Lower Salmon

 

Like Seantana said, Lower Salmon River from Hammer Ck. to Heller Bar is a decent run with nice beach camping and some splashy rapids.
No permit required.


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I'll break from the Idaho recommendations and say Canyon of Lodore or Desolation Canyon on the Green. Late season Deso permits are easy to pick up. Lodore, not so much but it's not impossible...

 

Main Salmon or Rogue as great as well.

 

Cataract?

 

Definitely cataract.

 

I thought about recommending the San Juan and Cataract, but he is asking about August. Tough to recommend that zone to anyone when it is regularly 100+ degrees.... although monsoon season can provide some relief and some excitement.

 

thanks for the suggestion. We understand heat, did GC July 15-July 30, 115 after the fly went up. Looking up Desolation and cataract.

 

Good information for trip planning on this website:

rivergeek western river permits

 

You could piece together Ruby-Horsetheif , Westwater, and the Moab Daily.

 

And then just keep on trucking through Cataract.
I did that once a long time ago, and really enjoyed it. Those are all fairly easy permits to get, and you have Moab located midway for a shower and re-supply if you want.

 

We do August Deso trips every year and the heat is very manageable and there are no mosquitos that time of year making it a great trip. I would motor the first day if you want to do it in 5 days.

 

Hi, notice you say August Deso trips have no skeeters. Even at Sand Wash? I have been reading the threads, and folks say Deso is notoriously bad at Sand Wash, but they're talking about June/July trips. I have a mid-August launch and trying to decide if I should get one of the Sand Wash cabins.

 

My vote is for the Gates of Ladore. Off season permits are easy to get, not crowded, and fewer restrictions. I've done late fall trips that were spectacular.

 

I had a July 27th launch from sand wash last year. No skeeters the whole trip. It was nice having the cabin purely for the fact that I didn't have to put up a tent or worry about skeeters in the AM (of which there were basically none when we arrived at dusk)...It made getting out in the am super easy.
re-pack sleeping bag, check out with ranger (7:30), hit the water by 9:30 for my 1st river beer of the trip...

 

We always use the cabins. Mostly because we tend to get there in the late afternoon or evening and would rather not put up tents etc. There are bugs and the occasional mosquito but it's nothing crazy like they talk about in the June/July trips.

 

I wouldn't bother with the cabins that late. Last year the water was already down, after not even ever getting that high, we launched like June 23rd and mosquitoes weren't an issue. I think the water has to get high enough to flood the breeding grounds and then when it comes down you get nailed. Low water years it just doesn't materialize. This year will be worse but by august no.

 

do cat!

 

Would be longer than 5 days though, I suppose.

 

Day 1. Ruby-Houethief
Day 2. Westwater
Day 3. Cisco to Hittle Bottom
Day 4. The Moab Daily (Hittle Bottom to Take-out)
Day 5. Take-out to Moab

Of I were doing this trip, I'd shoot to camp at Black Rocks, Big Hole, Dewey Bridge, and Onion Creek...

It's easy to get mid-week permits for Ruby and Westwater. The rest is non-permitted. #YeahBoating