Mountain Village Resort
Lodge at the junction of Highways 21 and 75 in Stanley, with on-site restaurant and saloon, mercantile, gas,…
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Idaho · Frank Church Wilderness
Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Nearly 100 miles of wilderness whitewater, hot springs, and fly fishing.
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Current updateUpdated Oct 15, 2026, 4:02 PM MDTPost lottery-control season (control season May 28–September 3). Year-round float permit still required. Next-year pre/post-season reservations opened October 1 at 8:00 AM MT on Recreation.gov. Boundary Creek is not maintained in fall; launch-site water is off.
SeasonPost lottery-control season (control season May 28–September 3). Year-round float permit still required. Next-year pre/post-season reservations opened October 1 at 8:00 AM MT on Recreation.gov. Boundary Creek is not maintained in fall; launch-site water is off.
Control season: May 28 – September 3
Lottery applications: December 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Results: February 14, 2027
Confirm by: March 15 (typical USFS schedule; confirm on Rec.gov when posted)
Fire & smokeNo Salmon-Challis extended-attack fires listed on the forest fire-info page or production InciWeb as of this check. Forest policy: initial-attack fires are not posted on InciWeb; only extended-attack incidents get an InciWeb page. Check WildWeb / forest social channels for small starts.
Central Idaho Dispatch Zone was at Very High fire danger as of an August 4, 2026 forest news release; that notice is not a current October danger rating.
Road accessNo current USFS order closing the Boundary Creek / Dagger Falls access road (NFS 568/579) on the forest alerts list. SH-21 (Boise–Stanley corridor toward the Boundary Creek turnoff) has active bridge construction with one-lane / alternating traffic at Mores Creek Bridge. Confirm live highway status on Idaho 511 before driving. Capehorn Burrow Road (NFSR 40303 off Hwy 21) remains closed under forest order through July 1, 2030 (fish protection); that is not the Boundary Creek launch road.
Boundary Creek access: Dirt road (Bear Valley / NFS routes from SH-21 between MP 109–110, ~23 miles west of Stanley). Rough, narrow, ~25 miles. Typically snow-closed in winter; melts open mid-May to mid-June. Fall: not maintained.
Launch water: Potable water currently not available at Boundary Creek, Dagger Falls, and Indian Creek (Rec.gov alert).
USFS Boundary Creek campground page: not maintained in the fall; water turned off.
SH-21: Mores Creek Bridge construction: reduced to single lane with alternating traffic and delays; width restrictions apply. ITD increased commercial width allowance to 12 ft as of ~October 8, 2026. Project window cited through May 28, 2027. Additional SH-21 bridge construction near South Fork Payette River (one lane / delays). (Idaho Transportation Department / Idaho 511)
US-93 at Salmon: No material closure flagged in this check; verify on Idaho 511 before travel. (Idaho 511)
Road Closure Order (NFSR 40303 Capehorn Burrow Road) (0413-06-05): 2026-07-08 through 2030-07-01 — Middle Fork Ranger District; Hwy 21 junction. Protects juvenile Chinook/steelhead where Vader Creek flows on the road. Not the Boundary Creek launch road.
River alertsStanding Middle Fork Wild & Scenic corridor visitor-use order (04-13-23-001) in effect through March 30, 2028 (permit required for watercraft; firepan/porta-potty/waste rules; 8-day camp limit in corridor; no public nudity). Active Chinook redd avoidance notices on Rec.gov for early river miles. Newland Ranch SCAT machine and RV dump closed for the season; water and trash still available there.
Middle Fork of the Salmon Wild and Scenic River (04-13-23-001): 2023-03-30 through 2028-03-30 USFS order
Chinook redd avoidance
- Mile 0.7: Bottom of Teepee Hole, river right. Stay river left at top of Teepee Hole; center through riffle with minimum oar use. Do not stop in eddy unless necessary for rescue.
- Mile 2.2: Below Pinball, halfway through pool on river right. Stay river left; keep oars out of water through the pool.
- Mile 2.4: Just right of center near bottom of bend / top of Gardell's Hole camp. Stay river left from large pool above camp; oars out until very bottom of camp.
- Mile 4.5: River right top of pool above Hells Half Mile. Stay river left; oars out through the pool.
- Mile 10.1: 150 yards upstream of Deer Horn Creek on river left near bank. No stopping on river left; stay center-right with oars out of water.
Newland SCAT / RV dump: Closed for the season (Rec.gov).
Newland water and trash: Still available (Rec.gov).
Launch water: Not available at Boundary Creek, Dagger Falls, and Indian Creek (Rec.gov).
Rec.gov bear-awareness notice for Main Salmon and Middle Fork corridors: clean camp; secure food, human waste, and scented items.
PermitsPermit required year-round (Dagger Falls to Main Salmon confluence). Lottery control season May 28–September 3. 2027 lottery applications open December 1, 2026. Permits emailed by River Office ~6 days before launch; camp request form ~14 days before. Rec.gov lists active operational alerts (water off at launches; Newland SCAT/RV dump seasonal close; Chinook redd locations).
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Past dates show recorded conditions; future dates use historical averages.
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Map & historyRiver route · Tap layers for camps, rapids, access, history, and more.
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Stanley, before launchBoundary Creek staging · Lodging, food, outdoor shops, and shuttle contacts.
Lodging3 listings
Stanley High Country Inn
Downtown Stanley inn.
Sawtooth Hotel
Downtown log hotel on Ace of Diamonds Street, open as lodging and a restaurant since a 1931 building.
Food & groceries5 listings
Stanley Baking Company & Cafe
Bakery and cafe on Wall Street serving homemade meals, baked goods, and coffee.
Papa Brunee's Pizza & Subs
Family-owned pizza, calzones, subs, salads, and wings in downtown Stanley since 1998, per the restaurant’s…
Mountain Village Restaurant, Saloon, and Dance Hall
On-site restaurant and saloon at Mountain Village Resort.
Sawtooth Hotel dining room
Dinner at the historic Sawtooth Hotel.
Mountain Village Mercantile
Groceries, personal items, sporting goods, beer and wine, and an Idaho State Liquor Store, per the resort’s…
Fly shops & outdoor4 listings
Stanley Fly Shop
Fly shop focused on Middle Fork and Upper Salmon tackle, flies, rods, and reels.
Riverwear
Stanley outdoor retailer (Chamber: river gear plus raft, SUP, mountain-bike, and other gear rentals; site…
River 1
Stanley shop on Highway 75 selling outdoor gear and Middle Fork apparel.
Adventure Idaho
AIRE raft rentals from the Riggins shop for Middle Fork trips — not a Stanley storefront.
Shuttles5 listings
Salmon River Transportation Co. (Salmon River Shuttles)
Salmon, ID.
Blackadar Boating
Salmon, ID.
Central Idaho River Shuttles
Boundary Creek to Cache Bar.
BCC Shuttles
Boundary Creek to Cache Bar.
Salmon River Services (All Rivers)
White Bird, ID.
After takeout · Salmon, IdahoCache Bar takeout · Lodging, food, outdoor shops, and vehicle pickup in Salmon.
Cache Bar Boat Ramp is the primary take-out for Middle Fork rafters (USFS Salmon-Challis). Restrooms and potable water are not available at the ramp. The drive from Salmon to Cache Bar is around 60 miles and takes around 2 hours, per Salmon River Transportation Co. Confirm current road conditions before you go.
Lodging3 listings
Hotel Salmon
30-room lodging at 104 Courthouse Drive for travelers using Salmon as a river and wilderness base.
The Stagecoach Inn
101-room inn on the Salmon River at 201 Riverfront Drive.
Sacajawea Inn
Vintage hotel in Salmon with rooms, RV sites, and glamping at 705 S Challis Street.
Food & groceries4 listings
Bertram's Salmon Valley Brewery
Brewpub at 535 Main Street brewing beer on-site since 1998.
Odd Fellows' Bakery
Sourdough bakery and cafe at 510 Main Street.
Junkyard Bistro
American restaurant at 405 Main Street, open since 2007.
Saveway Market
Full-service grocery store at 1200 Shoup Street.
Fly shops & outdoor supplies2 listings
Salmon River Fly Box
Fly fishing shop in Salmon; call for rods, reels, flies, and current stock.
Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply
Ranch and home store on Shoup Street with camping and sporting goods.
Shuttles/vehicle pickup5 listings
Salmon River Transportation Co. (Salmon River Shuttles)
Salmon, ID.
Blackadar Boating
Salmon, ID.
Central Idaho River Shuttles
Boundary Creek to Cache Bar.
BCC Shuttles
Boundary Creek to Cache Bar.
Salmon River Services (All Rivers)
White Bird, ID.