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Payette
| Established: |
1905 |
| Location: |
West Central Idaho |
| Acres: |
2,326,341 |
Payette is the natural continuation of the Nez Perce National Forest.
Both pristine and untamed frontiers.
Encompassing some of the most beautiful wilderness areas
in North America. Included are sections of Hells Canyon,
the Snake River, and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area.
Over one million acres of land that is classified as
Wilderness with 600,000 acres of roadless terrain.
The major rivers in Payette include the Salmon River that
winds north and Snake that heads west. There are
hundreds of alpine lakes and over a thousand miles of
clear trout filled mountain streams. Differences in elevation range
from 9,500 feet, in parts of the Seven Devils Mountains,
to 1,600 feet on banks of the Snake River in Hells
Canyon. A vertical drop of 7,900 feet. Making Hells
Canyon the deepest gorge in North America!
ID, Payette National Forest, Salmon River
The Salmon River or famed "River
of No Return" is the longest free flowing river (425 miles) in the Lower 48. Originating in the Sawtooth and Lemhi Valleys of central and eastern Idaho, and fed by waters flowing from the Sawtooth, Clearwater, and Bitterroot Mountains. The upper section passes through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, while the lower section forms the boundary of the Gospel-Hump Wilderness.
The Salmon River is rated in the top ten of whitewater
rivers for its beauty and danger. In an elite class for its roaring rapids and unspoiled
wilderness terrain. You will be continuously challenged by
Class IV and V rapids of which the Gunbarrel, Rainier, and Bailey are the most challenging.
Riding the crest of white-water while surrounded by some of the oldest rocks (gneiss) and steepest canyons in the world. The Salmon River flows through the second deepest gorge on the continent. Only Hells Canyon is deeper. Even so the granite Salmon Canyon is 1,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon.
ID, Payette National Forest
One of the best long runs starts about
20 miles northwest of Stanley. It is here the Middle Fork
of the Salmon begins its 80 mile circuitous route north
to its juncture with the Salmon River. Then heads west
another 100 miles to Riggins.
Payette's 20 campgrounds contain over
250 campsites nestled among a dense forest of douglas fir
and ponderosa pine. Average elevation of these
campgrounds is 4,000 feet, with the highest at Black
Lake. From this vantage point at 7200 feet, it affords a
panoramic view of the deepest drop in Hells Canyon. This
is the highest campground in Payette and very popular
among hikers traveling to nearby Emerald Lake. Both
magnificent high mountain lakes located in the Seven
Devils Mountains. The area is reached by traveling north
from Boise on Highways 95 and 71 leading to the Hell's
Canyon Scenic Byway (Rt 454). Proceed on forest road 112
to the camping area. Payette National Forest, 106 West
Park Street, PO Box 1026, McCall, ID 83638 (208)
634-0700. www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette
ID, Payette National Forest
Copyright ©1994-2006 Charles A. Read and ScenicUS. All Rights Reserved.
Please send any questions/ comments/ suggestions/ directly to
the author Charles A. Read
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