What to do in the Salmon Area

Take a look through the list above and start planning!

Salmon is extremely lucky to have multiple beautiful sections of river so easily accessible from town. No matter which stretch you choose, you’ll see birds, beautiful cliffs, and amazing views of surrounding mountains.

The most common stretches:

Shoup to Carmen, which is about 10.8 river miles.

If you want a shorter stretch, you can go from

Shoup to Town (and take out at Island Park Boat ramp). That’s about 6.5 river miles.

Town to Carmen. About 4.3 river miles. 

All of the stretches mentioned above are mellow sections without any big rapids.

Even without major rapids, it’s extremely important that you follow river safety guidelines. If you aren’t familiar with river safety, go with someone who is! Always wear a PFD, and stay alert for obstacles like trees in the river. 

Or, go with a guide! Find outfitters on our member business listing under Recreation. Some of these outfitters can also rent you gear.

Find a few of the local boat ramps on our Visitor Guide maps.

A drive downriver from Salmon takes you through a beautiful scenic by-way. Take Highway 93N until  North Fork, then take a left down the Salmon River Road to continue your scenic excursion. 

This is also the direction you would take to boat the Day Stretch of the Salmon River. Take your own boat, or find an outfitter to guide you!

Plan a beautiful picnic at some of our most picturesque high mountain lakes! 

For Williams Lake, drive south on the 93 until Shoup bridge, then turn right to cross the bride and follow the signs for Williams Lake.

For Wallace Lake, drive north on the 93 until you reach the fairgrounds, then turn left and continue on the dirt road until you see signs for Wallace Lake.

Find their general locations on the Visitor’s Guide.

The Salmon City Outdoor Pool offers an awesome way to cool off and splash around during the summer months. The Pool can be found in the City Park just east of town (about 1.75 miles from the downtown bridge) making it very accessible.

Here is the City’s webpage for the Pool, and also the Salmon City Pool’s Schedule.

You can also find it on the Visitor’s Guide.

Aviation is an interesting piece of Idaho’s history, and also offers one of the best ways to see the valley and surrounding areas. 

Get to the Frank with a scenic breakfast flight to a backcountry lodge with Gem Air, or take a shorter tour just around the valley. 

You can also fly between Salmon and Boise year-round, which makes connecting to the valley super easy. 

Discovery Hill, or Disco Hill, offers incredibly easy access to both hiking and biking, right next to town. The trailhead is about 2 miles from the downtown bridge. 

These trails offer some great singletrack, and amazing views. This trail system is often open to mountain bikes when most other trails are still too muddy in the spring, or too snowy, and the trails remain accessible to bikes much longer in the fall that most. 

And it’s a really great place for hiking or trail running pretty much all year round. It can get ripping hot in the summer though, so early morning or late evening rides/hikes are best in July and August. 

Find more info on the BLM’s Discovery Hill Page, or the Trailforks Site.

Sharkey Hotsprings is perfect for a cold-weather or summer evening soak. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Salmon. You can drive right up to it, and enjoy the hot water in man-made pools that get drained and cleaned every week. 

Visit the BLM’s Sharkey Hotsprings page for more info.

Getting to Goldbug involves both a 25 minute drive and a ~2 mile hike, but most people agree it’s worth the effort. 

These hotsprings are undeveloped, letting you soak luxuriously in a natural setting. The views are gorgeous.

This particular location has gained a lot of attention in recent years, and so it sees a lot of use. Please be extremely respectful of this amazing place – don’t leave ANY trash, and if you see someone else has left a mess, help out by cleaning it up. The access to this location is through private property, so please ensure access remains by being respectful as you travel through that property. 

See more info on the BLM’s Goldbug Page.

The Salmon Valley Golf Cours offers a 9-hole course that’s perfect for a few hours of enjoyable activity.  

The Golf course offers rentals and instruction, a full bar and restaurant, and has a driving range and putting green. 

See their Facebook Page for more information.

Salmon’s Disc Golf course has 18 holes – 9 along the river, and 9 more up on the sagebrush hills. This is a great way to enjoy some time outside. 

Find directions and additional information here. 

Make sure to get your fishing license from one of the Chamber member businesses in town (Salmon Fly Shop, 93 Outdoor Sports, North Fork Store – find their info on our Recreation Page) and get some flies, lures, and gear while you’re at it. 

Fishing options abound. You can try Williams or Wallace lake, pick a nearby stream, or find a spot on the Main Salmon river. 

Not sure where to go? Ask a local shop. They won’t give away their best secrets, but they can point you in the right direction. 

Or, for even better chances and some good instruction, go with a fishing guide. You can get 1/2 day to multi-day trips with the member businesses listed on our Recreation Page.

Pins and Tips in Salmon, Idaho offers bowling, beers, and food. This is perfect for a rainy day, or any day when you just want a little indoor fun. 

Find their information on our Recreation, Entertainment, and Leisure page.