Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Based on recommendations from several friends back home, our intention was to camp at Boundary Creek campground on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. This is a popular launching area for the multi-day rafting trips down this most amazing river/canyon, but we had also been told that it offers hike-in access to some great cutthroat trout fishing. Disappointedly, the campground was closed due to the several fires in the area. This was after we had driven on 24 miles of dirt roads to reach this remote and desirable area, and passing the base-camps for the dozens of firefighters and the airstrip in Bruce Meadow. From talking to the locals and checking the local news, the lightning-sparked fires are an annual occurrence in the west, and particularly in Idaho in the hot, dry summers. Too bad we had to move on because the water that courses through this spectacular canyon is so clean and clear and fishy-looking! Dam somewhere between Boise and Stanley