Canyons hosts this very special trip, which focuses on the natural and human history of the Main Salmon River through the heart of the River Of No Return Wilderness.

Native Peoples lived along the Salmon River corridor for thousands of years. Historically, these people were known as the Tukudika or Sheepeaters, a mountain dwelling branch of the Northern Shoshone tribe named for their reliance on bighorn sheep for much of their food, clothing and highly prized horn bow.

From the late 1800s through the 1940s, the Salmon River became the primary transportation corridor through central Idaho for modern industrialized civilization. Large wooden scows carried supplies and equipment to the mines and homesteads along the river. The boatmen, often floating as far as Lewiston, would sell the boats for lumber. They traveled by horse and train back to Salmon where a new boat would be constructed. Such one-way trips earned the Salmon River its alternate name: the River of No Return.

During our six-day descent we'll visit the abandoned cabins of Campbell's Ferry and Jim Moore's Place, the old Painter Mine, and the homestead of Buckskin Bill. We'll explore the pit dwellings and unravel the stories of the pictographs left behind by the Tukudika. We often see wildlife in late summer: Mountain Bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, otter, eagles, and mergansers are common. Sometimes we spot black bear along the shoreline, dining among the apple orchards of abandoned homesteads.

Idaho author and historian, Cort Conley will be our principal source of river history. He has written numerous articles and eleven books about Idaho and has guided on the river for more than 30 years. A special highlight is the recordings of several interviews he conducted with hermits and homesteaders who once lived along the riverbanks.

Educating us about the flora will be Dr. Roger Rosentreter, chief botanist for the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho. He can tell you the taxonomic names of any plant or tree along the river, as well as their common name, and the medicinal value and cultural uses of many of the herbs. Roger's enthusiasm encourages everyone to learn about the flora of the Salmon River.

Each morning, while the guides are loading the rafts, Roger and Cort will discuss where we will stop and what we'll see that day. In addition to the organized stops, there will be informal discussions as we float down the river. Campfire stories will be shared after dinner. Through education and sensitive camping practices, Canyons is dedicated to preserving the natural and human history of this wild and scenic river. We invite you to join us, as Cort and Roger bring the Main Salmon River canyon alive with facts and lore.