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THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE

MIDDLE FORK RIVER EXPEDITIONS SPOKANE SEATTLE NATIONAL PARK

BOISE TO CHICAGO

RENO COEUR SALT D’ALENE LAKE DENVER

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Travel to Stanley A

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E WEST YELLOWSTONE H YELLOWSTONE Commericial air service is available to McCALL T NATIONAL F O PARK K R 93 FO Boise from all major cities. Stanley is easily E CHALLIS L

D 95 ID reached by car or air taxi from Boise, Hailey 55 M MT. BORAH (Sun ), or West Yellowstone. STANLEY 20 21 Stanley is 130 road miles from Boise, 61 28 TETON NATIONAL PARK miles from Sun Valley and 305 miles from SUN VALLEY CRATERS KETCHUM OF THE MOON BOISE NATIONAL West Yellowstone. MONUMENT 93 FALLS 84 MTN. HOME BIRDS MIXED FOREST OF PREY NATURAL AREA POCATELLO SEMI-ARID GRASSLAND

WILDERNESS AREA TWIN FALLS

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LEWIS & CLARK OUTBOUND ROUTE MILES 84 THE RIVER RUNS WILD AND FREE Raft Idaho’s Legendary Middle Fork-Salmon River Experience Spectacular Wilderness.

The river beckons. Escape to an unhurried atmosphere of natural beauty. Explore a part of primitive America as it once was and still is. This is country that offers you both adventure and solitude. Discover lasting friendships around warm campfires. Come to the Idaho wilderness for a vacation you won’t find anywhere else in the world: a raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

dirt streets and log buildings dating to a charming rustic resort lodge at the the turn of the century. Here, the lake offers homestyle dining. IT imposing Sawtooth Mountains spiral Ever see a ghost? You can when you skyward, casting their wild and jutting visit the old ghost town of Custer. A ALL shadows across Stanley Basin and designated historic site with museum . and abandoned gold dredge to explore, STARTS Surrounded by 360 degree picture- you can still see the original blacksmith book scenery, you’ll find a variety of shop, saloon, and bawdy house. natural and man-made wonders. Here Just over the hill from Stanley lies IN is the perfect place to begin and end world-famous Sun Valley, with your Middle Fork vacation. championship golf and tennis, STANLEY, Commercial air service is available boutiques and fine European cuisine. through Boise or Hailey, connecting Yellowstone and Glacier National to Stanley via rental car or air taxi to Parks, Jackson Hole and the Tetons, IDAHO the town’s convenient airstrip. Hell’s Canyon – They’re all in this neck And if you’re looking for nightlife, of the woods and would make a great Your river adventure begins in a high get out your dancing shoes. Every night stop either before or after your Middle mountain meadow in the old west of the week you can hear cowboy boots Fork vacation. town of Stanley, Idaho, population 69. and tennis shoes clattering, pounding This area was discovered in 1822 by and shuffling across the dance floor as Begin Your Adventure an expedition of trappers from the people do the “Stanley Stomp.” Folks at Road’s End Hudson’s Bay Company and visited sure know how to have fun in Stanley! When a raft trip begins on the Middle later by mountain men and prospectors There’s more… Fork it can truly be said that “the road looking for the mother lode. It remains ends here.” Rafting the river is the best today a picturesque frontier town of Sights and Sidetrips access to this magnificent wilderness A Middle fork vacation provides much retreat as the Middle Fork cuts a deep more than the excitement of the river. swath through the mountainous terrain. It offers you a land rich in history. Beginning at the crisp-aired elevation From cascading whitewater to soul healing riverside campfire, your vacation on the Come and live the experience of of 5,700 feet, the Middle Fork of the Middle Fork of the Salmon has something another time, another place. Salmon rushes and tumbles for more for everyone. An old miners’ cabin and Indian pictographs stir the imagination. , five miles from Stanley, than 100 miles through the heart of Spectacular waterfalls and scenic mountain has long been renowned for its the famed Idaho wilderness. The rafts lakes are you reward for exploring the Sawtooth Mountains and the Stanley Basin spectacular beauty and as a mecca for push off at Boundary Creek, 40 miles -- before or after your river trip. water sports. Enjoy fine fishing, water northwest of Stanley. Here begins your skiing, even wind surfing. In addition, white-water adventure. EXPLORE THE WILDERNESS The Middle Fork is surrounded by the On the river’s upper end, the forest is largest in the lower 48 thick with Douglas fir and lodgepole . states, the 2.4 million-acre - Downriver, majestic ponderosa tower River of No Return Wilderness. Brushing to staggering heights. Other principal shoulders to the north and northwest are species include quaking aspen, narrowleaf the Selway-Bitterroot and Gospel Hump cottonwood and Englemann spruce. As wilderness areas, encompassing more than the river loses elevation, the landscape 3.7 million acres – America’s finest changes. Mountain mahogany, bitterbrush unspoiled treasure. and sagebrush appear, and suddenly you It’s not unusual to spot and find yourself in a high desert environment. in this vast wilderness. And If geology’s your passion, Impassable if you have a keen eye, you might even Canyon will surely impress you. Not only sight a shy bob-cat or the shaggy recluse is the canyon a half mile deeper than the of the river, the . Playful Grand Canyon, but its steep and craggy river otter will amuse you as they bob up granite walls make it virtually impassable and down in the river’s riffles. Birds, too, – except by raft. abound. Overhead majestic eagles soar, and belted kingfishers, western tanagers Wild and Free…Forever! and mountain bluebirds line the riverbanks. Congress has designated the Middle In summer, the alpine meadows come Fork as a “Wild and Scenic River,” ablaze with a stunning carpet of ensuring that it will remain forever as it wildflowers. Indian paintbrush, elephant is now – clean, wild and free. No dams, heads, lupine and shooting stars burst forth roads or pollution. The Middle Fork offers to cover nature’s finest canvas. only the best of Mother Nature’s work. The Middle Fork truly defies Power boats are not allowed on this classification. It cannot be called an alpine, river because of its wild and scenic nor a semi-arid or desert river as it drops designation. The U.S. Forest Service issues 2,700 feet in elevation during the 100 a limited number of use permits to assure mile trip. It’s all of these – and more – that the river and the campsites along its rolled into one twisting free flowing river banks will not be overcrowded and that plunges through the Idaho wilderness, overused. Nothing is allowed to spoil the rushing to the sea. land – or your experience. “A lot of state, this Idaho, that I didn’t know about.” –Ernest Hemingway, 1939

The Middle Fork carves its path through the Boise, Challis, Payette and Salmon national forests. With an average drop of 27 feet per mile and more than 100 rapids, the Middle Fork boasts the finest combination of thrilling whitewater, extraordinary scenery, varied history and abundant wildlife of any river in America. Middle Fork rapids are rated 1 to 4 on a scale of 1 to 6. You’ll ride these rapids with the aid of experienced, professional, licensed guides. In your state-of-the-art whitewater raft, you’ll float Velvet Falls, Pistol Creek, Haystack, Redside and Rubber rapids. When water level permits you can enjoy our paddle raft or single inflatable kayaks. You will come to understand why the Middle Fork attracts adventure enthusiasts from around the globe – there’s no finer all- around whitewater wilderness experience to be found.

As the river eases you away from everyday problems, enjoy the abundant wildlife and fragrant wildflowers. Settle in. Join the group in fun activities or explore your surroundings in solitude. You will be surprised that all this relaxation makes you so hungry. Go ahead. Have a second helping.

LIVE THE RIVER’S RICH HISTORY Fishing? It’s blue ribbon and just one each year as the water warms in spring the early morning breakfast feast. Eggs, more feature that’s made the Middle they move back up the length of the bacon, pancakes, fresh fruit – here in Fork famous! Fisherman, both fly and Middle Fork. Dolly Varden and the wilderness? You bet! spin cast, have long savored the also inhabit the river in After breakfast, you walk upstream, memory of landing a Middle Fork great numbers. sit on a rock at river’s edge, and trout. Nothing fights like a Middle Fork daydream for awhile, enjoying the Middle Fork fish are natives – there rainbow, and cutthroat the size of a solitude. There’s no rush here, no traffic isn’t a planter in the bunch. Chinook grown man’s forearm are often jams or phones or big city hassles. Most salmon and steelhead return from the conquered after a lengthy and days you have the leisure of a late Pacific Ocean to spawn in the river exhilarating battle. You should see that morning departure. Enjoy the and its tributaries, (making the longest fly rod bend! unhurried pace. up-stream trip in the lower 48). The The river’s management plan dictates Just before lunch, your raft pulls to westslope cutthroat trout is a special a “catch-and-release” policy, where live the riverbank and you investigate an strain that has adapted to the unique bait and barbed hooks are not allowed. old claim. After your guide habitat of the Middle Fork. Known This ensures that the Middle Fork relates the mine’s colorful story, you locally as “redsides” because of the remains a blue-ribbon fishery where scramble down the trail to scout the brilliant red slashes on their lower jaw, fish are liable to jump at just about rapid around the bend. Back in the the cutthroat spawn primarily in the anything thrown to them. boat you cheer the boatman’s skill as river’s tributaries and migrate seasonally he maneuvers you safely through the each year. They winter in the warmer “River Time” rapids, and feel a camaraderie with your waters of the Main Salmon or the lower Slow yourself down to river trip new-found friends. reaches of Impassable Canyon, and speed. Adjust to “river time.” You You turn around and watch the awaken to the sun, the river’s melodic paddle boat shooting the rapid. sound, and mule deer nibbling the Everyone wields a paddle and a smile, dew-covered grass not more than 20 with the guide steering at the stern. It feet away from you. Poking your head looks like fun. Later, as you wade slowly outside the tent, the deer looks through a second deli sandwich at Between stretches of whitewater, get out at you, startled, then glides across the lunch, you decide you’ll give it a try your fishing gear. Middle Fork trout aren’t meadow. tomorrow. bashful. Another hot springs soak will ease your weary fishing arm. Idyllic vistas, new The scent of coffee fills the air, rich At this night’s campground, your understandings, cherished memories and and full. Smoke curls its way from the guides serve a gourmet meal from the more are yours when you explore the magnificent Idaho wilderness. campfire where several guides begin heavy, black Dutch ovens. You can’t believe your appetite! Food is fresh, outside the tent; above you, the plentiful, and superb. Three-course twinkling, heavens hold stars brighter meals bring mouth-watering fare the that you’ve ever seen. As you doze off, likes of crisp salads, fresh vegetables, the crickets chirp, the river sings, and juicy steaks, and home-baked desserts. you wonder “Why haven’t I done this After dinner, while some are recording sooner?” the scenery and each other’s antics on Come with us and discover the camera, you steal away from the group, majesty of Idaho’s unspoiled wilderness hike up the creek and tie into a gigantic and the beauty and rich history of the cutthroat that nearly wears out your middle Fork of the Salmon River. A arm. chance to get reacquainted with Later you enjoy a soak at the hot yourself, your family, and an springs and make a faraway world even opportunity to make new friends in more distant. Back at the inviting the great Idaho outdoors – that’s all campfire, you and your friends part of the middle Fork experience. alternate songs and tall tales into the Here is the vacation of your life just night. waiting to happen. Join us! When you bed down this evening, sleep comes as a gift at the end of a full day. Tonight, you decide to lie

MIDDLE FORK RIVER EXPEDTIONS Owners: Pat and Jean Ridle PO Box 199 Stanley, Idaho 83278 1-800-801-5146 THE MIDDLE FORK TO SALMON OF THE SALMON CACHE BAR - TAKE OUT RIVER 3000’ ELVE.

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A S PAPOOSE PEAK DEVIL’S TOOTH RAPID E

H T F O K R PARROTT’S CABIN RUBBER RAPID FO E L

D ID M PAPOOSE CREEK MT. McGUIRE 10,052’ ELVE. STANLEY WEBER RAPID CLIFFSIDE RAPID REDSIDE RAPID SHIP ISLAND LAKE BAR SHIP ISLAND CREEK BIG CREEK WATERFALL CREEK RAPID

MIDDLE FORK PEAK - 9120’ ELVE GRASSY FLAT RAPID

FLYING B RANCH HAYSTACK RAPID BEAR CREEK MTN. - 8629’ ELEV.

BIG BALDY MTN. - 9722’ ELEV. CAMAS CREEK ELEVATION 4000’ TAPPAN FALLS HOSPITAL BAR HOT SPRINGS LOON CREEK HOT SPRINGS INDIAN CREEK AIRSTRIP LOON CREEK PT. PISTOL CREEK WHITE COX HOT SPRINGS PISTOL CREEK RAPID HOOD RANCH HOT SPRINGS SUNFLOWER HOT SPRINGS MARBLE CREEK RAPID SHEEPEATER HOT SPRINGS MIDDLE FORK LODGE JOE BUMP CABIN RAPID RIVER POWERHOUSE RAPID LOON CREEK

ELEVATION 5000’ VELVET FALLS BIG SOLDIER MTN. - 8984’ ELVE.

BOUNDARY CREEK LAUNCH SITE 5700’ ELVE.

TO STANLEY Middle Fork River Expeditions With Middle Fork River Expeditions you’ll enjoy the best river running the West has to offer. We are bonded and licensed recreation professionals, known for our friendly, personalized service. We provided a first-class adventure with true western hospitality. Share our warm campfire and riverside feasts. You are welcome here. We provide more unbashed fun than anyone! Enjoy gourmet cuisine, blue ribbon fishing, oar & paddle boats and inflatable kayaks, ancient Indian caves, hot springs, mountain scenery, and good jokes -- all in an unspoiled wilderness setting on a free-flowing “Wild and Scenic River.” We promise an adventure to exceed your expectations, one that you will remember long after you return to your daily routine. Escape and share our thrills, our laughs, our quiet Middle Fork River Expedtions moments. Find your way to this special place PO Box 199 – the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Stanley, Idaho 83278 Idaho. 1-800-801-5146 Join us for the time of your life!