Salmon-Challis National Forest

Salmon-Challis National Forest sits about 4.2 million acres of land in east-central Idaho in an area that is bordered by the Bitterroot Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains that travels along the border of Idaho and Montana. The forest can be accessed using two main routes including US 93 and ID 28. Some of the cities or towns close to the forest include Leadore, Challis, Mackay, Salmon, Stanley, and Salmon. The forest was established on July 1, 1908, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Several attractions make the Salmon-Challis National Forest a great place to visit. 

First, the forest includes parts of a designated Wild and Scenic River, Salmon River. Secondly, the forest is home to a large part of the largest wilderness area in the country, which is the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, covering about 1.3 million acres of land. Other protected areas in the forest include the Sawtooth Wilderness and the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness. Third, several amazing trails crisscross the forest allowing visitors to experience several features of the forest. Some of these exciting trails include Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Nez Perce National Historic Trail, and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. 

There are plenty of other recreational activities that visitors to the Salmon-Challis National Forest can get to enjoy including hunting, camping, boating, fishing, technical mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, OHV riding, cross-country and downhill skiing, and snowmobiling. For those with dogs, they can bring them into the forest but will have to ensure that they follow the managements strict rules. Some of the regulations include ensuring that dogs are always leashed and that the dog’s leash is not more than six feet long. Additionally, dogs should be kept out of pet/dog restricted areas of the forest.