Recreation Sites & Activities

Salmon FO Recreation Sites/Facilities Summary Table |  Developed Campgrounds Map |  Descriptions for Campground Map

The Salmon Field Office offers a diversity of recreational opportunities for central Idaho visitors. The nearby Salmon River, “River of No Return,” provides world-class opportunities for river rafting, camping, hiking, sight-seeing, and wildlife viewing. The nearby mountains of the Salmon River Range, Bitterroot Range, and Lemhi Range offer endless options for hiking, fishing, hunting and exploring.

The Salmon River meanders through the second-deepest gorge on the continent and is well-known as Idaho’s best steelhead fishing area, along with rainbow and cutthroat trout. Rafters can enjoy scenic floating and fishing along the calmer stretches of the River, near the town of Salmon, or tackle challenging whitewater (Class I-IV) on the stretch of river west of North Fork, Idaho.

The unspoiled 1.6 million-acre Bitterroot Range and Continental Divide serves as the eastern border of Idaho and was visited by the Corps of Discovery’s Lewis and Clark in 1805. The Bitterroot Range is home to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, wolves, mountain goats, mountain lions and black bears. It also offers spectacular trails for mountain biking and hiking, and the ultimate terrain for rock climbing, hunting, and fishing excursions.

Hikers find scenic and rugged terrain in the isolated, often-overlooked Lemhi Range where elk, deer, mountain goats, moose, and black bears are abundant. Adventurous nature-lovers can also discover plenty of hiking trails throughout this region.

Once proper precautions are taken, visitors can explore the expansive Idaho scenery without borders or restrictions. Visitors are also encouraged to explore off the beaten path and camping is allowed in non-designated areas on BLM land. But please remember to keep all vehicles on established roads and trails, “leave no trace,” and “pack out, what you pack in.” Also, be prepared for wide temperature changes, dry conditions and be alert for fire/fuels conditions and seasonal restrictions.

The Field Office provides six developed fee sites: McFarland Campground, Morgan Bar Recreation Site, Shoup Bridge Recreation Site, Tower Rock Recreation Site, Williams Lake Campground, and Sharkey Hot Springs. Five additional recreation sites, Agency Creek, Smokey Cubs, Eightmile Day Use, Elevenmile Day Use, Kilpatrick Day Use and Tower Creek "Pirimids" Day Use Area are non-fee sites with limited (if any) facilities.


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