oise National Forest B VISITOR GUIDE Backyard Mountain Escapes Bear Valley South Fork Payette River Warm Springs Cabin Rental he Boise National Forest is a land of steep mountains, fast rivers, and dense forests, What’s Inside making it a recreation destination any season T Get to Know Us ......................... 2 of the year. Special Places .......................... 2 Scenic Byways .......................... 3 From biking and hiking through lush green Activities.....................................4 Winter Recreation .................... 5 mountains and rolling arid landscapes, to skiing Map ........................................... 7 and snowboarding, the Boise National Forest is Campgrounds ........................... 8 the recreational backyard for Rental Cabins .......................... 10 Idaho’s capital city of Boise and Know Before You Go .... .......... 11 Fast Forest Facts surrounding communities of Contact Information ................ 12 Cascade, Idaho City, Emmett, Acres: 2.6 million Lowman, and Mountain Home. Elevations: 2,600’ to 9,800’ This year-round escape from the city is a haven Major Rivers: Boise and Payette for residents and visitors seeking water-based Rivers; South and Middle Fork activities, hunting, scenic driving, and motorized drainages of the Salmon River and non-motorized trail opportunities. Come see for yourself! This Visitor Guide will help you make the most of your Boise National Forest experience. You may also visit us at www.fs.usda.gov/boise. G et to Know Us History Special Places iners, ranchers, settlers, and loggers—these are just Payette River System some of the colorful characters who bring the past alive M Known for kayaking and rafting, the Payette River is about on the Boise National Forest. Today, there are a multitude one hour north of Boise. It includes the South Fork and of reminders of this heritage: historic mining camps, Main Payette River—rapids range from Class 1 to Class 4. homesteads, wagon roads, log railroads, lookouts, and more. (If desired, rafting outfitters are available to help guide your adventure.) With sandy beaches and boat launch sites such as Banks Beach, Beehive Bend, and Confluence, one can find easy access along the cool river on a hot summer day. Nominal fees for parking and boat launching are returned © Chrislofoto Horse logging near Cascade, 1930 to the site in the form of improvements such as boat launch facilities, restrooms, paved parking, and Basque sheepherder weighing lambs in Deadwood Basin, 1913 recreation infrastructure. ative Americans were Nthe first inhabitants of Idaho. Shafer Butte Archaeological evidence documents the presence of Indian Want a quick trip to the peoples as early as 12,000 years mountains? Take the ago. Today, members of the forest highway from Boise Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, Shoshone- towards Bogus Basin Ski Bannock Tribes, and Nez Perce Resort, and within 16 miles Tribe continue to practice their you’ll transition from a hot, cultural traditions on the Boise dry, desert environment to Takuarikas, a Shoshone a cool, forested landscape. National Forest. Indian who lived with her family in central Idaho In the winter, downhill and cross-country ski facilities hortly after Lewis and Clark’s are available. In the spring, SCorps of Discovery explored Idaho, British and American fur summer, and fall numerous hiking trails—such as the Shafer trappers moved into the area. In 1818, a party of Hudson’s Butte Trail, portions of the Ridge-to-Rivers Trail system, and Bay Company trappers named the Payette River in honor of even a newly created mountain bike trail system—await your their comrade Francois Payette. exploration. Western tanager and arnica n 1862, gold was discovered Iin Boise Basin. Thousands of miners converged on the area where they built towns like Idaho City, Centerville, Placerville, and Pioneerville. Two years later, Atlanta and Rocky Bar were established when gold was discovered on Chinese miner at Rocky Bar, circa 1890 Boise River tributaries. Like other mining camps in the west, Idaho’s camps were remarkable for their cultural and ethnic diversity. Chinese immigrants alone comprised 30% of Idaho’s population by 1870. High Elevation Meadows n 1908, President Theodore IRoosevelt established the Boise Nothing is more delightful to experience than a lush National Forest to protect timber flower-filled meadow deep within the forest. About a day’s and watershed resources in drive from Boise, Bear Valley is the perfect spot! Enjoy a southwestern Idaho. The Forest leisurely day watching birds, discovering wildflowers, or even Service added ranger stations, canoeing on Elk Creek which winds through the meadow. lookouts, campgrounds, and Other attractive meadow areas include Stolle Meadows near roads to the landscape. Cascade, and High Valley north of Emmett. Lowman Ranger Station, circa 1910 he vast resources of the Boise National Forest belong to all Americans. These resources must rely T on the stewardship of all of us if they are to be sustained for future generations. 2 Scenic Byways Forest Lookouts This riverside drive takes Payette River you along the wet and National Scenic Byway On top of the world! wild Payette River, passing Length: 80 mi./128 km. Come visit some of the through Smiths Ferry and Time to Allow: 2 hours Boise National Forest’s Cascade before reaching fire lookouts and get a the popular resort town of McCall spectacular 360-degree and the shimmering Payette Lake. You might want to combine view from a remote your drive with a heart-pounding whitewater ride on the river! mountaintop. The lookouts are usually Numerous accessible from July pull-offs along through September. Highway 55 Lookout personnel invite you to are available from soak in the approximately 9 a.m. to sounds of the 6 p.m., but may be busy rushing water. with a fire during the In the calmer sections, you day. Please realize they Silver Creek need to continually scan the horizon for can find a sandy smoke so have limited time to talk. Lookouts include: beach for a picnic. ¢ Deadwood - available for overnight rental ¢ Silver Creek - amazing vistas into vast roadless country © Kari Greer ¢ Whitehawk - beautiful overlook of Bear Valley Meadows This byway (located on the Wildlife Canyon Banks-to-Lowman Road in ¢ Trinity - a steep hike, but the view is worth it State Scenic Byway the South Fork Payette River Length: 35 mi./56 km. Canyon north of Boise) is Trinity Time to Allow: 1 hour an especially good drive for viewing deer and elk in the Mountain winter. Rafting and fishing access are just two of the other Recreation highlights of this drive. Area The highest drivable point in Idaho is located in the “Trinities,” a beautiful high elevation area on the Mountain Home Ranger District (4-wheel drive recommended). At the end of the drive, you can make a short but steep hike to the Trinity Mountain Lookout at 9,700 feet. Numerous lakes dot the area (some with campgrounds) and rustic cabins are perfect settings © Kari Greer for a mid-summer visit. Summer comes late here and the slow snow melt often means the area is not accessible until Ponderosa Pine early July. Wildflowers abound shortly thereafter, so bring State Scenic Byway your camera! Length: 130 mi./208 km. Time to Allow: 2-3 hours Frank Church- The Ponderosa Pine Scenic River of No Return Byway (along Highway 21 from Boise to Lowman and beyond) Wilderness has a variety of river scenery through forested landscapes. The Boise National Forest Fall and spring are awash in serves as a jumping off spot color here. This is a journey into the Wilderness from through the heart of the Stanley various trailheads. A dirt Basin, winding down along the road winds to the famous Wilderness packstock trip South Fork of the Payette River, Dagger Falls boat launching site for (Cavan Fitzsimmons) through Lowman, past Idaho entry into the Middle Fork Salmon River City—a mining town which was deep inside the Wilderness. East of Cascade, once Idaho’s largest city—and on more trailheads are positioned to lead hikers into to Boise, Idaho’s capital. both the Wilderness and Middle Fork Salmon River. © Kari Greer 3 A ctivities Trails In addition to the trails shown below, you might also want to try the North Fork Boise River Trail, or Peace Creek Trail which enters one of the largest roadless areas in the forest. Or, try the trails in the Trinity Mountain area—filled with wildflowers in the early summer. For trails close to Boise, check out the Ridge-to-Rivers multiple-use trail system at www.cityofboise.org/RidgeToRivers. There are also a variety of other motorized and non-motorized trails on the national forest. Miles Name Trailhead Location Highlights (one-way) This trail circles the scenic Sagehen Reservoir and there are several Travel north from Ola 10 miles on Road 618. Turn right Sagehen spots where the creek is nearby, making for enjoyable rest spots. at the junction of Road 626. Go east for 6 miles; turn Reservoir 4.3 The trail travels through forested areas, meadows, and a high alpine left at the junction of Road 614. Go 1.2 miles to the Trail lake environment. There are fishing and picnicking opportunities, and dam and the trailhead. campgrounds are nearby. Open to non-motorized travel only. This trail is only a few minutes off of the Banks-Lowman Highway and Go east from Garden Valley about 2 miles on the Station offers outstanding views of the South Fork Payette River. Deer and elk 2.1 Banks-Lowman Highway. The trailhead is across from Creek Trail are often spotted on their winter range in early spring. Open to non- the Garden Valley Ranger Station parking lot. motorized travel only. From Cascade, take Cabarton Road to Road 446 This short but steep trail to Blue Lake offers panoramic views of Long Blue Lake 1.36 (Snowbank Mt.