Salmon Blog: News

Salmon, Idaho.

The Idaho Town In The Middle Of Nowhere That’s So Worth The Journey

Posted in Idaho January 31, 2018 by Emerson Curtright Located on the banks of “The River of No Return” and surrounded by several different national forests is the quaint town of Salmon. With a population of 3,112, this little town isn’t Idaho’s smallest. However, its remote location makes this place truly feel like its in the middle of nowhere. It’s easy for people to overlook how truly incredible this town is. Salmon contains many qualities that make it one-of-a-kind and although it can take a long drive to get to it, it’s totally worth the journey. The town of Salmon is the county seat for Lemhi County. Located on the eastern border of central Idaho, there’s a lot more to this town than meets the eye. Outdoor enthusiasts travel from all over the world to experience this town which sits on the edge of some truly awe-inspiring wilderness areas. J. … Continue reading

Even The Crazy Tourist loves Salmon, Idaho!

Another online travel magazine finds Salmon, Idaho and loves it! “Salmon is a town clinging to an old wild west identity without the roughness…” TheCrazyTourist.com ranks Salmon #2 in 15 “Best Small Towns to Visit in Idaho“. – “The western themed architecture and untouched surroundings might just make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, especially if you’re a city slicker. You’ll have to venture over unpopulated and rugged terrain to arrive here if you come by car, but it’s worth it.Salmon is a great base for outdoorsmen, white water rafting, and is next to the Frank Church River of the No Return Wilderness Area. If you visit during winter, spend the days on the ski slopes, tucked into wooden cabins, and tasting comfort food at the town’s many restaurants.” Read the entire article here

FredThomas-2017 - Salmon artwork

Outside: Salmon River Steelhead

This is a featured article in BigSkyJournal.com written by Greg Thomas and illustrated by Fred Thomas from February 2017. I grew up along the Pacific Northwest’s coastal salmon and steelhead streams where it was easy to spot the rookie anglers: These were people who proudly posed for photos with fish that had begun the inevitable freshwater deterioration process, indicated by their dull gray scales, deep red sides, and soft bodies. Those were fish that experienced anglers allowed to swim past. We targeted fish that arrived on incoming tides and carried bright silver scales and bluish backs instead. These were firm fish and great fighters, and they were the best to eat. When I moved to Idaho in the 1990s, it was difficult for me to get excited about the area’s salmon and steelhead runs. If I’d lifted my nose at “darkish” coastal fish just a few miles from saltwater, what made … Continue reading

A Great Day

I imagine it’s as close as you can get to feeling like you’re [in Alaska] without going that far north. Bob Ross once said, “God was having a good day when he made Alaska.” Well I think God was having a great day when he made Salmon Valley. Continue reading

Odd Fellows Bakery - Salmon, Idaho

Creating Business in a Small Town

SALMON, IDAHO — Seven years ago, any out-of-towner might not have looked twice at the old Odd Fellows building in downtown Salmon, which is in central Idaho north of Challis. But volunteer Cindy Phelps and the Craig and Jessica McCallum family saw potential — a tan brick facade on Main Street where business and nostalgia blend. “I absolutely love that old building … I think everyone does,” said Phelps, a semi-retired Lemhi County Humane Society Board Member. More than seven years ago, the building held little more than creaking boards and potential. With a little love and a lot of community dedication, that building is now a thriving bakery, thrift shop and community gathering place. But it wasn’t an easy journey to get there. Not long ago, Phelps and the rest of the board members of the Humane Society were looking for a new home for their thrift store, Rags … Continue reading

Boat fishing steelhead

Sixteens Hours in Salmon

This is a featured article in NRS’s Duct Tape Diaries by Emerald LaFortune from November 10, 2016. Salmon, Idaho is a lot of things. Gloriously podunk, an outdoor enthusiast’s hub, and the destination for your next steelhead fishing trip. A local by proxy, Emerald LaFortune gives you the beta needed to enjoy 16 hours fishing for steelhead in Salmon. You’ve already been fishing for seven hours and haven’t had a bite, with the exception of a suckerfish and a lot of cottonwood branches. The weather in central Idaho in November is usually pretty awful, and you might have a leak in the right foot of your waders. Luck might change by tomorrow but until then, there’s no need to hang out in your humid tent as it pours rain. After a long day of pretending “there’s fish in this river!” thaw your frozen fingers enough to operate the turn signal in … Continue reading