United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service NEZ PERCE AND BITTERROOT FORESTS MAGRUDER ROAD CORRIDOR Vista at Dry Saddle A guide to the historic Magruder Road The Magruder To Hamilton 9595 Montana IDAHO Road Corridor MONTANA Darby 12 93 To Lost Trail Pass 95 SELWAY-BITTERROOT Idaho WILDERNESS Westy Fork a To Grangeville 285 a 468 Elk City a 473 14 U a yRed River U a Ranger Station a a To Shoup, ID a a a 468 South Fork Red River FRANK CHURCH-RIVER OF NO RETURN U 222 WILDERNESS Dixie Introduction 1.2- million-acre Selway-Bitterroot The 101-mile primitive Magruder Wilderness to the north, and the Corridor Road winds through a vast 2.3-million-acre Frank Church- undeveloped area, offering solitude River of No Return Wilderness to and pristine beauty as well as the south. Together, they represent expansive mountain views. the largest unroaded block of land The landscape is much the same in the lower 48 states and are nearly as when the Nez Perce Indians and twice as large as the combined other early travelers crossed the states of Delaware and Rhode area. Island. The road has changed little since To help safeguard the natural-ness of wilderness, practice “leave no its construction by the Civilian trace” techniques to ensure the Conservation Corps (CCC) in the country you came to enjoy will 1930s. It has also been known as remain intact for future generations. the Southern Nez Perce Trail, Elk Another safeguard is the use of City to Darby Road, Montana Road certified weed-seed-free products. and the Parker Trail. As of January 1, 1996, all forage or mulch used on national forest lands Wilderness in Idaho and Montana must be The corridor was created in 1980 noxious weed-seed-free. when the Central Idaho Wilderness Remember the use of motorized Act was passed, leaving a unique or mechanized equipment or road that enables a traveler to drive vehicles is not permitted in a between two wildernesses: the designated wilderness. Page 1 Area Access Travel Time The Magruder Road, Forest Road Travel time varies, but it takes #468, is mostly unimproved. The eight to ten hours to travel from west end intersects Forest Road Red River to Darby without rest #222, 0.3 mile south of the old Red stops. The average speed will be River Ranger Station (65 miles east 12-15 miles per hour. A two-day of Grangeville, Idaho). The east trip is ideal with an overnight stay end is 0.8 mile south of West Fork at one of the dispersed or primitive Ranger Station (18 miles southwest campsite locations. of Darby, Montana). Take your time, absorb the Road Conditions solitude and enjoy the remoteness far from the hassles of crowded This primitive one-lane road is highways. rough, steep and winding, with few turnouts for passing oncoming Camping vehicles. It is suitable for high When camping at primitive clearance vehicles, pickup trucks, locations, please follow these motorcycles and mountain bikes. guidelines: The Forest Service does not recom- • Choose a site 200 feet from mend towing trailers because there trails and water. are several hairpin turns along the • Use existing fire grates and route. Motor homes with low fire rings when building clearance should not travel the road. campfires. Snow begins to fall in early • When going to the bathroom, October and persists into July; do as a cat: dig a hole and however, snowstorms are possible bury human waste. Maintain a at any time. Four-wheel-drive is distance of 200 feet from water and trails. recommended when the road is snow covered or muddy. • Make sure your campfire is dead out when you leave. Remember you are traveling through an extensive undeveloped • Pack out all trash, both yours area with no services for 117 miles. and that of others. Be sure you start with a vehicle in • Leave no trace of your stay. good operating condition, a full Drinking Water tank of gas and a spare tire. At all times be alert for other traffic, Water from springs, lakes, ponds washouts, fallen trees and other and streams should not be con- debris on the road. sumed without proper treatment (boiling for more than five minutes The road is busiest during the or using a water filter) as giardia Idaho hunting season: mid-Septem- could be present. It is a good idea ber through mid-November. to carry extra water. Page 2 Red River Ranger Station to Granite Springs To Grangeville Visitors will find the Mountain Meadows campsite in this vicinity. Elk City At 14-Mile Tree, the trailhead Red River begins for Trails 501 and 580, 14 y Ranger District which lead into the Frank Church- Mountain Granite River of No Return Wilderness. Meadows Springs Red River There is an information board, Ranger Station a registration box and toilet. Stock facilities include a feeding rack 468 and hitching rails. Granite Springs Campground Red River Granite Springs Campground lies South Fork222 FRANK on both sides of the road. It has CHURCH- Dixie drinking water, pit toilets, picnic RONR tables, stock facilities and water WILDERNESS for stock. Elk City Ranger Station Visitors are encouraged to stop at the Elk City Ranger Station on the Red River Ranger District in Elk City and ask questions about maps, road conditions, weather and any other concerns. After office hours, visitors can obtain limited information at an interpretive sign at the old Red River Ranger Station (now closed) that briefly The Southern Nez Perce Trail describes the Nez Perce Trail. It parallels a portion of the Magruder is located just south of the ranger Corridor Road. The Nez Perce station along with an RV dump Indians found a practical hunting/ station. Magruder Road #468 gathering route that followed the begins on the left side of Road South Fork of the Clearwater River #222. The first eight miles are a to the rolling country and lush steady climb. Oregon Butte meadows near Elk City and the Lookout and Buffalo Hump are upper Red River drainage. The visible to the west. trail went south of the extremely difficult terrain of the Selway- Mountain Meadows Bitterroot Wilderness, and also The headwaters of Meadow avoided the more rugged portion of Creek lie directly north of the the deep, narrow Salmon River road. canyon. Page 3 Elk Mountain Road to Burnt Knob Lookout Here in the Magruder Corridor and adjacent wildernesses, diverse 285 Green Burnt plant communities fill habitat needs Mtn. Knob for a variety of mammals, birds, Poet U reptiles and amphibians. U Creek Large mammals include black bear, sheep, goats and four deer a family members - 468 468C whitetail and mule deer, elk and moose. Deer are the most commonly seen FRANK CHURCH- animals. There RIVER OF are many smaller NO RETURN mammals, such as WILDERNESS badger, wolverine, pine marten, mink and weasels, but count yourself Elk Mountain Road #285 lucky if you see The road continues to climb one. However, you’ll see ground from the Granite Springs Camp- squirrels, golden-mantle squirrels, ground. Elk Mountain Road #285 red squirrels and two kinds of branches to the northeast, a chipmunks. You can differentiate driveable 4-miles to the Green between chipmunks and golden- Mountain Lookout, with views of mantle squirrels, as the chipmunk’s the Red River drainage. From the white stripes extend onto its head. #285 junction, the Magruder Road Be alert while traveling to increase winds steeply down into Bargamin your chances of seeing wildlife. Creek. Drive slowly and watch Burnt Knob Lookout Road for brakes heating up. From Poet Creek Campground, Poet Creek Campground the road climbs steeply for eight Poet Creek Campground lies miles with a few sharp curves. north of the Magruder Road. It Burnt Knob #468-C branches off has four camping units with tables, to the north. This road is recom- fireplaces, parking spurs, and pit mended for 4-wheel-drive only toilets. There is no developed and ends at Burnt Knob Lookout. water source. Because stock is Three Prong Trail #539, which not permitted in the campground, starts in the saddle below the four mangers are located south of lookout, accesses McArthur, the road. Stillman and Burnt Knob lakes. Page 4 Dry Saddle Trailhead to Horse Heaven Saddle SELWAY- Sabe Vista BITTERROOT From Dry Saddle, the rough and Dry WILDERNESS Saddle winding road drops down to Sabe Saddle and then climbs back up Sabe 468 again to Sabe Vista, which offers Vista Horse many scenic views. Elevation is Heaven 7490 feet at the vista. This portion of the road is very narrow and sometimes very steep. There are few places to pass another vehicle. FRANK CHURCH- A large burn, which was part of the Ladder Creek Fire complex, is RIVER OF visible at Sabe Vista. In 1988, NO RETURN three lightning strikes started three WILDERNESS different fires, which eventually merged into one fire. Nearly 70,000 acres were burned in three National Forests (Nez Perce, Bitterroot and Payette). Fire is a Dry Saddle Trailhead natural force which rejuvenates the Dry Saddle Trailhead lies both environment. north and south of the road and has pit toilets, a loading ramp and Horse Heaven Saddle graveled parking area. Elevation Horse Heaven is named for its at the trailhead is 7920 feet. It lush grazing grasses. Elevation at provides access to many high the saddle is 7070 feet. mountain lakes along Sheep Hill Horse Heaven Cabin was built in Trail #575. It is a ten-mile hike to 1939 at a CCC Camp near Darby, Sheep Hill fire lookout tower.