By Car: The closest town to our launch site just happens to be charming Stanley, Idaho, located on Highway 75, off of Interstate 84, 140 miles north of Twin Falls. If you have time, the drive in from any direction is extremely scenic.

By Air and Rental car: Many guests fly into Boise or Sun Valley, rent a car for the week (starting around $220), and drive to and from Stanley.

By Air: Other guests choose to fly on a commercial airline into Boise or Sun Valley and then continue on with a two-way ticket on a small air taxi: into Stanley and out of Salmon (near our beginning and ending points). The air taxi ticket costs around $220/person and must be booked well in advance. The air taxi will save you about 8 total hours on the road, as well as the cost of renting a car, and possibly even one night's lodging at the end of the trip.

We have an orientation meeting with guests the night before the launch at the Mt. Village Lodge in Stanley at 7:30 p.m. to become acquainted, distribute our waterproof gear bags and help you prepare for your morning departure.

Stanley has many quality motels to choose from. Those we've listed are within 3-4 minutes' walk of the lodge. Depending on your travel plans, you may also want to book a room for the night you get off the river (also, if needed, ask your motel if they provide airport shuttle, or vehicle/gear storage while you are on the river). Stanley and Salmon are small, so reserve well in advance.

Day 1 We'll pick you up at the Mt. Village Lodge parking lot at 7:30 a.m. in our air-conditioned motor-coach (no hot, dusty bus rides with us) for a 1.5 hr. scenic drive to the river launch site. Alternately, when conditions require it (usually in later summer), we will board a small air taxi in Stanley and fly to an airstrip down river (adding $90/person to the cost of the trip, payable by check or credit card number upon boarding). Either way, the rafts and guides will be already there, waiting for your arrival. Thus begins your Middle Fork wilderness float!

Days 2-4 or 5 More charmed days on the river. Depending on the day, highlights may include Indian sites, hot springs, wildlife sightings, catching trout, trying out an inflatable kayak, exciting rapids, hiking, swimming, or swapping stories with new friends around the campfire.

Day 5 or 6 (Afternoon) When we reluctantly pull the boats ashore, that same air-conditioned motor-coach will be the first vehicle we'll have seen all week! After lunch, we will drive you the 2+ hrs. to Salmon, Idaho (arriving there around 3:30 p.m.), where we'll drop off those guests who have booked air taxi flights, as well as those who had their cars shuttled to Salmon. We'll drop you off either at your motel or at the airstrip, depending on whether you've arranged to depart that night or in the morning. Then we'll continue on another 2.5 hours for those who wish to go all the way back to Stanley, where our journey began!