Idaho · Hiking · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Salmon River

15.4 mi
round trip
98 ft
climb
2,933 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Salmon River open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Bitterroot National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Salmon River hike is a 15.4-mile out-and-back route in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, within the West Fork Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the nearest town is Upper Crossing, about 17 miles away. The trail is rated hard, with a total elevation gain of 98 feet. It is a natural-surface route, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Yellowpine Bar weather station show July highs around 92°F with lows near 53°F, while September cools to highs around 81°F. That station sits about 450 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. The Dwyer-Smith hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and Fawn Ridge and Runaway Ridge are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight base, Wendover Campground is about 7 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Salmon River

    Best months: June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 21°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 29°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      63° / 35°

      14 wet

    5. May

      73° / 41°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 48°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      92° / 53°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 52°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 35°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 28°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 22°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yellowpine Bar, ID, 20.5 mi away at 2,480 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.