Special Areas

The Salmon Field Office encompasses many impressive and nationally-significant scenic and cultural landscapes, including three National Trails and an interpretative Cultural/Education Center. While exploring this area, you will follow Idaho’s rich historic roots to discover the birthplace of Sacajawea, walk in the footsteps of the Agaidika people, and travel the path of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition. Visitors willing to face the challenges of this area’s high elevations and rugged terrain will be rewarded with breathtaking views.

The 425-mile Salmon River “River of No Return” offers a diversity of recreational opportunities, and provides the chance to experience diverse landscapes of narrow basalt gorges and grassy palisades. The ecosystems of the region converge to provide habitat for bighorn sheep, deer, elk, and a variety of raptors. Some terrain along the Salmon River conceals pithouses, pictographs, rock shelters and other evidence of Native American culture from more than 10,000 years of occupation. Evidence shows that the Nez Perce tribe inhabited this area and took advantage of the river’s rich fish supply.