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. Stephen Conn/Flickr
In many ways, Salmon is your quintessential small Idaho town. The residents are friendly and it almost feels like the town exists in its own little bubble. Well, that's partly because it does.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Salmon is an isolated town which is completely surrounded by wilderness areas. In fact, it can be found right outside the largest protected wilderness area in the continental United States—The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
R Brown/Flickr
Not only is the natural beauty of the area absolutely stunning, but this region also had an important role in Idaho's history. The area is most noted for being a stop along the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the birthplace of their Shoshone navigator, Sacagawea.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
The town is currently home to the Sacajawea Interpretive Culture and Education Center which is dedicated to preserving the history of the expedition and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes. Visitors of the Center should definitely take a stroll through the historic 71-acre park located nearby.

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If you love being outdoors 24/7, Salmon is the place for you. There's so much to explore and Idaho's natural areas have never been more easily accessible.
R Brown/Flickr
Take a multi-day journey through the one and only Frank Church Wilderness. Or perhaps just a day-trip through the Salmon-Challis area. There are dozens of scenic hiking trails to choose from. The trick is choosing which one to explore first!
With a name like Salmon, you can bet the town is also an ideal place for fishermen. The Salmon River is renowned as one of the best places to fish in the entire country.
NOAA Fisheries West Coast/Flickr
Fishing is open year-round on the Salmon River, and contains plenty of Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Steelhead Trout to go around. Whether you choose to go solo or use one of the town's guides to navigate the region, you'll definitely always remember your time on the river.
It's impossible to list all of the hidden gems you can come across in this region. That's what makes this area so exciting.
R Brown/Flickr
Loon Creek is a delightful tributary which flows from the Salmon River in the Frank Church Wilderness. A hike along this trout-filled creek will yield in the discovery of a wonderfully remote hot spring. It's private spots like this that remind us why it's so great to live in Idaho.
A popular option for hot springs enthusiasts is Gold Bug Hot Springs which is situated about 20 miles south of Salmon.
Jocelyn Catterson/Flickr
Located along Warm Spring Creek, the hot spring offers six different pools for soaking, all of which are fed by a waterfall. Although it's considered a well-known hot spring, a small hike is required to reach it and it's usually not crowded.
Possibly due to its remote location, Salmon doesn't really come up as a "hot" vacation spot like other areas of Idaho. That's just fine, because its the pure peace and quiet of this charming town that makes it such an awesome place to visit.
A. Davey/Flickr

Have you been to Salmon, Idaho? Be sure to check out our list of the 15 Smallest And Most Isolated Towns In Idaho for more charming communities you probably didn’t even know about.

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