Idaho · Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
Main Salmon River rafting trips
Every outfitter we could find on the River of No Return, side by side. Book a seat directly and skip the four rivers lottery.
4 to 6 days / 3 to 5 nightsQuick answer
Guided Main Salmon River rafting trips run 4 to 6 days, most of them 6 days and 5 nights, mostly from June into September. We found 22 outfitters running them. Booking a seat skips the four rivers lottery. The lowest listed adult rate is $1,650 per person (checked September 2026).
The route
Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar
The Wild section of the Main Salmon runs 79 miles through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, according to the Forest Service.
- Mile 0Corn CreekLaunch
- Mile 79Long Tom BarEnd of the Wild section
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
Shown for a 6 day, 5 night trip, the most common length. Nights sit between days, not at camp locations, because camps are assigned at launch. Some outfitters float past Long Tom Bar and list 81 or 87 miles.
Compare outfitters
Every Main Salmon outfitter we found, side by side
The Forest Service does not publish its Main Salmon outfitter list online; it points to the Salmon River outfitters' site, idahosalmonriver.org. This list was built from a backcountry air service's outfitter listing and each outfitter's own site, listed alphabetically.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per adult | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Whitewater Adventures | 5 days, 4 nights | Not listed | June to September | Not listed (youth rate 14 and under) | $2,2952026 rate. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Action Whitewater |
| Aggipah River Trips | 6 days, 5 nights | Raft | June to August | Not listed | $2,4506 day whitewater trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Aggipah |
| ARTA | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | May to September | 6 | $2,2996 day, 5 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
| Canyons | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Raft, inflatable kayak | June to September | Not listed | $2,7952027 rate. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Canyons |
| Hughes River Expeditions | 4 days, 3 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, inflatable kayak | Mid June to early September | Not listed | $1,9954 day, 3 night trip, June 16 to 19, 2026. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Hughes |
| Idaho River Adventures | 6 days, 5 nights | Not listed | June 21 to September 6 | Not listed | $2,3502024 rates page, the latest we found. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Idaho River Adv. |
| Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | June to August | Not listed (child rate 12 and under) | $1,650Adult rate, 2027; ranges to $1,950. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Lewis and Clark |
| Mackay Wilderness River Trips | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle board | June to September | 5 | $2,7506 day, 5 night trip; 87 miles. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Mackay |
| Momentum River Expeditions | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle board | June to mid September | 7 | $2,5006 day, 5 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Momentum |
| Mountain River Outfitters | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights, one night at China Bar Lodge | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle board | June 20 to September 10 | 7 (older May to mid June) | $2,5005 day, 4 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Mountain River |
| OARS | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, dory, inflatable kayak, paddle board | June to September | 7 (12 to 15 at high water) | $2,649Adult rate, 2027. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with OARS |
| Orange Torpedo Trips | 6 days, 5 nights | Inflatable kayak, paddle, oar | June to October | Not listed (youth rate 17 and under) | $2,3992026 rate; 81 miles. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Orange Torpedo |
| River of No Return Wilderness Outfitters | 5 days, 4 nights (June to August); 6 days, 5 nights (August and September) | Not listed | June to September | Not listed (rate for 12 and under) | $2,1005 day, 4 night trip; 6 day from $2,350. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with River of No Return |
| Rocky Mountain River Tours | 6 days, 5 nights | Raft, kayak | July to August | Not listed (child rate 6 to 18) | $2,9956 day, 5 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Rocky Mountain |
| ROW Adventures | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | June to September | 12 in June and early July; 7 after | $2,2905 day, 4 night trip, 2027. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with ROW Adventures |
| Salmon River Adventure Company | 6 days, 5 nights | Raft, kayak | Summer | 6 | $2,4996 day, 5 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Salmon River Adv. |
| SOAR Northwest | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | Late July to October | 6 | $2,7002027 rate. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with SOAR Northwest |
| Tour West | 5 night and 6 night packages, including a first night motel | Oar | June to September | Not listed | $2,0555 night package, 2026, with a Boise to Salmon flight; $2,100 in 2027. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Tour West |
| Wet Planet Whitewater | 6 days, 5 nights | Raft, inflatable kayak | June to September | 7 | $2,4952027 and 2028 rate. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Wet Planet |
| Western River Expeditions | 5 days, 4 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | June to August | 12 in June; 6 in July and August | $2,1952025 rate, the latest shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Western River |
| Wilderness River Outfitters | 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | June to September | Not listed | Prices not shown on the page we checked. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Wilderness River |
| Yellow Jacket River Guides | 5 days, 4 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | July to September | Not listed | $2,04912 person minimum; 2025 dates shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Yellow Jacket |
"Not listed" means we could not find it on the outfitter's site in September 2026. Where a site gives days only, nights are days minus one. Prices are the lowest adult rate we found on each site. Confirm when booking.
Also named on the listing we used, but not shown: Adventure Idaho, Middle Fork River Expeditions and Idaho Afloat (no Main Salmon trip details found), Idaho Adventures (short trips; section not confirmed), and lodge, jet boat and fishing operators. Missing an outfitter? Tell us.
The no lottery way in
Guided trip or private permit?
The Forest Service requires a permit to float the Wild section year round. From June 20 to September 7, private permits go through the four rivers lottery. Outfitters are authorized separately, so a guided trip skips the lottery.
No lottery
Book a guided trip
- How you get a spot
- Pick a date with one of the outfitters above and book it.
- When you can go
- Outfitters run from May into October, depending on the company.
- Trip length
- 4 days, 3 nights to 6 days, 5 nights on the trips we checked.
- Boats and food
- The outfitter brings the boats, guides, meals and camp.
Private permit
Enter the four rivers lottery
- When to apply
- December 1 to January 31.
- Results
- Emailed February 14.
- Leftovers
- Unclaimed permits open March 16 at 8 am MST.
- Trip length
- Up to 8 days for groups of 10 or fewer, less for bigger groups.
Sources: Recreation.gov Salmon River permit page, Forest Service four rivers lottery and the Forest Service Wild Main Salmon page.
On the river
What a day on a Main Salmon rafting trip looks like
ARTA puts an average day at 10 to 14 river miles, about 5 to 6 hours on the water. The rest of the day is camp, side hikes and hot springs.
- Morning
Breakfast at camp, then everything packs back onto the boats.
- Midday
Big waves and rapids, with lunch set out on a beach.
- Afternoon
A side hike, a hot spring or an old homestead on many days, then on to camp.
- Evening
Camp on the river, dinner cooked by the guides, the night in the wilderness.
What outfitters list as included
- Guides, boats and life jackets
- Meals on the river
- Tents and sleeping pads
- Transportation to and from the river
ARTA lists transportation from Salmon to the river and from the river to McCall, meals from lunch on day one to lunch on the last day, sleeping pads, two person tents and life jackets. Check each outfitter's list.
Worth checking before you book
- Sleeping bags, which not every outfitter lists
- Travel to the meeting town and home from the take out
- Flights, which Tour West includes and most do not
- Guide tips
More on camp life, meals and the toilet in river camping, and on tips in tipping your guides.
When to go
The Main Salmon rafting season
The Forest Service's lottery control season runs June 20 to September 7. Outfitters run most trips from June into September; ARTA starts in May, and Orange Torpedo and SOAR Northwest run into October.
Several outfitters set higher minimum ages in June, when the water is high, and lower them in July and August. Pick the month first, then the outfitter. See when to go rafting for how seasons compare.
Who it suits
Which Main Salmon trip fits you
Families
Look at July and August. Mackay lists a minimum age of 5, and ARTA, Salmon River Adventure Company and SOAR Northwest list 6. See family rafting trips.
First timers
Six days and five nights is the common length, and most outfitters bring inflatable kayaks to try. Mountain River Outfitters adds a night at China Bar Lodge. See river lodge trips and your first overnight rafting trip.
Paddlers
Ask for a paddle raft, an inflatable kayak or, with OARS, a dory. See dory trips and whitewater camping trips.
Questions
Main Salmon rafting trip questions
How much does a Main Salmon rafting trip cost?
On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, the lowest listed adult rate is $1,650 per person for a 6 day, 5 night trip with Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures (2027 rate). Most other 6 day, 5 night trips list from $2,299 to $2,995. Every price in the table is dated. Confirm when booking.
How long is a Main Salmon rafting trip?
Most guided trips are 6 days and 5 nights. The outfitters we checked run trips from 4 days, 3 nights to 6 days, 5 nights on the river. The Forest Service puts the Wild section at 79 miles, from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar.
Do I need a permit to raft the Main Salmon?
Not on a guided trip. The Forest Service requires a permit year round to float the Wild section, and from June 20 to September 7 private permits go through the four rivers lottery. Outfitters are authorized separately, so you book a seat directly.
What is the minimum age for a Main Salmon trip?
It depends on the outfitter and the month. On the sites we checked, Mackay lists 5 and ARTA, Salmon River Adventure Company and SOAR Northwest list 6. OARS, ROW and Western set higher minimums in June, when the water is high.
Can I stay in a lodge on a Main Salmon trip?
Mountain River Outfitters includes one night at China Bar Lodge on its Main Salmon trips. The rest of the trips we list camp on the river every night. See river lodge trips for more.
Where do Main Salmon trips start and end?
The river trip launches at Corn Creek and takes out at Long Tom Bar. ARTA meets guests in Salmon, Idaho, the evening before and ends at the McCall airport. Tour West includes a flight from Boise to Salmon in its package.
How far do you float each day?
ARTA says it floats 10 to 14 miles on an average day, about 5 to 6 hours on the water. The rest of the day goes to camp, side hikes and hot springs.
When is the best time to raft the Main Salmon?
Most outfitters run June through September. ARTA starts in May, and Orange Torpedo and SOAR Northwest run into October. Several outfitters set higher minimum ages in June, so families often pick July or August.
Can I paddle an inflatable kayak on the Main Salmon?
Yes. Most outfitters we checked bring inflatable kayaks, and Mackay, Momentum, Mountain River Outfitters and OARS also list paddle boards. OARS lists a dory option.
Main Salmon or Middle Fork?
Both are in the four rivers lottery and both run through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. On the sites we checked, Main Salmon trips list lower starting prices and lower minimum ages. See our Middle Fork page to compare.
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Related rivers and trips
- Middle Fork SalmonIt flows into the Main Salmon
- Middle Fork vs Main SalmonHow the two trips compare
- Hells CanyonAlso in the four rivers lottery
- SelwayAnother four rivers lottery river
- Idaho overnight rafting tripsEvery Idaho river in one place
- River permit lotteriesEvery lottery window in one calendar
- Week long rafting tripsFive nights or more on the river
- Family rafting tripsCompare minimum ages
- River lodge tripsA bed for some of the nights
- Outfitter directoryEvery outfitter we list, by name
- Rafting trip costHow prices compare across rivers
- Plan your tripAll planning guides
Ready to book
Pick your Main Salmon outfitter
Compare trip lengths, boats and minimum ages, then check dates directly with the outfitter.