LOGISTICS

TRIP DETAILS

Everything you need to know if you already booked.

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RESERVATIONS

Based on the popularity of Middle Fork trips and group limits imposed by the Forest Service, EARLY RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST! Many of our guest’s book years in advance. Please contact Grant Porter at 208-371-1712 or via email at [email protected] to discuss dates and our availability. We can tentatively hold spots, but your reservation will not be confirmed until we receive a $600 per person deposit. Deposits can be placed with Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover or by check.

Final payment is due promptly 6 months before trip departure date. Reservations made less than 90 days prior to departure require full payment. Group and private party reservations require final payment no less than 120 days prior to the trip.

MEETING YOUR GROUP

Your adventure begins in Stanley, Idaho with our 6:30 pm orientation the night before your trip. All guests will meet with the lead guide on the patio at River 1 (across HWY 75 from the Mountain Village, down the hill where the highways intersect). Our guide will orient you with Stanley and discuss logistics regarding the departure the following morning. Most of our guests opt to stay at the Mountain Village Resort (208-774-3661, mountainvillage.com). We highly recommend you book your rooms as early as possible, as demand in the summer is very high.

GETTING TO THE RIVER

In June and most of July (water level permitting), we start the float at Boundary Creek, “from the top.” Water levels will eventually drop and often by late July guests will be required to fly to an airstrip on the river called Indian Creek for launch. At 8 am the first morning we will board a bus in front of the Mountain Village Resort. The trip to Boundary Creek is roughly 90 minutes. If we have to fly into Indian Creek the flight is approximately 25 minutes. Outside of a couple high water June trips or specially arranged trips your trip will be 6 days and 5 nights, ending at the take-out at Cache Bar, about two hours northwest of Salmon, ID. We will load a bus at Cache Bar around 10 am, stopping for a picnic lunch in North Fork, ID and arriving back in Stanley at approximately 5 pm. Please give us a call to discuss alternative flight options out of Salmon if you have time constraints that require you to be back in Stanley, Sun Valley, McCall or Boise sooner.

DIRECTIONS

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE ROUTE MAP

CAMPSITES

All of our campsites are assigned to us by the Forest Service on the day of our launch. Each site is our home for the evening, one that we don’t share with other parties, except in an emergency. We practice low impact camping techniques to help limit our footprint on the Frank Church Wilderness, and campsites are kept remarkably clean and litter-free. We provide private, portable toilet access in all river camps. Drinking water is available throughout the trip, and hand-washing systems are provided for meals and in camp. All fires are contained in a fire pan with the ashes carried out to the river’s end to avoid fire scars.

FISHING ON THE SALMON RIVER

The Middle Fork’s crystal clear waters offer unmatched spin and fly fishing for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden. The Salmon River fishery has been managed by the State of Idaho as a catch and release fishery since 1973 and is highly protected. The fish are abundant – you will not leave disappointed. A valid Idaho fishing license is required and may be purchased in Stanley at one of the many outfitters or online in the comfort of your own home. If you don’t want to travel with your fishing gear, The Stanley Fly Shop (208-721-7151), offers rentals. Single barbless hooks and catch and release regulations apply. Waders are generally not necessary. In the fall MFRT offers fishing-specific trips. Give us a call to discuss if fishing is your passion!

CANCELLATIONS

If a reservation with Middle Fork Rapid Transit is canceled prior to launch then a guest’s deposit will be refunded according to the following schedule:

12 + months prior to launch date 100% of deposit will be refunded.

6-12 months prior to launch date 50% of deposit will be refunded.

0-6 months prior to launch date NO REFUNDS of deposit or any final payments will be made.

Final balances will be due promptly 6 months before launch date. No refunds will be made if a guest cancels a reservation LESS than 6 months prior to launch date. For this reason to protect your investment, trip cancellation and interruption insurance are HIGHLY recommended through a reputable national travel insurance company or through your local travel agent. *Please note confirmed spots are transferable to another person if you are able to find a replacement.

Any trips purchased through a charity/auction must be used on the dates specified in the event’s marketing materials.  Dates cannot be re-booked if unable to attend.  Per our regular policy, reservations are transferable to another participant if you are able to find a replacement.

Middle Fork Rapid Transit (MFRT) reserves the right to alter a trip at any time. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is located in a wilderness area and prone to natural occurrences that may change the expected logistics of your trip (i.e. flying in or out of the river may become necessary at an additional cost). In the very unlikely event that MFRT is forced to actually cancel a trip, refunds will be issued.

TRIP INSURANCE

To protect your investment, trip cancellation and interruption insurance are strongly recommended. Please contact your travel agent to find a plan that suits your risk tolerance, health concerns, age, etc. Another option is Allianz, a highly reputable online travel insurance provider who is also partnered with the local Idaho travel experts at Global Travel. You can purchase insurance directly at the following LINK. Plans are more affordable than you might think and truly priceless when it comes to protecting your valuable travel investment, which is generally booked years in advance.

We want you to have the time of your life! Therefore, please keep in mind when booking your adventure on the Middle Fork:

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is located in the heart of the Frank Church Wilderness which is 2.3 million acres of federally protected wilderness. The Middle Fork is stream-fed and un-dammed; therefore river levels are directly impacted by snowfall and other natural occurrences. Early season trips (June) experience more water hazards due to higher levels and cooler temperatures. Forest fires can and do occur naturally and without interference. The Middle Fork is not accessible by roads and therefore procuring medical attention can be very challenging and expensive. For this reason, evacuation insurance should be considered.

LEAVE NO TRACE POLICY

We strive to keep the Middle Fork in its pristine condition. Every traveler has the responsibility to leave the campsites as they found them, so the next campers can enjoy them. For a complete guide on how to practice this philosophy, click here.