Mackay Bar Outfitters & Guest Ranch

Mackay Bar Ranch is tucked away in remote north-central Idaho along the main stem of the Salmon River. This area is the point of convergence of the massive Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the smaller yet equally awe-inspiring Gospel Hump Wilderness. The nearest communities are Riggins (40 air miles to the west), McCall (45 air miles to the southwest), and Grangeville (50 air miles to the northwest). The state capital of Boise is approximately 125 air miles south and home to Idaho’s largest commercial airport with daily flights to destinations across the country. Grangeville, 45 minutes north of Riggins on U.S. Highway 95, is the county seat and commercial center for Idaho County. Both Grangeville and McCall offer jet-capable general aviation airports. 

The sale of Mackay Bar Ranch includes two nearly new, twin-engine, 28-foot jet boats custom-built by Inland Marine in Boise. These extremely capable boats, along with necessary operating permits, provide primary access to the ranch from the Vinegar Creek boat ramp, located 25 miles east of Riggins at the end of the Salmon River Road. From there, it’s a scenic and exhilarating 25-mile, 40-minute jet boat ride upriver to the ranch.  

Alternatively, one can reach Mackay Bar by helicopter or light airplane using the ranch’s year-round, 1,900± foot runway. Central Idaho has several highly reputable air charter companies offering passenger and mail service to Mackay Bar and other backcountry locations.

Mackay Bar is one of only two ranches in the Salmon River Canyon accessible by vehicle. Forest Road 222, a seasonal, unpaved road built by the CCC in the 1930s, originates in the community of Dixie, 25 miles north of the ranch. The road descends 2,000 feet into the canyon, ending at the river’s north bank. From there, a sturdy pack bridge crosses the Salmon approximately 500 yards upriver of Mackay Bar and provides foot, horse, and UTV access to the property. Road 222 is generally open from the first of June until the end of November. 

Central Idaho offers a wilderness experience rivaled only by Alaska, with three federally designated wilderness areas, the Frank Church-River of No Return, Selway-Bitterroot, and Gospel Hump, that combine to cover nearly 3.5 million acres. This vast, remote region is defined by clear rivers, deep canyons, expansive forests, and endless mountain ranges, making it a truly wild and lightly traveled area. Only a few deeded "inholding" properties exist here, and motorized vehicles are generally prohibited, except for light aircraft at authorized fields and permitted jet boats on the main stem of the Salmon River.

Known as the River of No Return, the Salmon River is one of Idaho’s defining natural features. It drains nearly 14,000 square miles entirely within the state and flows unimpeded for 425 miles through one of the world's deepest canyons, dropping over 7,000 feet before joining the Snake River in Hells Canyon. The Salmon and its tributaries are world-renowned for their exceptional whitewater and backcountry rafting experiences. In 1980, Congress designated 125 miles of the upper Salmon as a National Wild and Scenic River, highlighting its outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values.

Archaeological evidence shows the Salmon River Canyon has been inhabited for at least 8,000 years. The Nez Perce and Shoshone Bannock Tribes lived in the canyon for millennia, relying on the river’s rich salmon resources and abundant big game for sustenance. In 1805, Lewis and Clark deemed the canyon too perilous to navigate, opting instead for the Clearwater River to the north. By the late 19th century, miners, trappers, and homesteaders began to settle the area. In the 1930s, whitewater boaters started to navigate the Salmon, and bush pilots began landing on wilderness airstrips. Fortunately, for those looking to experience a wild remnant of the American West, this part of central Idaho is much the same today as it was then.

The area's climate is surprisingly mild, with the massive mountain ranges surrounding the ranch acting as a barrier to prevailing storms. Annual precipitation averages 15 inches. July is the warmest month, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees, while January is the coolest month, with daytime highs often exceeding 40 degrees.

William M. Mackay first arrived at the site now known as Mackay Bar in 1890. Mackay, with his business partner, W.S. Howenstine, began to develop the property, constructing a set of buildings, establishing an orchard, and cultivating about 15 acres of land. Both men died in 1920, two years before the federal government approved the official property survey. The federal patent to the land, under Homestead Entry Survey 537, was issued to Mackay posthumously in 1922. In his will, Mackay left the property to his friend Perry Nethkin, and upon settling the estate in 1923, Nethkin became the owner. By 1933, a section of Mackay Bar was cleared for a crude landing field, and Roy Dickson from Lewiston was the first to land there with his Ryan airplane. In 1937, John J. Oberling purchased Mackay Bar from Nethkin and founded the Salmon River Placer Company with a plan to develop mining operations in the canyon. Oberling’s business plans didn’t materialize, however, and he owned the ranch until his death in the late 1950s. The story of Mackay Bar as an outfitting and guiding destination began when Al and Mary Tice acquired the ranch upon Oberling’s passing. The Tices, well-known outfitters in the canyon, made significant improvements to the property, including constructing the lodge, which still exists today, and expanding the runway to accommodate fly-in guests. Robert Hansberger from Boise purchased the ranch from the Tices in 1969, although the Tices continued to manage the outfitting business for Hansberger for many years. The current owners, Buck and Joni Dewey, acquired Mackay Bar in 2012 and have undertaken significant renovations to modernize buildings and amenities while preserving the historic nature of the ranch. 

Mackay Bar Ranch is subject to two separate National Wild and Scenic River System easement deeds granted to the U.S. Forest Service in 1994 for the purpose of preserving the scenic and open space features of the Salmon River corridor. Copies of the easement deeds are available from Hall and Hall.  

With extensive renovations to the lodge and cabins, upgrades to existing systems, and the construction of a main residence, the owners have created an atmosphere at Mackay Bar that can be described simply as “rustic elegance.” Residential and operational structures include the following:

Lodge: A single-story structure featuring a living room, dining room, commercial kitchen, ranch store/gift shop, pantry, walk-in cooler, and staff apartment with a bathroom and shower. The lodge overlooks the river and enjoys extensive patio and deck space for outdoor dining and relaxing. The lodge serves as the main gathering place for guests at the ranch. 

Cougar House: A two-story structure featuring four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms on the ground level and a two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment, referred to as the River Suite, on the second floor. The River Suite offers a kitchen, living room, and furnished deck with an elevated view of the lodge and the river. The ground floor is also home to the ranch’s laundry room and the main utility room with an inverter and battery storage system. 

Owner’s Residence: Constructed in 2019, this attractive single-story, ranch-style home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, and an open living and dining area accented by a double-sided Montana Moss Rock fireplace that adds warmth and style. The extensive use of reclaimed wood throughout the home provides a rustic and authentic charm.

A-Frame Cabin: One of the original cabins associated with the Al Tice-era from the early 1960s. The cabin is situated next to the owner’s residence and features a living area with a fireplace, kitchen, full bathroom, and a sleeping loft. 

Bear, Bugle, and Elkhorn Cabins: These cozy, single-story sleeping cabins feature matching floor plans with two beds, a loft with two beds, and a full bathroom.

Chukar Cabin: A two-story staff housing unit with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Chukar Cabin is located adjacent to the Cougar House.

Shop/Storage Compound: Separate storage and workshop buildings for tools, supplies, machinery, equipment, fuel, and parts. Also houses two propane, back-up generators that service the ranch.

Barn/Tack Shed/Horse Corral: A small barn used for storing tack and livestock feed, along with a horse corral, are located next to the ranch’s fenced pasture.

Hydro Shed: A wooden structure that houses the ranch’s hydropower generation system.

Pantry: A separate building situated next to the Chukar Cabin that is used for dry storage. A compressor is in place to enable additional cold storage for the lodge.

The ranch is self-sufficient with redundant, onsite electrical power and buried utility lines. Starlink provides reliable internet and mobile phone service throughout the property. Mackay Spring, a private spring on the property, provides potable water as well as gravity-fed irrigation water for the ranch’s lawns and landscaping. Additional gravity-fed irrigation water is available from Mackay Creek and by pump from the Salmon River. Buildings are serviced by multiple septic systems with tanks and drainage fields. The ranch’s private airfield is 1,900± feet with a gravel and decomposed granite base. The runway is considered one of the better wilderness airfields in central Idaho.  

Mackay Bar Ranch holds three adjudicated, certificated water rights from Mackay Spring, Mackay Creek, and the Salmon River for irrigation, hydropower, and commercial uses. Mackay Bar also holds a Forest Service special use permit for the use of the diversion on Mackay Creek.

Idaho County property taxes are approximately $6,870 annually.

Multiday wilderness rafting on the main stem of the Salmon River and its tributaries, including the well-known Middle Fork of the Salmon, is famous throughout the world and unrivaled in the West. Steelhead fishing on the Salmon in the spring and fall can be outstanding and attracts anglers from around the country to Mackay Bar Ranch to pursue these large migratory fish. Summer fishing on the Salmon for smallmouth bass and native cutthroat in the river’s numerous cold-water tributaries is excellent. 

Mackay Bar Ranch lies in the middle of one of the richest, most diverse wildlife areas in North America. The landscape here is large and undeveloped and spans multiple ecosystems. Nearly all wildlife species common to the northern Rockies abound here, including elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, wolves, and mountain lion. 

A trail originating on the ranch leads to the South Fork of the Salmon and follows the river upstream for wonderful day hiking and trail riding. This trail also connects to the Horse Heaven pack trail, which climbs over 3,000 feet into the River of No Return Wilderness high country and accesses Mackay Bar’s exclusive hunting camps. 

Mackay Bar Ranch has been in continuous operation for nearly 65 years, earning its place as one of the region’s premier outfitting and guest destinations. Under current ownership, the ranch has gained prominence by expanding offerings and catering to big game hunters, anglers, and wilderness enthusiasts from around the globe. Utilizing U.S. Forest Service special use permits, Mackay Bar provides exclusive access to 200,000± acres of national forest and wilderness areas for big game hunting as well as 80± miles of the Salmon River for fishing, upland hunting, hiking, touring, and wildlife viewing. With its spectacular setting and versatile facilities, Mackay Bar has become a well-recognized venue for group events, including weddings, reunions, corporate meetings, and team-building retreats. The ranch comfortably accommodates up to 28 guests, with additional “glamping” style wall tents increasing capacity to 40 guests. 

The guest season kicks off at the beginning of March with spring steelhead fishing, which lasts through the end of the month. This is also one of the best times for wildlife viewing, as animals are still found low in the canyon, taking advantage of the open slopes along the river. Summer is the time to relax on the Salmon’s sandy beaches, fish for trout and smallmouth bass in the river and its tributaries, and explore mountain trails by foot or horseback. The big game season begins in September, followed by the fall steelhead season from early October to mid-November. Touring the canyon by jetboat is available to guests throughout the season and one of the most exciting and popular experiences at Mackay Bar.

The owners of Mackay Bar Ranch are deeply involved in all aspects of its operations, working alongside a skilled team of local guides, jet boat drivers, hunting camp tenders, and kitchen and housekeeping staff. During the off-season, the owners reside at their home north in central Idaho, while an onsite caretaker oversees the property through the winter months.

Mackay Bar Ranch operates as a thriving and profitable enterprise, strategically leveraging its unique location and diverse offerings to attract a wide range of guests. Offered turnkey, the ranch provides significant management flexibility, depending on one’s goals. An owner can continue to build on Mackay Bar’s existing reputation and market presence to operate and grow a successful outfitting and hospitality business. Alternatively, an owner can enjoy the ranch as a private wilderness using the land-based and river permits to generate consistent revenue.