White Bird, Idaho ::Area Attractions

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White Bird, Idaho

The Salmon River - "The River of No Return"

The Salmon River is considered the nation’s premier family wilderness river vacation because the rapids are playful but not death-defying. The water is deep enough for swimming and the white, sandy beaches are spacious enough to set up a volley ball net or toss a Frisbee. Look at a map of Idaho and you begin to see why Salmon River country is considered by many to be the spiritual heart of Idaho. Located in the center of a rugged state, the Salmon River watershed includes the longest un-damned river in the lower forty-eight, as well as the largest wilderness area in the intermountain West. This river features 112 miles of Class III-IV whitewater in the second-deepest canyon in the United States. About 53 miles of the river, from White Bird downstream to the confluence of the Snake and Salmon Rivers, are roadless and accessible only by boat.

On the Main Salmon River, whitewater adventures are, generally, 5 to 6 days to float or 1 to 2 days to tour by jet boat. This trip takes you through the River of No Return Wilderness and offers spectacular, untouched mountain scenery. The crystal clear river is flanked by towering cliffs, and rugged canyon walls nestled with white sandy beaches.

Experience whitewater thrills with rapids known as “Salmon Falls”, “Mallard”, “Whiplash” and “Growler”. View wild life, hike to historic mining sites and old homesteads and enjoy nature at it’s finest! Fishing is abundant, trout, bass, sturgeon, salmon, steelhead are just a few varieties of fish.

Over the years, the Salmon River Country has rebuffed attempts by railroad officials to punch train tracks through the heart of it, survived numerous proposals to dam parts of the river. During the Depression of the 1930's, the boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps began building a road through the country, but World War Two put a stop to that. For now, the wilderness status afforded much of the Salmon River Country will keep the “heart of Idaho" wild and free.

Visit www.killgoreadventures.com to find out more about book a breathtaking, memorable for life trip on the beautiful Salmon River or Snake River going through Hell's Canyon, or if you want shuttle services from Pittsburg Landing or from Hammer creek to Heller Bar, shuttle service for the upper and lower salmon, the middle fork or main visit www.AllRiversShuttle.com

Hell's Canyon National Recreational Area

FEE: $8.00 (May through September)

ELEVATION: 1,210 feet

ACCESS:

Pittsburg Landing is accessed by the Deer Creek Road. It leaves Highway 95 just south of the town of White Bird at mile marker 222. Go through through town and follow the river, go across the white steel bridge that crosses the Salmon River and make a left. Stay on the main road, approximately 17 miles to Pittsburg Landing. This is a well maintained single lane gravel road with turnouts, that crosses the divide between the Salmon and Snake Rivers. There are steep grades on both sides of this divide, so visitors pulling travel trailers or driving RV's should use extreme caution. This access point is the easiest and fastest way into the deepest river gorge in North America.

ATTRACTIONS:

Pittsburg Campground is the only developed campground of its kind in the Snake River Corridor. This campground is a great location to base from while enjoying the many recreation opportunities in close proximity. These include floating and power boating on the Snake River, fishing, swimming, hiking the Snake River National Recreation Trail or viewing the fascinating Nez Perce petroglyph interpretive site. It is also a popular base camp for fall bird and big game hunters.

CONSIDERATIONS:

Although water systems are turned off in the winter, the Pittsburg Campground is open for use all year long. Winter recreation activities are primarily centered around hiking the river trail or fishing. The canyon can get extremely hot in the summer, and visitors should be aware of poison ivy and rattlesnakes. No open fires are allowed in the summer, but the use of briquettes in the steel fire rings or pedestal grills, or the use of gas stoves is acceptable. Outside of this closure period, open fires are allowed, although you will need to bring your firewood in with you.

Floaters should allow two to three days for the trip from Hells Canyon Creek Recreation Site to Pittsburg Landing, and four to six days to Heller Bar, especially during low river flows.

Power boaters should be aware that there is no gasoline available at Hells Canyon Creek, Pittsburg Landing or anywhere upriver from Heller Bar, WA. Be sure you have enough fuel to complete the trip into and back out of Hells Canyon! If your going through White Bird, we have a gas station and a grocery store so you can get your supplies and fuel right on the way to Pittsburg Landing.

The Gospel-Hump Wilderness provides opportunities for primitive types of recreation in 206,053 acres of undeveloped federal land.

This Wilderness is managed to preserve its natural condition. Gospel Peak and Buffalo Hump are the peaks for which the Wilderness was named.

Elevations in the Gospel-Hump Wilderness range from 1,970 feet at the Wind River pack bridge on the Salmon River to 8,940 feet at the summit of Buffalo Hump. The views are fantastic…you can see forever.

Several unpaved roads provide access to the Gospel-Hump Wilderness during the summer months. Travel within the area is permitted only by foot or by stock. Roads and trails are usually free of snow from mid-July through mid-October, although snow can arrive at any time.

Permits are not required for backpackers or persons with stock. A permit is required to float, jetboat or kayak the Salmon River above Vinegar Creek from June 20th to September 7th. Hunting and fishing is permitted in the Wilderness, seasons and regulations do apply. Big game and non-game wildlife species can frequently be seen and heard. The streams and lakes within and adjacent to the Wilderness support many kinds of fish, including salmon, steelhead, and trout species. If you need a shuttle service to transport your vehicles from the put in to the take out, please call All Rivers Shuttles.

For maps, information on recreational use of this wilderness, and regulations that apply, call the Salmon River Ranger District, (208) 839-2211, and if you want river guide map books, stop by the White Bird Motel downtown, they are available for sale.