Salt River, WY

The Salt River is a river, approximately 70 miles (110 km) long, draining a valley in Lincoln County, Wyoming located in western Wyoming. It is named for several exposed beds of salt and briny salt springs of up 60% pure salt in Idaho that drains into the Salt River via Stump Creek. The Salt River valley was a popular destination for Indians and later pioneers seeking salt and game. Some Salt River drainage starts from 10,472 feet (3,192 m) Mount Wagner  in the Salt River Range and flows northward along the border of Wyoming and Idaho. Most of its journey starts near 6,600 feet (2,000 m) Smoot, Wyoming and then meanders through the mostly agricultural Star Valley, being joined by numerous creeks along the way, to its confluence with the Snake River near the town of Alpine (elevation 5,600 feet (1,700 m)). Draining in all about 890 square miles (2,300 km2) of the western part of the Salt River Range in Wyoming and the eastern part of the Caribou Mountains (Idaho). The Greys River, draining part of the eastern side of the Salt River Range also joins the Snake river just a few miles from the mouth of the Salt River. About halfway along its course, the river passes through a section known as the "Narrows", where it cuts between two ridges that divide Star Valley into an upper and lower valleys. The river's mouth is now inundated by the reservoir of the Palisades Dam in Idaho during high water. Paralleling the Salt River is now Wyoming Highway 89 leading north to Teton and Yellowstone National Park. The river is an excellent source for fly fishing for Brook, Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brown trout. The state ranks the Salt River: Class 2 (red) – Very good trout waters – fisheries of statewide importance.