Salmon River Recreational Ranch (Full Ranch)

Spanning 2,020± acres along the world-renowned Salmon River, this exceptional Idaho ranch borders Nez Perce National Forest, BLM and Idaho Department of Lands. Springs and creeks enhance the diverse terrain, while Hunting Unit 14 offers outstanding big game and upland bird hunting. With LAP tags, river frontage and potential airstrip access, this is a premier Idaho sporting ranch.

Land

Exceptional property encompassing 2,020± acres and bordering Nez Perce National Forest, BLM, and Idaho Department of Lands, providing remarkable scenic beauty, privacy, and scale. Enjoy expansive views across the surrounding landscape and a rare opportunity to own a property that combines adventure, seclusion, and an exceptional hunting and ranching experience.
With elevations ranging from approximately 1,700 ft to 4,800 feet, the ranch features multiple water sources, including springs and creeks that traverse the property. Miles of Salmon River frontage add to its appeal, while an extensive network of roads provides access throughout the ranch for recreational vehicles, hunting, and exploration. Just minutes from Riggins, the property also offers convenient access to additional outdoor recreation and local amenities.
Located within Hunting Unit 14, the ranch offers excellent hunting opportunities for quail, grouse, chukar, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, mountain lion, and bear.  The property also qualifies for tags through the Landowner Appreciation Program (LAP) providing a significant advantage for hunters seeking access to coveted big-game opportunities. Current tag opportunities in Unit 14 include:

White-tailed Deer – Over the Counter Tags
Mule Deer – Draw Only Tags
Elk – Over the Counter Tags
Black Bear – Over the Counter Tags

A level area along the Salmon River provides an ideal setting for a private airstrip. A bridge once crossed the river at this location, and the site could accommodate a future bridge, subject to applicable approvals, creating an additional opportunity for access and connectivity across the property.

Recreation

Riggins sits at the heart of some of Idaho’s most spectacular and rugged recreational country, surrounded by the Salmon River, dramatic canyonlands, and the Seven Devils Mountains. Known as the gateway to the River of No Return, the Salmon River provides exceptional opportunities for whitewater rafting, jet boating, fishing, camping, and scenic exploration. The Lower Salmon offers more than 100 miles of Class II-IV whitewater through a spectacular canyon landscape before meeting the Snake River.
To the west, the Snake River winds through Hells Canyon, the deepest river-carved gorge in North America. The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area provides an extraordinary setting for boating, fishing, rafting, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing, with remote stretches of the canyon accessible primarily by river or trail.
Rising dramatically above the canyon country, the Seven Devils offer a striking contrast to the river valleys below. The range provides access to high-elevation hiking, backpacking, alpine lakes, camping, wildlife viewing, and sweeping views into Hells Canyon and the surrounding wilderness. From Riggins, the Seven Devils can take visitors from river-level desert terrain into alpine country and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the region.
With its combination of free-flowing rivers, deep canyons, high mountain country, and expansive wilderness, the Riggins area offers year-round opportunities for adventure and exploration. Whether floating or jet boating the Salmon River, exploring Hells Canyon, fishing the region’s renowned waterways, or venturing into the Seven Devils, outdoor recreation is an integral part of life in this exceptional corner of Idaho.

Region & Climate

Nestled in a canyon where the Salmon River and Little Salmon River meet, Riggins, Idaho, is surrounded by the rugged terrain and stunning landscapes of the Seven Devils and Salmon River Mountains. Adjacent to the vast expanses of the Payette National Forest and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, one of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous United States, this area features deep canyons, lush forests, and abundant wildlife, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Situated along U.S. Route 95, Riggins provides convenient access to other parts of Idaho and nearby states, serving as a gateway to numerous outdoor activities, including white-water rafting, fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping.
Riggins enjoys a four-season climate characterized by warm, dry summers and relatively mild winters. Summer temperatures commonly reach the upper 80s to low 90s, creating ideal conditions for boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, and exploring the surrounding mountains and canyons. Spring and fall bring comfortable temperatures and changing scenery, while winters are generally mild with limited snowfall compared to higher-elevation areas. With approximately 17 inches of annual precipitation and abundant sunshine, the region offers favorable conditions for year-round outdoor recreation.

History

Riggins has a long and colorful history shaped by the Salmon River, Native American culture, mining, ranching, and the rugged landscape of central Idaho. The area has been used by the Nez Perce for thousands of years, with the Salmon River serving as an important source of food, transportation, and seasonal gathering. Settlement increased in the late 1800s following the discovery of gold, drawing prospectors and settlers into the surrounding canyons.
The settlement was originally known as “Gouge Eye,” a colorful name attributed to a saloon fight during the area’s early mining days. By the early 1900s, a post office had been established, and the community took the name Riggins in honor of Richard L. Riggins, an early settler, businessman, and postmaster. Mining gradually gave way to ranching and agriculture, while lumber and river transportation became important parts of the local economy.
Improved roads eventually connected Riggins with surrounding communities, while the Civilian Conservation Corps contributed to roads and infrastructure throughout the region. Logging became an important industry, but as the timber economy declined, the community increasingly embraced tourism and outdoor recreation. Today, Riggins retains its ranching roots while serving as a gateway to the Salmon River, Hells Canyon, the Seven Devils, and some of Idaho’s most remote wilderness.

Location

Riggins is a small western Idaho community set along the Salmon River in the dramatic Salmon River Canyon, where the Main Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers converge. Known as Idaho’s “Whitewater Capital,” Riggins offers a year-round outdoor lifestyle with exceptional access to fishing, rafting, hunting, hiking, boating, and extensive public lands. The community sits along U.S. Highway 95, providing a scenic north-south connection between southwest and north-central Idaho.
Approximate Driving Distances to area towns & larger cities:

White Bird, ID: 30 miles
Grangeville, ID: 45 miles
Lewiston, ID: 110 miles
Moscow, ID: 140 miles
New Meadows, ID: 35 miles
McCall, ID: 46 miles
Boise, ID: 155 miles