Salmon River

Last Updated: April 14, 2026

Total streamflow across the Salmon River was last observed at 37,070 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 73,527 acre-ft of water today; about 135% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 27,454 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2017-06-02 when daily discharge volume was observed at 129,510 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Salmon River At White Bird Id reporting a streamflow rate of 24,900 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Salmon River, with a gauge stage of 19.96 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 9 different streamgauging stations along the Salmon River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 5,911 ft, the Salmon River Bl Yankee Fork Nr Clayton Id.

The Salmon River is a 425-mile-long river in western Idaho that is known for its world-class rapids and salmon fishing.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-14
Discharge Volume 73,527 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 37,070.0 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -220.0 cfs (-0.59%)
Percent of Normal 135.03%
Maximum 129,510.0 cfs
2017-06-02
Seasonal Avg 27,454 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
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Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Salmon River Bl Yankee Fork Nr Clayton Id
USGS 13296500 		1970 cfs 4.77 ft -6.64
Salmon River Canal Co Canal Nr Rogerson Id
USGS 13106000 		20 cfs 0.70 ft
Salmon River At Salmon Id
USGS 13302500 		3130 cfs 3.71 ft -0.63
Salmon River Nr Shoup Id
USGS 13307000 		4430 cfs 4.31 ft 0.45
Salmon River At White Bird Id
USGS 13317000 		24900 cfs 19.96 ft -0.4
Salmon R A Somes Bar Ca
USGS 11522500 		1860 cfs 3.83 ft -9.71
Salmon River At Pineville Ny
USGS 04250200 		2640 cfs 8.12 ft 0.76
Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny
USGS 04273700 		146 cfs 1.91 ft -4.58
Salmon River Near East Hampton
USGS 01193500 		161 cfs 2.97 ft -1.23
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
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Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as "The River of No Return". It flows for 425 miles (685 km) through central Idaho, draining a rugged, thinly populated watershed of 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2) and dropping more than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and its confluence with the Snake River. Measured at White Bird, its average discharge is 11,060 cubic feet per second (82,700 US gal/s; 313 m3/s). It is one of the largest rivers in the continental United States without a single dam on its mainstem.Cities located along the Salmon River include Stanley, Clayton, Challis, Salmon, Riggins, and White Bird. Redfish Lake and Little Redfish Lake near Stanley, which flow into the river via Redfish Lake Creek, are the terminus of the longest Pacific sockeye salmon migration in North America.The lower half of the river provides the time zone boundary for the state, with northern Idaho on Pacific time and the rest of the state on Mountain time.