The itinerary below is our planned schedule. Hiking times are general estimates and vary depending on local weather, daily trail conditions, and festival schedules. Internal flights are also subject to change. Overnight in Stanley is not included

SEPT 9-11 We meet this morning at 8am at the Middle Fork River Expeditions warehouse and depart by 5 and 9 seater airplanes 23 minutes to Indian Creek Air Strip. and the lower put-in point makes it a 75-mile river trip. Guests always say the flight into the river is one of the highlights of the trip. This flight also allows more time for hiking and exploring the canyon, as we will be doing 12 miles a day versus 17 miles a day on average. This slower pace also allows for more fishing and time for CME lectures.

Upon launching our rafts at Indian Creek, 4700 feet above sea level, you'll enter Pungo Canyon which has some fun whitewater before soaking in the Sun Flower Hot Springs, which is a natural shower! After hiking up to Loon Creek Hot Springs, we run Grouse Creek and Tappan Falls rapids. Stops at pioneer homesteads provide the perfect balance to the on-river excitement. Evenings find us eating gourmet river meals relaxing by the campfire, playing horseshoes and listening to the river and watching for shooting stars!

The Middle Fork is a catch and release Blue Ribbon Cutthroat Trout fishery with anglers catching as much as 100+ fish/day. Because we are high up in the drainage, fish usually max out at around 16 inches. MFRE provides instruction with 2 company fly rods and numerous flies for those who would like to learn the art of fly-fishing. September is the ideal time for fishing on the Middle Fork.

SEPT 12-13 As we drop in elevation, the river widens and the spruce forest opens to vistas of pine-studded mountains and we enter Impassible Canyon, where no trails can be cut as the sheer walls go up over 3,000 feet. This section of river is deeper than Grand Canyon. We will navigate fun whitewater such as Haystack, Bernard, Earthquake Rock, Jack Creek, Cutthroat Cove, Redside and Weber rapids. Between rapids, you'll drift quietly over deep pools of transparent water, home to native cutthroat and rainbow trout. Short hikes underneath Waterfall Creek and up to Veil Falls are highlights for many of our guests.

There are many longer optional hiking opportunities throughout the river corridor and all have stunning vistas of the canyon. Some hikes are out and back and others are loop hikes. There is also always optional hiking from camp as the Middle Fork Trail runs along 80 miles of the Middle Fork. There are hundreds of hiking options so too many to list. If you are into a more active hiking trip just let the Trip Leader know and we'll make it happen for you.

SEPT 14 The last day has some of the best and biggest rapids of the trip, including Rubber and Cramer Creek Rapids, which is a great whitewater crescendo finale for the week. We arrive at the take-out point at Cache Bar around 10am and drive by bus 1 hour for a picnic lunch at the North Fork Country Store. After lunch, we drive 3 hours to Stanley, arriving between 4-6pm. You can leave your car parked at the MFRE warehouse in Stanley during the trip. After a hot shower at your hotel, enjoy Stanley for a nice dinner on your own at the Sawtooth Hotel or the Casino Club or drive 10 minutes to Red Fish Lake Lodge. The next morning drive home or to Boise for flights after 12:30pm.