Middle Fork Salmon Weather and Water Levels

Middle Fork of the Salmon River Flows

Here’s some helpful tools we use to plan unforgettable trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon.

Forecasting Middle Fork of the Salmon River flows can be quite difficult. The free flowing Middle Fork of the Salmon is unlike any other river in the United States. As it journeys 104 miles through the Frank Church Wilderness from its origin near Stanley, ID, it transforms from a small stream into a powerful river, culminating at its convergence with the Main Salmon. The growth of the river is powered by nearly 100 tributaries flowing into the river along its decent of nearly 4000 vertical feet. Because there are no dams upstream, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River flows are compltely dependent upon the melting snow pack in the surrounding mountains. This wildness is exceedingly rare for a river in this day and age.

Depending on snowpack and air temperatures, June is normally whitewater rafting time only. July brings warmer water and air temperatures as well as the beginning of prime dry-fly fishing season. As water levels continue to drop through August and September the river loses some of its wild temper, unveiling increasingly ideal condtions for dry-fly fishing. Below are some tools we use to check on the weather and water flows on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. You may find these online resources helpful in planing your Solitude River Trip. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact us.