The Best River Trip in the World

Earlier this week when National Geographic came out with news that the Middle Fork of the Salmon had been ranked the third best whitewater river trip in the world we were ecstatic – but not surprised. We’d been saying this for decades. What did surprise us, however, was how long it took for the Middle Fork to gain some attention.

When we first started outfitting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon we realized just how much the river had to offer. You can find no other river in the world that offers the type of trip the Middle Fork can. The reason? Well, a river trip that sees you dropping nearly 3,000 feet in elevation, traveling over 100 miles, with spectacular hiking opportunities, world-class trout fly fishing, and of course fun whitewater is just hard to come by. Add-in the fact that it flows through the 2.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area and you’ve got yourself the ultimate wilderness river experience.

The Middle Fork's Canyon is the most remote river canyon in the Lower 48:

A journey down the Middle Fork of the Salmon is more than just a rafting trip. It is an experience of so much more than whitewater. Those who float through the Middle Fork canyon enjoy more than the thrill of going downstream. It’s about seeing America’s most remote river canyon outside of Alaska. It’s about camping along the banks of a free-flowing river. It’s about soaking in hot springs rich with history – the same springs Native Americans soaked in, that early hunters and trappers soaked in – and enjoying it the same way they did. It’s about watching your son catch his first cutthroat trout – and then his second and third.

The Middle Fork is home to beautiful cutthroat trout:

The Middle Fork of the Salmon represents to us what the ultimate river trip is and for that we are thankful to offer our customers what we consider to be the best river trip on Earth. Join in our enthusiasm for this river and visit the Middle Fork of the Salmon in 2010.

On the Middle Fork, it's not uncommon to arrive at camp and think
"this is the most beautiful place on Earth":

Ready to learn more about the Middle Fork?

• Idaho River Journeys' Middle Fork of the Salmon page.
• Middle Fork of the Salmon fly fishing information (opens as PDF).
• Sign up for a trip down the Middle Fork.
• Read the National Geographic article about the top rivers in the world.

Best Adventure Travel Outfitter on Earth

We are pleased to announce that National Geographic Adventure has selected Idaho River Journeys to be distinguished as one of the best adventure travel outfitters on earth. The excitement of receiving this prestigious award won't wear off quickly, but we are already looking forward to capturing the award for a second time in 2010. To read the full review of Idaho & Oregon River Journeys in National Geographic, click here.

Our amazing guides are the ones who make the trips we run so incredible. They are the life and blood of our business and without them we would be any ordinary outfitter. Idaho River Journeys has always been dedicated to bringing our customers the VERY BEST in adventure travel, and we are overwhelmingly delighted to have been recognized at such a high level.

Our customers who took the online survey provided by National Geographic - thank you so much for your participation! We are looking forward to serving all of you in 2009 with big smiles, big rapids, and lifelong memories.

We're headed around the bend;
Can't wait to boat with you again!