We have a guest who comes almost every June and stays for several nights. He's been coming since before we bought the property, and we hope he keeps coming forever. When he gets here, the first thing he does is hang up an American flag outside of his room.
The flag with a wild river and rugged mountains behind it is truly breathtaking. Just when we think we've had enough of running and maintaining a lodge and RV park, we take one look at that view, and we're back in. The natural beauty surrounding us is inspiring and makes us proud to live where we live, but our public lands aren't just pretty views—they're part of our national identity and legacy, providing us with freedom to explore, clean air, and pure water. They're among the last places where people from all walks of life can come together with no ticket price, no status, and no gatekeeping.
We're happy that the land-sale provision was withdrawn from this week's "megabill" thanks to people like Idaho's and Montana's senators. We hope public lands stay public, and we hope that the wilderness stays wild. There's peace out there, and we're grateful for the men and women who work to protect it.
In honor of America's birthday and its natural beauty, we'd like to share our three favorite ways to experience the rugged Salmon River in less than a day. If you need kayaks, paddle boards, or tubes, just let us know!
This one's for the beginners. Six miles upstream from the lodge, there's a public boat ramp at Fourth of July Creek (yes, it's really called that, and we really love Independence Day in Idaho). You can launch your trip here and be back to your cozy room in a couple of hours. No need to worry about rapids or tipping your paddle board or kayak—just jump in when you need to cool off. This is the perfect trip for families with little ones. The only thing to be aware of is that there's an eddy right in front of the lodge where you need to take out. We've watched a few people get knocked off their paddle boards and kayaks who weren't ready for the force of the counter-current.
Feeling more adventurous? Launch at our boat ramp and float ten miles to Indianola Ranger Station. The first four miles are very mellow and take you through Deadwater Gulch, which is basically a lake. The canyon starts to drop over the next six miles, and you'll get to experience wave trains, drops, and bends that will bring a smile to everybody in your group.
Are you a good swimmer and have a lot of river experience? This one's a full day and 21 miles, but it'll take you through some solid class I-III rapids depending on the season. Pine Creek, Dutch Oven, and Kitchen Sink Rapids will give you a taste of what it's like to be on the "Wild and Scenic" section of the Main Salmon. If you're not comfortable doing this by yourself, you can book a trip with our guides at Rawhide River Trips, and they'll take you on a paddling trip you'll never forget (bonus: our guests get 10% off with them).
Happy Fourth of July!
Team RFL
P.s. Check out a photo of our friend's flag below and another photo a guest shared from his visit to our RV Park in 2007. RVs have changed, but that view is the same!
.png)
