Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

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The sun sets behind the cab of a fire lookout tower. The photo was taken from the tower's platform.

Sunset at Bald Mountain Lookout. Courtesy photo by Jennifer Becar.

About the Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forests, Idaho

Welcome to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - 4.0 million acres of beautiful and diverse land, located in north-central Idaho. From the dry, rugged canyons of the Salmon River to the moist cedar forests of the Selway drainage to the rolling uplands of the Palouse, the forest offers something for everyone.

This vast, diverse area is managed to provide a variety of goods and services including breathtaking scenery, wilderness, wildlife, fisheries, timber harvest, livestock grazing, mining, pristine water quality and a wide array of recreation opportunities.

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is best known for its wild character. Nearly half of the forest is designated Wilderness. They also sport three rivers popular with thrill-seeking floaters—the Selway, the Lochsa and the Salmon.

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Forest Service to repair roads in North Fork area
Release Date: Aug 6, 2020

Features

Travel back in time on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests!

A wooden kiosk, with the USDA and USFS logos on the face, stands indoors in a souvenir shop.

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests has installed the first digital kiosks, known as Electronic Tour Sites, associated with the forests’ new Historic Routes Project. This initiative highlights the significant history and recreational opportunities available on three historic routes on the forests - the Lolo Motorway, Elk City Wagon Road, and Magruder Corridor. At these kiosks, forest visitors combine modern technology with backcountry experiences to enhance their visit to the forest and learn more about these historic places. Click here to learn more!

Hemlock Looper

Recently, you may have noticed reddish needles on trees on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and elsewhere in north Idaho. This defoliation is due to a hemlock looper outbreak. Forest Service employees working in silviculture and forest health are monitoring the looper outbreak and studying impact to trees on the Nez Perce-Clearwater and other public lands in the region to decide what management actions are most appropriate. Click here to learn more.

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