Salmon River Ratings

The Salmon River is considered a Class III river, which makes it a fun river. Rapids are big and wet, but not exceedingly dangerous. Most of the Salmon River is "pool & drop", meaning rapids are followed by calm stretches of water.
While mishaps are rare, the calm stretches do provide a good and safe zone for cleaning up any mishaps that may occur in a rapid. Safety boats will normally be on trips during high flows, spring trips and when young children are present.

RIVER RATINGS
Class I	Small waves, passages clear, no serious obstacles
Class II	Medium-sized waves, passages clear, some maneuvering may be required.
Class III	Waves numerous, high, and irregular, rocks, eddies, narrow passages, scouting usually required.
Class IV	Powerful, irregular waves, boiling eddies, dangerous rocks, congested passages, precise maneuvering required, scouting mandatory.
Class V	Exceedingly difficult, violent rapids often following each other without interruption, big drops, violent current, scouting mandatory but often difficult.
Class VI	Limit of navigability, generally considered unrunnable.

Current conditions

You can access current conditions from the USGS Website . Under CURRENT CONDITIONS it will give the Flow (ft3/s). Remember that figure it can be anywhere from 4,000 to over 100,000.

The value is the flow in Cubic Feet Per Second, or cfs. Here's what we think it means on the day stretch of Idaho's Salmon River...

Below 5,000 cfs - low, more rocks, but still some good rapids. Full-day trips are not recommended. Usually late August and September.

9,000 to 12,000 cfs - our favorite flow for maximum rapids, good wave size. Usually late July & early August.

Below 30,000 - good rapids and we're more comfortable taking younger children.

35,000 to 50,000 - adrenaline flows, big powerful rapids on the full-day stretch - participants should be comfortable swimmers if you want to "hit hard". Guides can take less aggressive routes for safety if you desire. Usually late June and early July.

Above 50,000 - high, most rapids are washed out, powerful hydraulics and unpredictable waves. The water is usually cold and fast. Very exciting, not for the timid. Usually May or early June.