Throughout the river stretch on the Middle Fork of the Salmon the flora changes with a dramatically changing landscape. In the early part of the trip, the highest elevations near Boundary Creek, there are dense forests of Douglas fir, spruce and lodgepole pine. Here you see creeks and springs tumbling into the river with moss covered rocks and shaded waters. As you move downstream the most common tree species shifts to ponderosa pine. You will see these in large groves on benches above the river with little undergrowth surrounding them. As you continue to float the ponderosa pines begin to give way to large bushes of fragrant sage. The plant life is very affected when fire periodically passes through the canyon. After a fire the lupine and the fireweed show vibrant pinks, blues, and purples all along the riverbank.

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Geology | Wildlife | Plant Life

Native People | Early Settlers & Homesteads | Boating History