Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters is a locally owned and run business, with a crew of experienced guides who are all passionate about sharing wild places with others. Each one of our MFWO guides is trained in CPR and First Aid and all are certified in Swift Water Rescue.

Safety is our number one concern on any river trip, but being a guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon is about being multi skilled, and it shows on every trip. Our guides are experienced boatmen (and women) on the water, and at camp you will be blown away at the crew’s incredible culinary skills, fireside guitar, detailed knowledge of the area’s significant history, and their dedication to providing a comfortable and relaxing new camp each night on the banks of Idaho’s most treasured river.

Our goal at Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters is to give every guest an experience that they will never forget. A multi day river trip is the perfect way to disconnect from the stress, hustle, and technological “benefits” of modern society through a true wilderness experience. Our guides are committed to offering each customer the experience they are seeking.

Mike Oldham, Guide and Outfitter

The Middle Fork has the ability to transform the lives of all those who spend time on it. Whether from a boat or on the bank, when you close your eyes, open your heart, and breathe in deeply; you are transported to a space of peace and clarity. There are lessons to be learned from the wilderness, and Mike is an example of just one of the many people who have dedicated a life to this incredible classroom.  

Growing up as a 4th generation Idahoan, Mike is no doubt a product of the “Gem State”. Outdoor recreation in every direction led to a life filled with adventure and a deep appreciation for the wild spaces. A decade has now passed since Mike experienced the Middle Fork for the first time, and he has never missed a trip since. Working alongside some of his childhood friends, and others who have now become his family, he looks to continue his growth on this amazing river. 

 Mike’s love for the Middle Fork is truly authentic, and you will recognize that from the moment you meet him. He is a people person, and his desire to learn from and share with others is sincere. When we allow ourselves to be carried by the river, all the stress and turmoil of life is washed away. Mike cherishes the opportunity to help people accomplish this state of mental freedom that we often find on the river. This is why he himself has been drawn to it for all these years.

When Mike is not on the river, he lives year round in sleepy Salmon City with his beautiful bride-to-be, Sierra. Being cut from the same cloth, they enjoy a life filled with adventure, love, and fulfillment. You can find these two fishing all the honey holes (not tellin ya where!), and chasing down dreams, all with a big dog named Kevin by their side!

Lara Sagatov, Guide

Lara is an East Coast transplant with a restless spirit and a passion for the open spaces and the vast wilderness areas of the West. She is a six-year river guide having worked in Idaho, North Carolina and Montana. Lara has guided and taught many different outdoor pursuits including backpacking, rock and ice climbing, and dog mushing, but after taking a whitewater kayaking class in college she quickly learned that the water was where she belonged. After two years on the Nolichucky River in North Carolina, she decided to drop everything and pursue guiding full time in Idaho and has never looked back. With a degree in Sculpture and Design from Hampshire College in Amherst Massachusetts and a lifelong goal to learn complete self-sufficiency, Lara spends most of her off-river time making furniture, clothing, leather goods and folk music. She also dabbles in fiber arts, hide tanning and the fermentation arts, among many other primitive skills. You may also find Lara fly fishing, traveling, searching for wild edible plants and mushrooms or skiing in the snowy mountains of the Northwest. She is so excited to share the magic of the Middle Fork with you all!

Dan Hobbs, Guide

Dan’s Middle Fork origin story is a wild one, and if you want the full scoop on it, you will have to get it from the source. Lets just say that sometimes life offers up certain opportunities, and if you are willing to take the leap, there is no telling what might come of it…

Tanner Mulberry, Swamper!

Jake Cronin, Guide