Main Salmon River - Row Your Own

The Main Salmon River is one of the premier wilderness river trips in the United States.  This float through the Frank Church, River of No Return Wilderness, is filled with incredible scenery, wildlife, wonderful camps, fun class III and IV whitewater, old homesteads/historical sites, side hikes, and an amazing hot-spring stop.  For many rafters this trip is buck list adventure.  However, the length of the trip, scope of the logistics, size of the whitewater and the challenge of pulling a permit make this trip a daunting undertaking for many.  We are here to help.

Sign up for an Orange Torpedo Trips, ROW-YOUR-OWN, Main Salmon trip and you can take on this bucket list level river trip with the support of professional river guides.  You get the benefit of running a personal river trip. You get to row, you get to use your own gear (rental gear available), row your own family and in essence, run a supported private trip.  However, you also get the benefits of having experienced Main Salmon guides who know the great camps, can help show you the rapid lines, and who bring all of the kitchen gear, toilet system, and dinner/breakfasts.

On most trips OTT will supply the group with two guides who will help show you the way down the river and carry the group gear. When everyone arrives at camp it is a group effort to unload the guide boats with the group gear before heading off to set up your personal camping equipment.  After the guides boats are unloaded they will set up the kitchen and start in on appetizers and dinner.  In the morning the guides will have coffee and breakfast going for everyone before the camp tear down begins and the group loads up for another fun day.

You can book out by individual or you can book out an entire group.  A charter Row-Your-Own is 14-20 people.

This is not a rowing school and all persons rowing a boat should have a class III/IV ability.  Not all persons on the trip need to row boats.  On your boat you are welcome to have your family members ride with you.  You are welcome to bring inflatable kayaks or SUP’s for portions of the trip as well.

Pre-Launch Day - Meet at Corn Creek at 8:30PM. We advise arriving earlier to get your boat in the water and get a campsite at the campground.  We will meet you at 8:30pm in front of the ranger station for a brief introduction and discussion of timing the following day and the trip in general.   

Launch Morning - Guides will have coffee and a continental type, cold breakfast set up.  Feel free to bring your own breakfast food as well.  Wake up and rig boats before a longer trip orientation meeting and heading downstream.  The group should knock out 10-18 miles today and have a number of fun class II and III rapids.  This will give the guide a good opportunity to gauge everyone in the group. Mid-day the group will enjoy lunch on some riverside beach.  Remember lunches are on your own.

Mid-afternoon the group should arrive at camp for the night.  After everyone helps unload and set-up the kitchen, feel free to enjoy the afternoon.  On our standard trip the guides will prepare appetizers before setting out a delicious dinner for the group.  We request that each night one boat helps with dishes.

Day 2 - Guides will have coffee going by 6:30am and breakfast ready by 8am.  With one boat helping with dishes and the group helping to load the kitchen boats, the goal is to be floating by 10-10:15am.  Today will typically involve 15-22 miles and a good number of rapids.  Day two almost always includes Black Canyon Rapid, which is one of the newer and more exciting rapids on the Main Salmon.  The group will scout this rapid.  After the Black Canyon a quick stop at the hot springs before heading towards more whitewater and camp.  Ideally the group rolls into camp between 3:30 and 4:30pm but as the group is on river-time and every day is different, it will be what it is.

Day 3 - Similar to day two but most likely with more stellar whitewater.  This day typically includes Big Mallard, Elk Horn, Growler and a number of other very fun rapids.  Day three is typically the crux day from a whitewater standpoint.  The guides will work with the group to scout rapids as needed.

Day 4 - Similar to day three but usually a mellow whitewater day with lots of swimming and maybe some great cliff jumping spots.  Today may even involve an ice cream stop at Buck Skin Bills

Day 5 - Another easy going day on the Salmon River.

Day 6 - Takeout day - Today starts with a more simple breakfast to get on the water sooner. The group will have some fun whitewater in the morning including Dried Meat, Chittam, and Vinegar Rapids. On a typical trip we try to arrive at the takeout at Carrey Creek between 10:45am and 11:30am.  The ramp can be crowded so early arrivals help  get in before the ramp is too nuts.  Your vehicle should have been shuttled to the takeout from Corn Creek so upon arrival, find your rig and start to load your gear.

Meeting

Day before launch:

Meet at Corn Creek boat launch ranger station around 8:30PM MST.  Ideally show up much earlier to have your boat in the water and to get a campsite at Corn Creek before they are all gone.

Launch day:

Wake up to coffee and a simple breakfast made by the guides before packing up camp, loading the boats, and getting ready to head out.

Logistics  

Put-in: Corn Creek boat ramp.

Take-out: Carrey Creek Boat ramp.

Shuttle - You need to arrange to have your vehicle shuttled from Corn Creek to Carrey Creek.  We recommend using:

 All River Shuttles. https://allriversshuttle.com/

Salmon River Transportation Company: https://salmonrivershuttles.com/

What you need to provide:

• Raft with rowing frame including the ability to pack all personal gear. Raft rentals, which come with most of the river related gear listed below, are available.  Please just call for details.
• Personal dry bags.
• 4 oars, 2 for rowing and 2 spare oars.
• Spare oar lock
• Throw rope
• Raft repair kit
• Pump for your raft
• Sand Stake with mallot.
• Your own straps and system for making your boat flip ready.
• Quality PFD’s for each person, helmets are advised but not required.
• Personal camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, pads, etc.
• Personal chairs for in camp
• Your own snacks and lunches
• Personal drinks.
• 1, 5 gallon water jug for personal use.
• Ability to transport all gear to the river and ability to pack up at the takeout.
• Small personal first-aid for your boat

Group gear OTT will provide

• Kitchen including cooking tools, stove, propane.
• Dishing washing system
• Group dishes.
• Blaster
• Water Filter
• Kitchen and group area tables.
• Firepan for cooking and group fires.
• Hand washing stations.
• Professional toilet system.
• 1x Rain fly for kitchen
• 1x Rain fly for group area.
• Expedition first aid-kit
• Satelite communication device for guide emergency use.

Additional gear to consider packing

• Inflatable SUP
• Inflatable kayaks (call to discuss)
• Hardshell kayaks
• Snorkel gear
• Satellite communication device