8 - Riggins to White Bird

This section of the Salmon River between Riggins and Whitebird is paralleled by Highway 95 which makes for an easy shuttle and provides a number of alternative access points for day trips. The most popular short trip on this section with the best whitewater is from Riggins to Lucile. While this section is less known than the multi-day stretches on the Salmon that attract paddlers from across the country, you will find great whitewater, easy logistics, and a long summer season on this run. If you want to sample what the Salmon River has to offer without packing 5 days worth of food and hundreds of pounds of gear, this is the place to go. A number of class III rapids are good for instruction with long stretches between rapids to recover or practice a few more rolls. Several local outfitters provide half day or full day trips and Riggins is a fun river town if you are looking for a place to hang out and enjoy the scene. Logistics: Put-in is at City Ramp in Riggins at river mile 86.0. The takeout is the Hammer Creek Launch Site at river mile 52.9 but there are multiple access points along the way. Most of the rapids are in the first few miles and most half-day whitewater trips take out at Lucile.