The whitewater difficulty on the Middle Fork of the Salmon varies immensely depending on the water level.  Since there are no dams on the Middle Fork of the Salmon or its tributaries, water levels are entirely dependent on snow levels and weather.   Generally speaking water levels will rise and fall somewhat gradually, but intense rain or very hot weather early in the season can cause rapid changes. 

High Water:
Mid-May - June
(gauge 5-8 ft or greater than 4,000cfs (cubic feet per second))

When the water is high due to rapidly melting snow or rain, or a combination of both, the river moves swiftly with fewer pools between the rapids. The water is cold and the waves are much more powerful. This is a perfect time for those who are interested in Middle Fork Salmon rafting and who have some whitewater experience. There are numerous class III-IV rapids throughout the trip. 

Medium-Low Water:
July-August
(gauge 1.5-5 ft or 1,000 – 4,000 cfs)

As the summer progresses the water level begins to mellow and the rate of snow melt decreases. This makes the rapids less powerful (because there is less volume of water) and become more technical as more rocks and boulders begin to be exposed. This is a perfect time for those who want to experience whitewater rafting without the power of high water.  Another change is that the weather becomes warmer which in turn makes the water warmer.

Low water
Late August - September
(gauge below 1.5 ft or <1,000cfs)

In late summer and early fall the water level can be quite low, creating challenging technical lines through boulder gardens. Typically the lowest flows on the Middle Fork of the Salmon occur sometime in latter August.  Cool weather and the first rains of the fall keep the river level fairly constant through the months of September and October.  This time of year the river is perfect for fishing as the water is crystal clear. Water temperatures, which peak at around 70 degrees in latter July, begin to cool down by mid-August as nights become colder.  Daytime temperatures from mid-August through September are usually still very comfortable and in a 65 to 80 degree range.

Real Time River Flows:

Link for checking real time river flows: USGS Site

Historic River levels:

The charts below show river flow in cubic feet per second of daily averages taken from 19 years of records between 1972 and 2008. From the charts it is clear that peak flows come in May and June, at the beginning of the season for running the river. As the summer continues and the snow melt decreases the water level decreases.

-Insert Graphs-

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Middle Fork Salmon Rafting | Whitewater Difficulty | Middle Fork Highlights