Dagger Falls – Middle Fork of the Salmon River Idaho

Dagger Falls is a fast moving waterfall located off of a long, dusty dirt road in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness (sounds ominous, doesn’t it?). And while it’s a remote location that requires at least a 2.5 hour round trip drive from the nearest paved road, experiencing the pure wilderness of this area of the United States is fascinating. According to the US Forest Service, “It is the largest contiguous wilderness in the Lower 48 and the second largest unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System in the Lower 48 (second in size only to California’s Death Valley Wilderness).”

Wow! So let’s explore Dagger Falls.

Visiting Dagger Falls

Dagger Falls only requires a short walk from the parking area to the viewing platform. The falls are beautiful – the water is fast-moving and the wilderness scenery is gorgeous. You’ll likely be the only people here, which adds to to the serene feeling of this location. I absolutely love visiting Dagger Falls

Dagger Falls Location

If you’re staying in Stanley, Idaho, this is about a 1 hour, 30 minute drive, most of which is on a dirt road. The dirt road is in pretty good shape – I’ve been here two times, and for the most part, the road is well-maintained. I’ve driven this with a 4WD SUV and a 2WD SUV and had no issues. I’d think twice about tackling the road in a sedan, but I have seen them back here.

From Idaho State Highway 21, you’ll want to turn on Bear Creek Road (National Forest Road 579). Keep following the road for about 5 miles – you will pass the Bruce Meadows Airstrip. At the junction, take a right on NF Route 568 (you will see signs for Dagger Falls – you can’t miss it). From here, you’ll drive about another 10 miles to Dagger Falls/Boundary Creek Campground. And while this total mileage on the dirt road only amounts to about 15 miles, it’ll take you about an hour (!) to get to Dagger Falls from the Idaho State Highway 21 turnoff.

If you keep going down the dirt road, you can see the put-in site for the North Fork of the Salmon River – the Boundary Creek Launch Area. This is a major launch spot for multi-day whitewater rafting trips. When you drive down there, you’ll often witness rafters putting in their rafts to start their trips – it’s very interesting to watch!

Nearby Lodging

This is a remote area in the Frank Church Wilderness of No Return so if you want to stay close, you’re going to have to camp. The Boundary Creek campground is right by the waterfall, and includes 8 sites. Amenities include pit toilets and drinking water. I’ve visited in late June and late July and the campground still had plenty of spaces.

Otherwise, if you’re like me and not into camping, you can stay in nearby Stanley, Idaho or near Lowman, but when I say “nearby” it’s at least an hour and a half drive away. I’ve stayed at a few places in the area, including the Sourdough Lodge – you can read my review of the cabin we stayed in here.

Dagger Falls – Final Thoughts

Visiting this waterfall is a helluva commitment. It’s a long dirt road that can get bumpy at times, but the unspoiled wilderness of this area of the country is beautiful. If you have the time to visit, definitely make the trip out here!