Hammer Creek To Heller Bar (Lower Salmon)
The Lower Salmon Canyon is a great multi-day trip. The very beginning of this section can be run as a day run (just outside of Riggins). Most will choose to take 5 or 6 days and take out at Heller Bar on the Snake river. This can be run in three days by either packing along a motor to run "snake lake" after the confluence to heller, or arrange a jet back from the confluence to Pittsburg and take out there. Recommended flow is under 20K (usually after June).
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Salmon River are between a bare minimum of 3,000cfs and a high of 20,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 13316500, the Little Salmon River At Riggins Id
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (Lower Salmon).
Run Stats
Status | Too Low |
Class Level | III- to IV |
Elevation | 1,779 ft |
Run Length | 50.0 Mi |
Streamflow Discharge | 578 cfs |
Gage Height | 3.5 ft |
Air Temperature | 65° |
River | Salmon River |
Reporting Streamgage |
Little Salmon River At Riggins Id
USGS 13316500 |
Rollercoaster Rapids
Class II |
Big Foot Island Rapids
Class II |
Green Canyon Rapids
Class II |
Wright-Way Drop Rapid
Class III |
Demons Drop Rapid
Class II+ to III |
Pine Bar Rapids
Class II+ to III |
The Maze Rapids
Class III- |
Long Class II Rapids
Class II |
Unnamed Rapid
Class II |
Packers Creek Rapids
Class II |
Cougar Canyon Rapids
Class II |
Cliff Rapids
Class II |
Pipeline Rapids
Class II |
Lorna’s Lulu Rapid
Class II |
Bunghole Rapids
Class II to III |
Lower Bunghole Rapids
Class II to III- |
Harm’s Hole Rapids
Class II |
Bodacious Bounce Rapid
Class III to III+ |
The Gobbler Rapid
Class II |
Unnamed Rapid
Class II |
Snow Hole Rapids
Class III to IV |
Unnamed Rapid
Class II |
Unnamed Rapid
Class II |
Deep Creek Rapid
Class II |
Maloney Creek Rapids
Class II |
China Rapids
Class III to III+ |
Billy Creek Rapids
Class II |
Unnamed Rapid
Class II |
Cottonwood Creek Rapid
Class II |
Eagle Creek Rapids
Class III |
Chine Creek Rapids
Class II |
Skeleton Creek Rapids
Class II |
Wapshilla Rapids
Class II |
Flynn Creek Rapids
Class II+ |
Blue Canyon Rapids
Class III- to IV |
Slide Rapid
Class II to V |
H-hole Rapids
Class II |
Sluicebox Rapids
Class II+ |
Checkerboard Rapids
Class II+ |
Eye of the Needle Rapids
Class III- to III |
Half and Half
Class III to IV- |
Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
---|---|---|
Clearwater River At Spalding Id
USGS 13342500 |
19,000 cfs | 7.4 ft |
Sf Clearwater River At Stites Id
USGS 13338500 |
1,060 cfs | 4.1 ft |
Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai Id
USGS 13342450 |
149 cfs | 3.5 ft |
Sweetwater Creek At Mouth At Sweetwater Id
USGS 13342340 |
8 cfs | 3.7 ft |
Big Canyon Creek Nr Peck Id
USGS 13341140 |
21 cfs | 3.8 ft |
Clearwater River At Orofino Id
USGS 13340000 |
10,100 cfs | 6.3 ft |
Imnaha River At Imnaha
USGS 13292000 |
150 cfs | ft |
Clear Ck At Kooskia National Fish Hatchery
USGS 13337099 |
120 cfs | 12.5 ft |
Salmon River At White Bird Id
USGS 13317000 |
7,870 cfs | 14.5 ft |
Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Cr Nr Spalding
USGS 13341570 |
555 cfs | 6.4 ft |
Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
---|---|---|
Brundage Reservoir
SNOTEL 370 |
52" | -2" |
Secesh Summit
SNOTEL 740 |
55" | -1" |
Bear Basin
SNOTEL 319 |
42" | 0" |
Sherwin
SNOTEL 752 |
3" | -3" |
Shanghi Summit
SNOTEL 747 |
50" | -3" |
Big Creek Summit
SNOTEL 338 |
56" | -1" |
Pierce R.S.
SNOTEL 1142 |
18" | -1" |
West Branch
SNOTEL 855 |
28" | -1" |
Squaw Flat
SNOTEL 782 |
26" | -1" |
Moscow Mountain
SNOTEL 989 |
36" | -2" |
Elk Butte
SNOTEL 466 |
78" | -2" |
Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Slate Creek | 6 | 1,590 ft | |||
Hammer Creek | None | 1,465 ft |
Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
---|---|---|---|
Cottonwood Butte | 0" | 44° | 4.2" |
Snowhaven Ski Area | 0" | 44° | 4.2" |
River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
---|---|---|---|
Hammer Creek to Heller Bar (Lower Salmon) | 578.0cfs | 50.0 Mi | III- to IV |
Pittsburg Landing to Heller Bar | 14200.0cfs | 46.0 Mi | II to III |