Salmon

Salmon is in Central Idaho.

Understand
Salmon is the seat of Lemhi County and imbedded in the ridges and valleys of the Rocky Mountains, such that it seems worlds away from the rest of the world. In times past, it is where the Lewis & Clark expedition passed through with the help of Sacajawea. Today it has a dichotomous vibe of playing to the rich as a destination for outfitter type excursions, notably with dude ranch vacations and whitewater rafting on the Salmon River, while at the same time being the home to many conservative, provincial types. One caveat of all this is that you might pay a little more for your latte or gallon of gas here.

Get in
Salmon is at the intersection of US Route 93 and ID Route 28. For most ordinary people, the way in is by driving. Millionaires coming for their guided hunt or personalized whitewater rafting trip might arrive via private charter plane at Lemhi County Airport.

The nearest commercial airport is in Missoula.

Get around
It's good to have a car to see natural attractions outside of town.

Do
With the Salmon River and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness beckoning nearby, Salmon is a mecca for whitewater rafting outfitters. It also has dude ranch and other guide operators aplenty. Prices for these can range from manageable to premium. For instance, the adult fare for a 5 day rafting trip might be around $2000.



Go next

 * Lost Trail Ski Area (46 miles north): Over 60 marked trails on 1,800 acres. Covers 2 mountains.