Middle Fork of the Salmon: 5-star, All-inclusive, Adventure Resort

Just floating through Idaho's legendary River of No Return Wilderness

Photo: Todd Corey

The invite for this 6-day multi-day river gem came from a stranger. Of course, if you are a kayaker it doesn't take long to find a connection and realize that you knew each other all along. Mike sent me a message in hopes of adding another female to round-out the crew for a friend's Middle Fork of the Salmon river trip. Since it is just wrong to pass this opportunity up, I was in.

2 ft snow launch into Marsh Creek, Photo by Todd Corey

Three months later I pulled into Salmon, ID to meet up with the group of southeastern boaters who I assumed would be great people, as I had only ever met one before.

The cold air and snowy forest floor made me throw in a few more layers as I jammed my food and camp equipment in the back of my Green Boat. As we packed, another group of guys pull-up to launch. Seemingly strangers as well, it didn't take long to make the connections between mutual Montana friends and suddenly I was now boating with 12 new people. It just kept getting better.

Marsh Creek, keeping warm with Hamms, Photo by Todd Corey

Marsh Creek was low, but it didn't last long. Snow pelting in the face was annoying, but it eventually subsided. Hands were going numb, but they still worked. This was about the extent of our troubles during the whole trip, and they only lasted for a few hours.

Days passed watching herds of elk traverse the mountainside. Afternoons were spent hiking up to see ancient pictographs on the canyon walls. Mostly, time just stopped and we continued to ride the river.

My "tent," also known as "Green Boat Lean-to." Works like a dream. Photo by Nate Galbreath

With so many rivers located in amazing wilderness in this country, it isn't hard to organize a multi-day river trip that will amaze you. However, the Middle Fork is in its own class because of the incredible hot springs.

The first hot spring. No time to take off dry-suits, must get warm. Plus they make for good flotation. Photo by Todd Corey

Every night but one we filled our stomaches with food from heaven then lounged in nature's hot tubs till the whiskey ran out. There were tiered, shallow pools with a built-in shower at Sunflower campground and deep, hot and large tubs at Loon Creek.

Supposedly built by Chinese workers, the hot spring at Look Creek was deep, warm and luxurious, Photo by Nate Galbreath

It was like we stumbled upon a 5-star, all-inclusive, adventure resort in the middle of paradise.

Luck was good with putting some great people all on one river trip. Lofty, Andy and Dick to name a few. Photo by Dick Lewan

The whole crew at the take-out