The western United States is home to some of the best rivers for fishing and camping in the world. If you are looking for a few nights to a few weeks of floating, camping, and great fishing then onWater Fish can help you find your next great fishing and camping adventure. With hundreds of thousands of waters to fish in the United States finding places to fish near you can seem intimidating, but when it comes to finding the best waters in the western United States for an overnight fishing, floating, and camping trip, three rivers constantly rise to the top of the list. They are Montana's Smith River, Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon, and the Green River in Utah. A few notables that didn't make the list, but are worth checking out: Oregon's John Day, Deschutes, and Grande Ronde; Montana's South Fork of the Flathead, and Colorado's Gunnison River.

Here are the Three Best Overnight Floating and Fishing Trips in the United States:

Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho. One of the most famous wilderness float trips in the U.S., the Middle Fork of the Salmon offers a 100-mile journey through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. This multi-day trip takes 5-7 days to complete and offers breathtaking scenery and excellent fishing. Anglers target wild Westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Fishing is productive throughout the trip, with excellent dry fly action in the summer. June to September, with lower water levels and good fishing conditions in July and August. This trip is best done with a guide service due to the remote nature of the river and the complexity of logistics, including permits and rafting gear.

Smith River, Montana. The Smith River is a premier multi-day floating trip through stunning limestone canyons, accessible only by boat. This 59-mile float trip typically takes 4-5 days and offers world-class fly fishing for brown trout and rainbow trout. The river is known for its large brown trout, with opportunities for dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing. The best times to do a Smith River fishing trip are late spring and early summer in late April and through June when water levels are optimal. A permit is required, and the river has limited access. It’s recommended to plan a year in advance or hire a guide service.

Green River, Utah. Flowing out of Flaming Gorge Dam, the Green River offers a 7-mile to 21-mile float trip through deep red canyons with excellent trout fishing along the way. Overnight trips can extend from the A section (7 miles) into the B section (additional 9 miles), with primitive camping available. The Green River is renowned for its large populations of rainbow and brown trout. Anglers can fish with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Spring and fall provide the best conditions, with manageable flows and cooler temperatures. Numerous guide services offer float trips, making it easier to access camping and fishing spots along the river.

By taking a multi-day fishing and camping trip on any of these great rivers you can enjoy beautiful and remote landscapes paired with fishing opportunities. These are not the only overnight fishing and camping trips in the United States, but they are indeed the top choices for anglers seeking overnight floating adventures.

Discover onWater Fish's My Waters Feature: The Ultimate Conditions Dashboard

Why waste time on apps that only echo free data or offer vague forecasts? With the My Waters dashboard, you can instantly see what's fishable and what isn't with real-time insights and conditions tracking for all your favorite rivers and lakes.

Read Water Like a Guide

Introducing the first-ever personalized fishing dashboard that updates you the instant conditions are right. The My Waters dashboard consolidates real-time flow data from the USGS with weather tracking and more, providing you with a snapshot of current fishing conditions and alerting you when it’s time to hit the water.

Master the Elements

Using the My Waters dashboard and conditions data, you can showcase critical insights like weather, wind, and flow rates all directly within the app, enabling swift, informed decisions that help you decide where to fish.

Personalized Fishing Insights

My Waters brings your preferred fishing insights, personalized charts, and favorite locations into a dashboard designed just for you. It's more than an app; It's like having a live feed of conditions data with customizable alerts—more exciting than any social media notification.

Adapt to Weather and Water Conditions

Streamline your research with all the essential data in one place and receive real-time alerts that help you adapt your plans on the go, ensuring you're always in the right place at the right time.

Discover My Waters Today!