ayette National Forest VISITOR GUIDE Deep Canyons, Deep Wilderness, Deep Snow Backcountry skiing Box Lake South Fork of the Salmon River. Whitebird Ridge, near Lockwood Point panning seasons in a day, visitors can explore “The mountains are calling the contrasts of the Payette National Forest. From and I must go.” warm, deep canyons to crisp alpine lakes, the forest S is the centerpiece for outdoor recreation in Idaho’s - John Muir Heartland. This spectacular land is bordered by two of the deepest canyons in North America: the Salmon River Canyon on the Fast Forest Facts north and Hells Canyon What’s Inside Acres: 2.3 million of the Snake River on the west. To the east Special Places.......................... 2 Species of mammals & birds: lies the Frank Church- Scenic Byways......................... 4 Over 300 Winter Recreation................ 5 River of No Return Forest Map................................ 6 Deepest Canyon in North Wilderness, one of the Campgrounds.......................... 8 America: Hells Canyon at 8,000’ Activities................................. 10 largest congressionally Know Before You Go........ 11 Backcountry Airstrips: There designated Wilderness Contact Information.......... 12 are six airstrips on the Payette areas in the lower National Forest 48 states. Come see for yourself! This Visitor Guide provides the information you need to make the most of your Payette National Forest experience. G et to Know Us Special Places ver 120 million years ago, the Olands of the Payette National Rapid River Forest were beachfront property on the western edge of North Especially popular in the spring for early hiking and America. It took eons of biking, and in the fall for hunting, the Rapid River collisions, subductions, melting, area offers excellent opportunities for a more primitive folding, and tilting for west- recreation experience. Multiple trails present hikers the central Idaho to appear as it chance to view wildlife, wildflowers, and amazing scenery. does today. The waterfront Rapid River is a edge now forms the backbone designated Wild and of Marshall Mountain and Scenic River for its War Eagle Mountain, while entire length and is Goose Creek Canyon shows important habitat for off a subduction zone. Molten threatened Chinook rock rose into the overlying Suicide Rock in Monumental Creek salmon, steelhead, and rocks and formed the Idaho Batholith, a bull trout. Within the colossal granite body underlying most of the central Rapid River area on portion of the forest. the New Meadows District, Black Lake is a popular recreational onnected with other public lands, the forest is part destination, which is ofC an expansive, uninterrupted landscape that provides accessible via road superb habitat for an exceptional array of big game, Rapid River 002 from Council. upland birds, and other wildlife. Over 300 different species of wildlife make their home on the Payette National Forest. Some are common and easily spotted from roads and trails, while others are more reclusive and require perseverance to see. Sheep Rock Sheep Rock is a scenic overlook and interpretive trail t is an area nationally recognized for dramatic in a fairly remote area on the Idaho rim of Ilandscapes, from craggy mountain peaks and shimmering Hells Canyon. At an elevation of 6,847 feet, the lakes to plummeting river canyons. Vast expanses overlook provides visitors with an up-close, birds-eye- of unroaded backcountry provide solitude, although view of one of the greatest lava extrusions of geologic facilities and amenities are nearby. Far reaching trails time. Your journey to Sheep Rock from Council support incredible winter sports, destination hunting, and (via road 002) takes you through some of central traditional gathering of forest products. Idaho’s most amazing country. Broad vistas of jagged mountains and open spaces awash with wildflowers accentuate your trip. Birds of prey and the possible sighting of bighorn sheep or mountain goats will thrill the wildlife viewer. Sheep Rock is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. Its trail is designated a National Recreational Trail. Great grey owl © David P Lewis © David (P. Klasner) Whatever your particular interest, you are bound to leave the Payette National Forest with a keener Sheep Rock Interpretive Site sense of the earth’s landscape and your place in it. © Timothy Epp 2 Smith Mountain Special Places Special Places Wilderness In the high country are Wilderness is an area of federal land that is free from the towering modern human manipulation, is undeveloped and natural, peaks, and and provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and a alpine lakes primitive type of recreation. of the Seven Devils Mountain The Payette National Forest has portions of two Range—said congressionally designated wilderness areas. The Hells to be named Canyon Wilderness (administered by the Hells Canyon for a vision of National Recreation Area and Wallowa-Whitman National seven dancing Forest) is 214,944 acres of high mountain peaks, ominous devils that canyon rim-rocks, and quiet solitude. Split by the Snake appeared to Snake River flowing through Hells Canyon River, the Hells Canyon Wilderness straddles the Idaho and an Indian lost Oregon state boundary. At lower elevations, dry, steep slopes in the area. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/ break over into the Snake River canyon. attmain/wallowa-whitman/specialplaces/ The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (administered by four national forests in central Idaho) is a place of steep, rugged mountains, deep canyons, and wild, whitewater rivers. The Salmon River Mountains, located south of the Main Salmon and west of the Middle Fork, are the most massive range, and dominate the Wilderness. North of the Main Salmon River are the Clearwater Mountains, and east of the Middle Fork are the Bighorn Crags. For more information on the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, go to www.fs.usda.gov/goto/FrankWildPNF/ Explore these Wilderness areas alone, or contact the forest for information on the numerous outfitters and guides that can assist you with your adventure. For more information on the Big Creek in the Frank Church- National Wilderness Preservation River of No Return Wilderness System, visit www.wilderness.net. Heritage Resources Chinese coins Today, the Warren Waiting silently in the canyons and mountains of the Payette National Forest are reminders of the Mining District remains as an important centuries-old relationships between people and the vestige of ethnic heritage, and several sites in land. There is a rich history of cultural diversity the district are listed on the National Register here with a story to tell. of Historic Places. At the Chinese Cemetery at Warren, interpretive signs lead visitors through this historic site. Many American Indians were the first to call southwestern Idaho home. They continue their traditions today through fishing, hunting, and From 1933 to 1941, the Civilian Conservation gathering. Lewis and Clark’s explorations, Oregon Corps (CCC) were major contributors to the Trail emigration, and gold discoveries brought development of the Payette National Forest, people from all over the world to Idaho. On the where four camps were in operation. The Payette National Forest, the remains of mining buildings at the McCall District Administrative towns and cemeteries give voice to some of the Site and the thousands of Chinese immigrants who arrived Paddy Flat after the California Gold Rush of 1848, seeking Administrative fortunes in the gold fields, railroad camps, fish Site are visible canneries, and on the great agricultural ranches reminders of their of the southwest. As they ventured into the accomplishments. Idaho wilderness, they brought their cultures and customs into these remote areas, creating a society within the existing Euro-American culture. Chilean mill at Snowshoe Mine Venable Mine 3 G et to Know Us Special Places Fire Lookouts Sturgil Fire Lookout, built in 1934 The lookouts are staffed through the summer Fire protection has long and fall months, and personnel are usually been a integral part of available to give you a glimpse at an era of the Forest Service, and fire detection that is rapidly being replaced by the Payette National more modern fire-spotting techniques. Forest has been home ¢ Krassel Ranger District: Sheepeater to as many as 70 fire (within the Frank Church-River of No lookouts in its past. Only Return Wilderness), Williams Peak, 13 remain that are still Miners Peak staffed; most have been removed, burned over ¢ McCall Ranger District: Pilot Peak, in a fire, or have melted Carey Dome, Brundage Mountain, War into the landscape. Eagle Six lookouts are on the National Historic ¢ New Meadows Ranger District: Granite Lookout Register. There Mountain, Pollock Mountain, Lick Creek are examples of several styles of construction still ¢ Council Ranger District: Horse visible, from a single steel Mountain, Indian Mountain tower to early wooden For more information, visit the Forest Fire Lookout ¢ Weiser Ranger District: Sturgil structures. Association at: www.firelookout.org Mountain Payette River Scenic Byway Length: 112 miles/179 km Time to Allow: 2.25 hours From the junction of Idaho 44 and Idaho 55 west of Boise, this byway heads north on Idaho 55 to Rainbow Bridge over the Payette River Horseshoe Bend where it meets the (© Aldis Garsvo) Payette River. From there it passes South Fork of the Payette River (© Lee O’Dell) through the Boise and Payette National Forests and the towns of Cascade and McCall before reaching the northern end at New Meadows. Hells Canyon Scenic Byway or motorists, it can be a distracting F ells Canyon Scenic Byway winds its way along drive as the river crashes and tumbles H Length: 22 miles/35.2 km the east side of the massive rift created by the its way over the rocks through Time to Allow: 3 hours round Snake River. Today, the walls of the canyon this narrow river valley. There are trip from Cambridge are like a museum, where pictographs and occasional pull-offs where you can petroglyphs display evidence of early people.