We Survived the River of No Return: Exclusive Photos from America’s Largest Wilderness

An Exclusive Journey Through the Heart of the Frank Church Wilderness

What’s the wildest place you’ve ever explored? For me, it just might be the Frank Church Wilderness.

Ah, the Frank Church. Images of stately eagles and deep, conifer-laden river valleys come to mind. I say it’s “America’s largest wilderness” in the title, but this is only almost true in the contiguous US, as Death Valley Wilderness has been larger since it came into being (along with the park) in 1994. Regardless, it’s big.

But here’s what makes it special—it’s remote, rugged, and untouched in a way that feels downright mythical.

Our venture into the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness took us down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on yet another expedition for the US Forest Service. We were granted exceedingly rare access and permission to roll our cameras in this innermost sanctum of America’s protected areas. It helps when your client is Uncle Sam.