Salmon River - Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (Lower Salmon)

Description

The Lower Salmon Canyon is a great multi-day trip. The very beginning of this section can be run as a day run (just outside of Riggins). Most will choose to take 5 or 6 days and take out at Heller Bar on the Snake river. This can be run in three days by either packing along a motor to run "snake lake" after the confluence to heller, or arrange a jet back from the confluence to Pittsburg and take out there. Recommended flow is under 20K (usually after June).

Rapids, Access and Camps were added using the BLM resources publicly available. See site here.

For information on Rapids, Camps and Access below the confluence of the Salmon and Snake check out the Snake Heller Bar descriptions here.

Statistics

Author
Class	III- to IV
Current Flow	3790.0 CFS 12-04-2024 10:45 View River Forecast
Recommended Flow	Minimum: 3000.0 Average: 10000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Typical Season	Begins: January Ends: December
Recommended Use	Kayaking: Yes Rafting: Yes Canoeing: Yes SUP: No Packrafting: No Fishing: Yes
Primary Gauge	SALMON RIVER AT WHITE BIRD ID
Length	50.0 Mile(s)
Gradient	FPM

Type	Name	Description	Camping?	Water?	Boat Ramp?	Vehicle Access
Put-In	Hammer Creek Access	From Highway 95 just south of White Bird, ID, turn west onto Doumecq Rd/River Rd. Follow that across the Salmon River and head north to the putin a couple of miles.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Pine Bar Boat Launch	This site, used as a take-out for one day trips from Hammer Creek and used as a put-in for longer journeys, features toilets, camp spots, and parking. Note: Potable water in campground - access from beach above rapids.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	American Bar	Large sandy beach access ramp (4x4 strongly suggested) Jet boats use this ramp as a launching location. Beach area can also be used as a camp (keep ramp (strip of beach) area clear for people launching from this area if you camp here.)	Yes	No	Yes	4WD Only

Rapid Name	Description	Scout	Class	Recommended Flow
Rollercoaster Rapids	A long string of big, fun waves	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Big Foot Island Rapids	Requires some maneuvering; can be run on either side. This is the only island on the Salmon River with an official U.S. Geological Survey name.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Green Canyon Rapids	Tricky in lower water, with numerous rocks and holes. Green Canyon -Starts immediately after Shorts Bar. A Class II rapids, which piles into the wall on the right, signals the entry into this 2.5-mile long canyon.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Wright-Way Drop Rapid	This sharp drop, with big waves, takes you into the left wall at the bottom. Long, Class II rapids await you about 100 yards below. Look for two small camp spots after the rapids.	Read and run	III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Demons Drop Rapid	Large, curling waves appear here at some flows. Avoid the center area turbulence - it indicates a hole.	Read and run	II+ to III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Pine Bar Rapids	This steep rock garden, littered with holes, is most difficult in low water	Read and run	II+ to III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
The Maze Rapids	Shallow, hidden rocks and ledges from here to the Rice Creek Bridge require maneuvering and make motorized passage impossible at low water.	Read and run	III-	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Long Class II Rapids	Requires maneuvering at low flows.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Unnamed Rapid	Requires some maneuvering	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Packers Creek Rapids		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Cougar Canyon Rapids	A long, fun wave train signals the beginning of Cougar Canyon, a steep narrow 5-mile long canyon with few camp spots	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Cliff Rapids			II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Pipeline Rapids		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Lorna’s Lulu Rapid	The river wants to take you into the wall on the right.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Bunghole Rapids	The waves here get bigger and bigger as the water flow increases.	Read and run	II to III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Lower Bunghole Rapids	Conversely, these waves get bigger and steeper at low flows.	Read and run	II to III-	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Harm’s Hole Rapids	A short drop with a big hole on the right.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Bodacious Bounce Rapid	The big, fun waves here get very tricky in low water. Scouting is recommended at flows below 4,000 cfs.	Scout below 4K	III to III+	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
The Gobbler Rapid	These short but turbulent rapids are worth noting.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Unnamed Rapid	The big, vertical rock face below on the right means that Snow Hole is only about 100 yards away	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Snow Hole Rapids	This steep drop with huge boulders and holes is relatively straightforward if you’re in the correct spot. It can be very dangerous if you’re not.	Scout from the left.	III to IV	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Unnamed Rapid			II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Unnamed Rapid			II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Deep Creek Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Maloney Creek Rapids		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
China Rapids	This long, blind s-curve rapid is named for Chinese miners who reportedly drowned here while attempting to go through it. Requires maneuvering	scout from the left. Note the Chinese rock structures.	III to III+	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Billy Creek Rapids	The creek and rapids are named for a Nez Perce Indian named Salmon River Billy who once lived here. Chief Joseph and his followers forded the Lower Salmon River below the mouth of this creek while fleeing the U.S. Army after the White Bird Battle. Although the water was high, no lives were lost	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Unnamed Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Cottonwood Creek Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Eagle Creek Rapids	There are some holes and rocks to avoid here.	Read and run	III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Chine Creek Rapids	A long string of enjoyable waves. Run is to the right of the island.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Skeleton Creek Rapids	Big waves at the bottom call for some maneuvering.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Wapshilla Rapids	This rapid, which features a sharp, turbulent right turn at the bottom, requires some maneuvering.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Flynn Creek Rapids	This long, s-turn rapid requires maneuvering in lower water	Read and run	II+	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Blue Canyon Rapids			III- to IV	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Slide Rapid	Note the massive rockslide on the left, shortly after the powerline crosses the river. This marks Slide Rapids, which ranges from barely a riffle at flows under 10,000 cfs to Class V-VI at flows of 20,000 cfs and higher. In very high water, these are the most dangerous rapids on the Lower Salmon River and unrunnable. These rapids cannot be lined or portaged without great difficulty.	Scouting is mandatory and quite hard.	II to V	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
H-hole Rapids	This rock garden is followed in quick succession by staircase rapids, three more Class II drops.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Sluicebox Rapids	A long, steep rapid with big waves in lower water.	Read and run	II+	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Checkerboard Rapids	A long wave train with some rocks at the bottom.	Read and run	II+	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Eye of the Needle Rapids	This short, very turbulent drop is harder than it looks.		III- to III	Minimum: 3000.0 Maximum: 20000.0
Half and Half	River takes a slight left hand turn/bend Best run is river right/watch for lateral wave bottom right.		III to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:

Name	Type
Short Bar Pictograph	Pictograph
Cooper Bar	Historical Place
Rock Creek (also known as Graves Creek)	Historical Place
Rice Creek Bridge	Landmark
American Bar	Historical Place
Second Creek	Geological Formation
Cabins	Historical Place
Wapshilla Creek Ranch	Historical Place
Birch Creek	Geological Formation

Salmon River - Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (Lower Salmon)

Idaho-US

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Description

Statistics

Permit Details

Access

Rapids

Camps

Fishing

Points of Interest

External Links and Resources

Community Run Notes

Accidents

Shuttle Companies and Info

Outfitters, Guides and Commercial Companies

Lodging and/or Camping Locations

Camp Name	Description	Fee?	Beach?
Lyon's Bar Camp #1	On river left.	No	Yes
Lyon's Bar Camp #2	On river left.	No	Yes
Lyon's Bar Camp #3	On river left	No	Yes
Opposite Woodruff Camp	On river left.	No	Yes
Woodruff Camp	River right	No	Yes
Schwartz Bar Camp #1	River left	No	Yes
Schwartz Bar Camp #2	River left.	No	Yes
Pine Bar Camp	Car and raft accessible camping here.	No	No
Lone Pine Bar Camp	Large camp spots are available at both the upper and lower end of the bar	No	No
Lower Lone Pine Bar Camp	On river left	No	No
Wickiup Creek Camp	Three large camp spots in the next mile are some of the last before entering Cougar Canyon	No	No
Packers Creek (Killer Goat Beach) Camp	The remains of several Chinese stone cabins and a reservoir make this a popular site.	No	No
Round Springs Creek Camps	This area offers several small camp spots ideal for those who want to avoid the crowds at White House Bar!	No	No
White House Bar Camps	The two large camp spots here are the last before Show Hole Canyon. Much evidence of historic mining remains, including a large reservoir. The white-washed cabin for which the bar is named has given in to the ravages of time.	No	Yes
Oxbow Camp #1	On river right	No	Yes
Deep Creek Camps	A couple of camps on river left.	No	Yes
Maloney Creek Camps	There are two large, and one small, camp spots at the mouth of the creek at the top of the oxbow. You are now at the most northern point of the Salmon River	No	Yes
End of Snow Hole Canyon Camp	The canyon opens up here and camp spots are abundant for the next 10 miles. On river left	No	Yes
End of Snow Hole Canyon Camp #2	River left	No	Yes
End of Snow Hole Canyon Camp #3	On river left	No	Yes
End of Snow Hole Canyon Camp #4	On river right	No	Yes
End of Snow Hole Canyon Camp #5	On river right	No	Yes
Billy Creek Camp	On river right	No	Yes
Dry Creek Camp	River left	No	Yes
Lower Dry Creek Camp	on river right	No	Yes
Deer Creek Camp	River right, Big beach area, rarely used due to the cabins on the bluff above - there has been floating jet boat doc at this beach for the past few years.	No	Yes
Eagle Creek Camp	River right. The rough, primitive road which enters the canyon from Eagle Creek parallels the river for 5 miles. There are lots of big camp spots in this area, but many are frequently occupied by car campers.	No	Yes
Camp	River left	No	Yes
China Creek Camp	River right	No	Yes
Skeleton Creek Camp	A grove of locust trees on the left provides one of the few shady camp spots on the Lower Salmon River.	No	Yes
Camp	River left	No	Yes
Wapshilla Camp	River left	No	Yes
Blue Canyon Camp	river right	No	Yes
Checkerboard Camp	river left	No	Yes
Pullman Mine Camp	River left. Copper mine was active in the 1920s. Mining equipment still visible at the mine entrance was probably brought up the Snake River by steamship. low/lower water camp	No	Yes
Lower Maloney Creek	Gravel/sand bar on river right. - upper Maloney is the better camp, but if it is taken, this camp can be used as a second option. There are actually three camps at Maloney - The main Maloney camp is the best, but there are actually two camp sights located on the lower bar. The middle Maloney camp is above the riffle/rapid (more of a gravel bar) the lower camp can be accessed from the eddy below the riffle - some sand and gravel, willows are taking over the beach area. (wind can be an issue in these camps).	No	No
Low water sand bar - river right	During some low water years (4,000 cfs or less) a large sand bar appears in this area. It is a really nice camp, but can't be counted on, as some years it is there and some years it is not. If it is there, the flow has to be less than 4k. It is a great large group camp during low water summer runs, if it happens to be there.	No	Yes
Checkerboard	nice camp on river left - several sandy benchs for tents, cots, etc. Can be hard to hit if you are running Checkerboard rapid in the wave train (you sort of need to pull out of main current and float rapid to the left of the current or you will get flushed past the camp).	No	Yes
Eye of the Needle	Camp is on river right just after/behind the basalt wall that forms the bottom lateral wave in "eye of the needle" rapid The camp is a fairly slanted gravel/sand breach - it is one of the last options before hitting the jet boat freeway that is known as the snake river. It would make a nice camp in a pinch.	No	No
unnamed camp	camp (better in low water) on river right just after the rapid.	No	Yes
Large beach camp	Large Beach camp here (river left). There are also several smaller beach camps in the area. (willows hide several nice camp areas at the upper end of the bar).	No	Yes
large beach camp	river left - large beach camp - picnic table	No	No
Wild Goose camp	Beach area river left just above wild goose rapid	No	Yes
last chance camp	There are three camps in this area - about 1 mile above the take-out. The first one is one river left. the second one is at the point on river left and the last one is across the river on river right. Listed in order of best selection. this first camp is the best of the three, the next best would be on river left at the point. I think last last chance camp would be across the river on the right. I am honestly not sure I would ever want to stay there, but I have seen jet boaters make use of it.	No	No