Salmon River

The Salmon River in Idaho, known as the River of No Return, rises in the Sawtooth Mountains and winds for about 428 miles as one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the contiguous United States through the rugged heart of the state until it joins the Snake River. It traverses the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness while carving the second-deepest gorge in North America, with granite walls that in places drop deeper than the Grand Canyon and reveal dramatic scenery of alpine forests, steep canyons, and broad sandy beaches. Multi-day rafting and kayaking trips on stretches such as the Middle Fork or Main Salmon offer Class III to IV whitewater thrills, while anglers pursue trout, steelhead, and salmon, hikers and horseback riders explore remote trails, and campers rest at hot springs or under wilderness starry skies amid elk, bighorn sheep, and eagles.