Demon also makes for a great rest or lunch spot. Capable of holding small to medium groups but the camp itself is steep.
Mile 8.9 – Demon’s Drop Rapid
Class III. At certain flows, Demon’s Drop has some large, curling waves. For the most part, it is read-and-run, but watch out for a large, center hole that shows up during some flows.
Mile 10.0 – Pine Bar Camp
River Left. Camp directly before Pine Bar access ramp. Large and capable of holding medium to large groups.
Mile 10.1 – Pine Bar Rapid
Class III. Pine Bar is a Steep rock garden. During low water this rapid is difficult. Can be run left or right of the island, with left requiring more maneuvering and for the river left oar to be shipped to avoid hitting a rock wall.
Mile 10.4 – Bob’s Hole Camp
River Left. Bob’s Hole is opposite to Pine Bar Recreation Site which lies just downstream and is a well-used river access point.
Mile 10.6 – Pine Bar Recreation Site
River Right. Pine Bar Recreation Site is a BLM-managed river access point, and it gets a good amount of use. A self-issued (free) permit is required for trips between July 1st and Labor Day. Be courteous to other parties if you are stopping here/putting in here.
Mile 11.2 – Lone Pine Riffle
Class II. Above Upper Lone Pine Camp is a small, read-and-run rapid.
Mile 11.4 – Upper Lone Pine
River Left. Large camp with lots of flat ground.
Mile 11.7 – Lower Lone Pine
River Left. Large camp that has some overgrowth. Pull in just above the small rapid going near the tall rock wall.
Mile 12.4 – Miller’s Beach Camp
River Right. Miller’s Beach is also used as a boat launch, please do not block access to the river.
Mile 12.4 – Across from Miller’s
River Left. Overgrown beach that’s good for small groups.
Mile 13.7 – Rock Creek Confluence
River Right. Rock Creek enters the Salmon River from the right-hand side.
Mile 13.8 – Rock Creek Rapid
Class II. Rock Creek Rapid is a long string of small, fun waves. Be mindful of the current wanting to take you into a wall river right near the bottom.
Mile 14.9 – The Maze
Class II. Many shallow rocks in this area. Motor usage becomes impossible in low water! Use caution to not get stuck on rocks. It is recommended to pass the bridge river left of the center pier.
Mile 15.0 – Maze Camp
River Right. This is a nice low-water camp, on the right-hand side. It is located in the middle of The Maze, keep that in mind as you pick your route through this rapid. During high water, this camp is typically submerged.
Mile 15.1 – Rice Creek
River Left. Rice Creek enters the Salmon River from the left-hand side.
Mile 15.1 – Rice Creek Bridge
Rice Creek Bridge passes overhead. It is generally recommended to pass this bridge to the left of the center pier.
Mile 15.5 – Taylor’s Waves
Class II. As the river bends to the left, there are some fun waves in this straightforward rapid.
Mile 16.0 – Taylor Beach
River Left. This large beach is also used as an undeveloped boat launch. Popular with jet boats, please do not block access.
Mile 16.1 – American Bar
River Right. Small/Medium beach opposite an undeveloped boat launch. Great lunch spot!
Mile 18.3 – Wikiup Creek Camp
River Left. Well-shaded medium camp, which can be nice during the summer months. During low water, there are many exposed rocks, making this camp easier to get into during high water.
Mile 18.4 – Wikiup North Camp
River Right. During low water, getting to this camp can be very steep, creating some challenges when carrying heavy items uphill. During high water, this is a great camp for medium-sized groups.
Mile 18.5 – Wikiup Rapid
Class II. Wikiup Rapid is a read-and-run rapid.
Mile 18.9 – Upper Dem Bones
River Right. Large Camp with some overgrowth.
Mile 19.1 – Lower Dem Bones
River Right. Large campsite with a nice eddy.
Mile 19.2 – Killer Goat Beach
River Right. Very large beach with plenty of room for a large group. This campsite is often occupied by various outfitters, please be courteous to other groups as you pass by.
Mile 19.3 – Packer’s Creek Rapid
Class II. The entrance to Cougar Canyon is marked by Packer’s Creek Rapid. Read-and-run, but be mindful of the current pushing you toward a rock wall on the right-hand side.
Mile 19.4 – Packer’s Creek Confluence
River Right. Packer’s Creek enters the Salmon River on the right-hand side. Upper Packer’s Creek Camp is located on the downstream end of the alluvial fan created by Packer’s Creek.
Mile 19.5 – Upper Packer’s Creek Camp
River Right. Medium/Large Beach right below Packer’s Creek. This campsite marks the start of Cougar Canyon.
Mile 19.6 – Lower Packer’s Creek Camp
River Right. The second of two camps near Packer’s Creek. Medium camp with a good eddy.
Mile 19.7 – Cougar Canyon Rapid
Class II. The first rapid of Cougar Canyon is a long, fun wavetrain with a small hole on the left. In low water, there are many shallow rocks. Cougar Canyon is well-known for its unique geological formations. Serpentine is present in many of the rocks in the section, giving some of the metamorphic rocks a beautiful green.
Mile 21.4 – No Name Camp
River Left. Small camp with easy access during high water.
Mile 21.5 – Cliff Rapid
Class II. Cliff Rapid is a read-and-run rapid, with Osprey Camp on your left-hand side.
Mile 21.6 – Osprey Camp
River Left. Large camp near the Cliff Rapid wave. Great camp for those with small boats to play around with.
Mile 21.9 – Pipeline Rapid
Class II. Pipeline is a sequence of two short Class II rapids. There is a large cliff on river left, and great camping on river right.
Mile 21.9 – Upper Pipeline Camp
River Right. Upper Pipeline is a medium camp, that gets smaller and smaller as flows come up. It is not typically used during high water.
Mile 22.0 – Lower Pipeline Camp
River Right. This is a large camp with a great eddy. Nice groover spot tucked between two rock walls downstream of camp at low water. Invasive Cockle Burr runs rampant at this camp, make sure to not spread invasive species.
Mile 23.4 – Lorna’s Lulu Rapid
Class II. Lorna’s Lulu is a short rapid. At high water strong current wants to pull you river right into a wall, at lower flows current isn’t as strong but still pushes towards the wall. In general, work left to avoid getting pushed into the wall on the right.
Mile 23.5 – Lorna’s Lulu Camp
River Left. Large beach with an upstream and downstream entrance. The upstream entrance is rocky. The lower pull-in below 7000 cfs is very rocky.
Mile 24.5 – Bunghole Rapid
Class II. Bunghole Rapid has large, fun waves at high water which diminish as flows come down. Keep your eyes peeled for a hippo-shaped rock that can be spotted on river left.
Mile 24.7 – Lower Bunghole Rapid
Class II. Lower Bunghole Rapid has some fun waves that get bigger at low water.
Mile 25.1 – Upper Whitehouse Camp
River Right. Upper Whitehouse Camp is a very large beach with the ability to hold multiple groups. Low water entrance can be a bit rocky.
Mile 25.3 – Lower Whitehouse Camp
River Right. Great eddy for entrance. The beach is large and connected to Upper Whitehouse. These are the last large campsites before Snowhole.
Mile 25.5 – Above Onion Camp
River Right. A small beach that makes for a great low-water campsite.
Mile 25.9 – Harm’s Hole/Onion Ring Rapid
Class II. A large rock creates a big hole river right. Best to avoid, which can be accomplished by running river left. At some water levels, the hole is level with the horizon line until very close. Tip: If splashing water is seen without a wave to accompany it, it is best to avoid it.
Mile 26.0 – Harm’s Hole Camp
River Right. This is a good-sized camp right after the Onion Ring.
Mile 26.8 – Bodacious Bounce Rapid
Class III. Large, fun wave train. Watch for exposed rocks and holes at low water. BLM recommends scouting below 4,000 CFS which can be done either on the right or left.
Mile 27.5 – Half and Half Rapid
Class III. Half-and-Half has a big rock in the center towards the bottom half of this rapid. There are numerous rocks and holes in this rapid, and it is worth a scout on the right-hand side.
Mile 27.7 – Half and Half Camp
River Left. Half and Half Camp is just below the rapid. It can be tricky to make it over to this camp, especially during high water.
Mile 28.6 – The Gobbler Rapid
Class II. The Gobbler is a short, fun rapid.
Mile 29.5 – Snowhole Beach
River Right. Small/Medium camp that has a good eddy. Last camp before Snowhole.
Mile 29.5 – Snowhole Scout
River Left. Eddy out river left to scout Snowhole rapid. Eddy is large, but the current pushes past it at higher flows, so stay on your toes.
Mile 29.6 – Snowhole Rapid
Class IV. Snowhole is worth scouting on the left side at all flows. In general, enter right, then work towards the center. Be mindful of a flat-faced rock on the far right in the second half of this rapid, aim to pass to the left of this rock. The left side of this rapid is not recommended in a raft, as there are several very large boulders, creating a significant flip/wrap hazard.
Mile 30.4 – Whale Rock
River Right. Large beach with a slow entrance and lots of room. Very little shade and can get very hot while the sun is still high in the sky. If you had carnage at Snowhole, this is a great option to recoup and dry out. The Lower Salmon River begins a huge horseshoe bend here. You are currently headed North. By the time you reach China Rapid in a few miles, the river will be headed south!
Mile 30.7- Otter Poop Rapid
Class II. Otter Poop Rapid is read-and-run.
Mile 30.8 – Otter Poop Camp
River Right. Otter Poop Camp is a medium/large sandy beach.
Mile 30.8 – Opposite Otter Poop
River Left. Opposite Otter Poop is a small beach, which is more often used as a lunch spot but could be a camp for smaller parties. There is a small Class II riffle just downstream of this camp/lunch spot.
Mile 32.3 – Deep Creek Beach
River Right. Deep Creek Beach is a medium-sized camp. It is best during low water, as it often is submerged during high flows.
Mile 32.7 – Upper Maloney Camp
River Right. This is a rocky, overgrown campsite good for small groups or a nice lunch spot.
Mile 32.8 – Middle Maloney Camp
River Right. Middle Maloney Camp is a large beach.
Mile 33.0 – Maloney Rapid
Class II. There is a very straightforward rapid in between Middle and Lower Maloney Camps.
Mile 33.0 – Lower Maloney Camp
River Right. Large beach with a good eddy right after the small Class II Rapid.
Mile 33.6 – Below Maloney Camp
River Left. This small/medium camp gets smaller as the flows come up. Good lunch spot or camp for a smaller crew.
Mile 34.1 – China Scout
River Left. This is a good eddy to stop and scout China Rapid.
Mile 34.2 – China Rapid
Class III-IV. China Rapid is a longer rapid, with some big features, depending on the flows. The right side of China Rapid is very rocky, most boaters enter close to the left shore and stay close to the left shore throughout the whole rapid. At the top of the rapid, there is a cluster of huge boulders, go left of these, which will set you up well to avoid the numerous rocks/holes on the right side. At lower flows (<4,500 CFS) there is a large rock at the bottom left, which can be passed on the left or right. This becomes a pour over/hole depending on flows.
Mile 36.8 – Billy Creek Rapid
Class II. Billy Creek Rapid is a read-and-run rapid, with a fun wavetrain. Downstream on the right-hand side, you will see Upper Billy Creek Camp. Billy Creek enters on the left-hand side as you enter the rapid.
Mile 37.1 – Upper Billy Creek Camp
River Right. Very large beach with plenty of room for large groups.
Mile 37.2 – Middle Billy Creek
River Right. Large beach with a good eddy, often used by outfitters.
Mile 37.3 – Tire Eddy Camp
River Left. Medium/Large beach with an easy entrance.
Mile 37.6 – Lower Billy Creek Rapid
Class II. Lower Billy Creek Rapid is a fun rapid, with waves on the left side.
Mile 37.8 – Lower Billy Creek Camp
River Right. Medium/large beach with a good eddy directly after the class II rapid. During low water rocks can create a sporty entrance.
Mile 38.2 – Cottonwood Creek Confluence
River Left. Cottonwood Creek enters the Salmon River. On the downstream side of the alluvial fan, there is a small/medium beach, which can be used as a lunch spot or a camp for smaller parties.
Mile 38.2 – Cottonwood Creek Camp
River Left. Cottonwood Creek Camp is a small/medium beach with some overgrowth and rocks. Makes a great lunch spot or camp for smaller groups.
Mile 38.3 – Cottonwood Creek Rapid
Class II. Cottonwood Creek Rapid is a read-and-run rapid. There is a nice camp on the left, just after this rapid, keep this in mind as you enter this rapid.
Mile 38.3 – Cottonwood Creek Eddy Camp
River Left. Large beach with a good eddy. Some shade in the summer.
Mile 39.25 – Joe Public
River Right. Large beach directly below a very large house. The downstream side of the beach is used as an unofficial docking point for the homeowner’s jet boat, please keep area clear.
Mile 39.4- Deer creek confluence
River Right. Deer Creek is a small creek entering the Salmon River on the right-hand side, making a nice, sandy beach camp
Mile 39.5 – Deer Creek Camp
River Right. Deer Creek Camp is a medium beach.
Mile 39.6 – Across Deer Creek Camp
River Left. Across Deer Creek is a medium/large beach.
Mile 39.6 – Eagle Creek Rapid
Class III. Eagle Creek Rapid is a fun, read-and-run Class III rapid. There are some sweet waves to enjoy, and some obvious holes to avoid. There are numerous large campsites downstream of Eagle Creek Rapid.
Mile 40.4 – Eagle Camp
River Right. Large beach with ATV access.
Mile 40.6 – Eagle II
River RightLarge beach, ATVs can often be seen here.
Mile 41.0 – Growler Camp
River Left. Growler Camp is a large beach.
Mile 42.1 – China Creek Camp
River Right. A large beach with a significant amount of overgrown brush.This is one 4 camps above China Creek Rapid.
Mile 42.3 – Eagle’s Nest Camp
River Left. Large beach with a tall singular tree.
Mile 42.4 – High Sierra Beach Camp
River Right. High Sierra Beach is a large beach camp.
Mile 42.4 – Hay Cache Bar
River Left. Medium campsite that gets smaller and smaller as flows come up.
Mile 42.6 – China Creek Rapid
Class II. An island forms in the center of the river, giving boaters a choice of left or right runs. The left side has a decent-sized hole which is easily avoided. The right side is a bit more straightforward, so pick your poison.
Mile 42.8 – China South Camp
River Right. Wide, shallow beach that can host a medium sized group.
Mile 43.2 – Upper Skeleton Creek Camp
River Right. Small beach with some brush. Just downstream lies Skeleton Creek Rapid, which is a Class II rapid.
Mile 43.3 – Skeleton Creek Rapid
Class II. Skeleton Creek Rapid has some big, fun waves, be sure to hit them straight. Middle Skeleton Creek Camp is on the left side, and is one of the few camps on the Lower Salmon offering shade.
Mile 43.4 – Middle Skeleton Creek Camp
River Left. Large beach, make sure to enter the eddy right after Skeleton Creek Rapid. There is shade here, which can be a bit of a rarity during the summer months.
Mile 43.6 – Skeleton Creek Camp
River Left. Skeleton Creek Camp is a large beach, which becomes smaller as the flows rise.
Mile 44.7 – Upper Wapshilla Camp
River Left. Large beach is great for bigger groups.
Mile 45.1 – Wapshilla Rapid
Class II. Wapshilla Rapid gets shallow at low flows, requiring some delicate maneuvering to avoid getting stuck. Be mindful of your oars here, it would be a bad spot to pop/break an oar. At higher flows, keep an eye out for some holes, but the main hazard is the wall on the bottom left. Work away from this wall, and all will be well.
Mile 45.3 – Lower Wapshilla Camp
River Left. Large beach with some rocks at the shore. Great eddy for entrance.
Mile 45.5 – Steep Beach
River Right. Small/Medium campsite with a steep ramp at low water. This camp is best at higher flows.
Mile 46.0 – Birch Creek Camp
River Left. Medium Campsite with some amazing views of Rattlesnake Ridge.
Mile 47.6 – Flynn Creek Rapid
Class II. Flynn Creek Rapid is a fun rapid, which marks the beginning of Blue Canyon.
Mile 47.9 – S Turn Rapid
Class III. S-Turn is a long, fun wavetrain. At low water, a large hole forms near the center of the river, which we recommend avoiding.
Mile 48.7 – Cowhead Camp
River Left. Wide beach capable of holding large groups during low water. During high water this camp becomes quite small
Mile 49.0 – Red Tail Camp
River Left. Red Tail is a medium/large campsite.
Mile 49.2 – Slide Beach Camp
River Left. Medium/Large campsite with a good eddy and some rocks framing the beach itself. This is the last camp above Slide Rapid. If flows are very high, Slide Rapid becomes quite formidable. The BLM recommends against running this rapid above 20,000 CFS, as a river-wide V wave forms.
Mile 49.7 – Slide Rapid
Class II (V). Slide Rapid is one of those rapids that illustrates the difference between high water and low water. Above 20,000 CFS, all of the current in the river is careening into a humongous V wave. Odds of making it through this feature in a raft are decent at best. Unfortunately, it is also difficult to scout. It is not recommended to run this rapid if flows are above 20,000 CFS. As flows drop, this rapid gets smaller and smaller, eventually becoming a read-and-run riffle.
Mile 49.9 – H-Hole Rapid
Class II. H-Hole is a set of small, fun drops. Watch for rocks at low water.
Mile 50.9 – Sluicebox Rapid
Class III. Sluicebox is a long, fun wavetrain. Be sure to hit them straight.
Mile 52.2 – Checkerboard Rapid
Class II-III. Checkboard Rapid has a number of fun waves, but be mindful of rocks towards the bottom of the rapid. This rapid is read-and-run at most flows. If you plan on camping at Many Bedrooms, it will be on your left, be sure not to miss camp.
Mile 52.5 – Eye of the Needle Rapid
Class III. Enter right-of-center to avoid a rock on the left, then work left to stay off the wall on the right side. Be sure to hit any waves head-on.
Mile 53.3 – Confluence of the Salmon and Snake River
The Salmon River joins the Snake River, which is one of the major tributaries to the mighty Columbia River. From this point until China Garden Rapid, Oregon will be on river left and Idaho will be on river right. Important: River flows on the Snake River are controlled by dams, which are subject to change at any point, and without notice. BLM recommends all boaters to tie off boats and leave gear away from the waterline to avoid any unnecessary loss of gear.
Mile 53.4 – Salmon River Falls
Class II. Immediately downstream of the confluence with the Snake River is a read-and-run rapid. There are camps on both the right and left just below this rapid.
Mile 53.7 – Salmon Bar Camp
River Left. On the inside of a big left-hand turn in the river, there is a nice camp on the left.
Mile 53.8 – Salmon Falls Beach
River Right. A medium/large sandy beach is on the right-hand side, just below an island in the river. This camp is also known as “Chicago” for the big, windy city.
Mile 53.9 – Mr Peanut
Look up on the Oregon side ridge for an interesting rock formation. Some say it looks like Mr Peanut playing the Piano.
Mile 55.6 – Cave Cove
River Left. Large Campsite that features a shallow cave in the wall behind the campsite.
Mile 56.6 – Cherry Creek
River Left. Cherry Creek enters the Snake River on the left side, there is a small waterfall here.
Mile 56.9 – Frenchy Creek Rapid
Class II. Frenchy Creek Rapid is a long, fun wavetrain. Read and run, and enjoy.
Mile 57.1 – Upper Geneva Bar
River Left. Very large campsite. Often occupied by outfitters.
Mile 57.2 – Lower Geneva Bar
River Left. Just downstream of Upper Geneva, this is another large beach that outfitters can often be spotted staying at.
Mile 57.8 – Taco Bell Beach
River Left. Taco Bell Beach is a large beach on the right.
Mile 58.4 – Cook Creek Confluence
River Left. Cook Creek enters the Snake River from the left side. There is a nice camp just downstream
Mile 59.0 – Sentinel Rock Camp
River Left. Medium/Large campsite with a great eddy.
Mile 59.6 – Jim Creek Camp
River Left. Jim Creek is a large campsite. Jim Creek itself enters the Snake River on the downstream side of the camp.
Mile 59.8 – Lower Jim Creek Camp
River Left. Large Campsite.
Mile 60.0 – Across the meat Camp
River Left. An interestingly named campsite. Large campsite.
Mile 60.1 – Meat Hole Camp
River Right. Possibly an even worse name. Large campsite with a strong eddy near the bottom.
Mile 60.8 – Upper Cottonwood Camp
River Right. Large campsite with a singular tree right in the center.
Mile 60.9 – Cottonwood Creek Confluence
River Right. Cottonwood Creek enters the Lower Salmon from the right-hand side. There are nice campsites just upstream and downstream of this not-so-major confluence.
Mile 61.0 – Lower Cottonwood Camp
River Right. Large campsite just below Cottonwood Creek
Mile 62.1 – Across from Upper Cougar
River Left. Large beach opposite Upper Cougar.
Mile 62.1 – Upper Cougar Camp
River Right. Upper Cougar Camp is a large campsite.
Mile 63.6 – Little Cougar Creek Rapid
Class II. The river splits into a left and right channel. The most fun line is on the right side of the island. It is a fun read-and-run section, working to avoid rocks/holes depending on the flows.
Mile 64.5 – Upper Cache Creek Camp
River Left. Upper Cache Creek Camp is a large beach just upstream of Cache Creek Ranch.
Mile 65.1 – Cache Creek Ranch
River Left. Cache Creek Ranch is worth a stop. There is a cool museum/interpretive site, boat ramp, and toilets.
Mile 66 – Upper China Garden
River Right. Upper China Garden is a large camp close to some private homes. Be courteous if you choose to camp in Upper China Garden or China Garden just downstream .
Mile 66.1 – China Garden Camp
River Right. Large campsite close to some private homes.
Mile 66.1 – China Garden Rapid
Class III. Enter China Garden Rapid on the left. Watch for rocks near the bottom of this rapid. As you exit the rapid, say hello to the state of Washington, which will be on river left for the remainder of your journey. Idaho remains on river right.
Mile 66.5 – Lower China Garden
River Right. This large beach becomes smaller during high flows.
Mile 67.9 – Shovel Creek Rapid
Class III. Shovel Creek has a medium-sized wavetrain, but keep your eyes peeled for holes and rocks throughout the rapid.
Mile 69.4 – Wild Goose Rapid
Class III. Wild Goose Rapid is a good time. Stay left of the large island, and hold on through some great wave action in this splashy read-and-run rapid.
Mile 69.9 – Deer Head Rapid
Class II. Deer Head is a great, read-and-run rapid, with fun waves.
Mile 72.9 – Limekiln Rapid
Class II. Limekiln is the final rapid of the Lower Salmon (Snake). There are a couple of shallow sections on the left side of this rapids. Stay right for a fun end to the whitewater.
Mile 73.9 – Grande Ronde River Confluence
River Left. The Grande Ronde River enters the Snake on the left-hand side. This is another great river for whitewater. Just downstream lies the takeout at Heller Bar.
Mile 74.3 – Heller Bar Takeout
River Left. Heller Bar Takeout has a paved boat ramp and bathrooms. It is well-maintained. As always, please be courteous to other boaters who are putting in or taking out at this oft-used river access point. Important: Any vehicles parked at or using the water access site at Heller Bar on the Snake River must have a Washington State Discover Pass. This pass allows for access to recreation lands managed by the State of Washington.