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"From this mountain I could observe high rugged mountains in every direction as far as I could see." | |
William
Clark, September 15, 1805 |
Travel Planning and OHV Rule ![]() |
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Prescribed Fire Information ![]() |
North Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee |
Welcome!
Part
of Idaho's Big Wild, the Clearwater National Forest covers 1.8 million
acres from the jagged peaks of the Bitterroot Mountains in the east to the
river canyons and the rolling hills of the Palouse Prairie in the west.
The
North Fork of the Clearwater and the Lochsa rivers provide miles of tumbling
white water interspersed with quiet pools for migratory and resident fish.
The mountains provide habitat for elk, moose, whitetail and mule deer, black
bear, gray wolf, cougar, mountain goats, and many smaller mammals.
The ridges between the deep canyons have provided travel corridors across
the mountains for centuries. These routes were used by the Nez Perce Indians
and, in 1805-1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Today the main travel route
is U.S. Highway 12 following the dramatic canyon of the Middle Fork of the
Clearwater River and its tributary the Lochsa River.
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In
1805 Lewis and Clark followed
the Lolo Trail through the mountains of Idaho and Montana. This rugged
path had been carved over the centuries by indigenous peoples traveling
to hunting areas and to trade with neighboring tribes. Known locally
as the "Lolo Motorway," the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark
is still traveled by adventurous explorers and is still sacred to the
Ni Mii Puu (Nez Perce Indians).
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"A
fair morning. Cold. I proceeded on in advance with six hunters. Made 32
miles, encamped on a bold running creek passing to the left, which I call
Hungry Creek, as at that place we had nothing to eat." William Clark Sept 18, 1805 |
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"From this place we had an extensive view of these stupendous mountains . . . . we were entirely surrounded by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with them it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped." | |
Meriwether
Lewis, June 27, 1806
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Comments
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Updated October 8, 2008 |
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11.5.07 |
Tom
Reilly
Forest Supervisor
12730 Highway 12
Orofino, Idaho 83544
1-208-476-4541