Sunbeam Dam, located at the mouth of the Yankee Fork roughly 13 miles north on Highway 75 from Stanley, Idaho, is an old dam on the Upper Salmon River that was partially dynamited to allow for fish passage. A large pullout off the highway gives motorists a place to stop and gaze down at the odd site of the river making its way through the demolished section of the dam. Half the dam still remains off the left bank and some of the river current slams into the wall with an amazing force before picking up further speed and funneling off to the right. The rapid caused by this constriction and abrupt change of direction is known simply as “Sunbeam”.
The dam and the power plant were constructed in May of 1910. Power from the plant was utilized by the Sunbeam Consolidated Gold Mines Company at their mine and mill located 13 miles up the Yankee Fork at Jordan Creek. It didn’t last long, just 11 months, before the company realized their upside-down venture and the power plant and dam were sold at a Sheriff’s Auction in April of 1911.
In 1934 the dam was partially blown up. There are various reports with broad discrepancies outlining the details of how the dam eventually met its demise. One report, from the then-former governor of Idaho, Cecil Andrus, states “a party or parties unknown ran a dynamite-laden raft into Sunbeam Dam.” Another report reads, “In 1910, miners built Sunbeam Dam on the Salmon River east of Stanley, cutting off the sockeye’s migration route. They were thought to have gone extinct in the 1920s. But the fish reappeared in 1931 after sportsmen blew a hole in Sunbeam Dam.”
Those who stop at Sunbeam Dam will find another theory behind the cause of the gaping hole in the dam. A sign at the historic overlook says this:
“The dam’s fish ladders eventually fell into disrepair. Idaho Fish and Game then contracted the blasting of the bank next to the dam to allow fish passage in 1934.”
Regardless of how the dam was blown up there are two things we know are true: Sockeye Salmon have one less obstacle to contend with on their trek to Redfish Lake and whitewater rafters on this stretch of river sure have a unique rapid to navigate.