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Salmon River - Highway 95 Corridor

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The Salmon River - Highway 95 Corridor offers a wide range of recreation opportunities ranging from mushroom hunting to wilderness backpacking. The western boundary is formed by the Snake River, popularly known as "Hells Canyon" - the deepest gorge in North America. The Salmon River - often referred to as "The River of No Return" - forms the southern border before turning to the north and forming a central corridor to the Salmon River District.

The Salmon River District covers 449,309 acres (91,057 wilderness) of land. The highest point on the Forest, He Devil Peak, at 9,393 feet and lowest point at Jones Creek at Pittsburg Landing on the Snake River at 2,050 feet, are both in the District. The Clearwater Ranger District, within the Corridor, is the most accessible of the forest's districts. The entire northwest side of the district is the forest boundary bordering the Camas Prairie, a short distance from Grangeville. The district area encompasses approximately 220,000 acres. Initial access across the district was provided by the Nez Perce Trail, a primary Indian route between the Bitterroot and Clearwater valleys. The Milner Toll Road between Mount Idaho and Florence, was constructed around 1893. The toll road, now called Milner Trail, is a popular ATV trail.

Learn More about this Corridor

Road and Trail Status Reports

General Information

Directions:

From the east end of Grangeville turn south on the Grangeville-Salmon Road #221. The road is paved to Boulder Creek (milepost 36.6). From Riggins leave Highway 95 near the south city limits. Cross the Little Salmon River and follow the Salmon River Road #1614 to milepost 9.7. Turn north on Road #221. There are also access roads along the US95 corridor between Riggins and White Bird.

Passes & Permits

A river reservation permit to raft or kayak the main Salmon river can be obtained from the West Fork Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest (406) 821-3269 or online at the Salmon-Challis NF web site.

Recreation Sites

Showing: 1 - 10 of 17 results

Adams Ranger Station

Adams Camp served as a way station along the Milner Trail as early as 1862. The Forest Service established the area adjacent to Adams Camp as an administrative site in 1919. The old Adams Ranger's…

Carey Creek Picnic Area

Picnicking
Enjoy a picnic along the Salmon River, just outside the Gospel-Hump and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness areas. A restroom, fire rings, two sites with tables are provided.

Chair Point Lookout

Hiking
Chair Point Lookout was constructed in 1953. It is a staffed lookout during the summer months. There are vast scenic views from the lookout.

Fish Creek Campground

Site Open
Fish Creek Campground is in the heart of a 4-season recreation area and offers 10 campsites that accommodate tents and recreational vehicles. There are two accessible toilets available. Paved…

Fish Creek Group Use Campground

Site Open
This is the primitive Fish Creek Dispersed Group Use Site, located 1 mile south of the Fish Creek Campground. It may be reserved for up to 75 people. This site has also been called "Eagle's Nest",…

Fish Creek Pavilion

Picnicking
The Fish Creek Pavilion is a day use picnic area. There are 2 barbeque grills and 8 tables under a roof. It may be reserved for up to 75 people for community or group daytime events.

Florence Cemetery

Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning
In 1861, gold was discovered in the small creeks and gulches of Florence, Idaho (approximately 50 miles south of where Grangeville Idaho resides today).  Miners soon began trickling into the area,…

Gospel Hump Wilderness/Square Mtn LO/Moore's GS

Outdoor Science and Learning
In 1978, Congress recognized 206,053 acres of undeveloped federal land east of Riggins and north of the main Salmon River as a special area and designated it the Gospel-Hump Wilderness. Since then,…

Last updated March 28th, 2025