1

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest

Service CLEARWATER NATIONAL FOREST

Experience the natural beauty and history of the

Lewis and Clark Highway in Idaho.

Highway 12:

A Long

and Winding

Road
2

Wild and Scenic Passageway

or thousands of years water has carved its path, gradually

creating a narrow canyon, increasing in volume and

becoming a river.

U.S. Highway 12

now parallels that river,

the Lochsa. The canyon

remains much the same as

it has been through the

centuries—narrow,

rugged, the river lined by

evergreen trees and rock

outcroppings.

Over the millenia the

Nez Perce people

(Nimiipuu) lived, hunted,

gathered roots, camped

and fished here. They

traveled across the ridgeline

route north of the highway

to hunt buffalo.

F

At Lowell the Lochsa River joins the Selway River,

and the two become one. The canyon begins to

widen, and the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River

seems to slow down.

On the Wild Side

Wild and Scenic Rivers

The Lochsa, Selway and Middle Fork of the Clearwater top the

long list of rivers identified in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act passed by

Congress in 1968. All are designated components of the National Wild

and Scenic Rivers System.

Rivers designated wild and scenic "possess outstandingly remarkable

scenic. . . geologic. . . historic. . . or other similar values." They are to be

"preserved in free-flowing condition, and. . . protected for the benefit

and enjoyment of present and future generations."
3

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

The Wilderness Act of

1964 describes a wilderness as

"an area where the earth and its

community of life are

untrammeled by man, where

man himself is a visitor who

does not remain."

Much of what you see

across the river as you travel

along Highway 12 is the

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness,

the third largest wilderness in

the lower 48 United States. It

covers an area of nearly 1.5

million acres—slightly larger

than the state of Delaware.

Wildlife, Fish, Plants

Many creatures great and

small live in the river canyon.

Deer, elk and black bear move

along the hillsides. Moose graze in

meadows and wet areas. Canada

geese, swans, eagles, osprey and

great blue herons reside along the

river's banks and swim on its

waters. At lower elevations wild

turkeys thrive. Mountain lions,

snow geese and Harlequin ducks

make a rare appearance.

The Lochsa and Middle Fork

of the Clearwater Rivers provide

habitat for many fish species. If

you look closely enough, you may

see fish "holding" in the water

among moss-covered rocks.

Plant life in the river canyon

ranges from giant cedar trees to

tiny buttercups. You can even find

"coastal disjunct" plants, remnants

from a time long ago when a

temperate climate prevailed.

Meriwether Lewis catalogued and described syringa in 1806. Idaho's

state flower, it bursts into bloom in early summer, its white blossoms

smelling like an orange tree in bloom.

An angler wets a line in the Lochsa River.

Across the way, the Selway-Bitterroot

Wilderness begins at the river's edge.
4

Information and Points of Interest

Heart of the Monster

A volcanic rock formation

east of Kamiah represents the

heart of the monster from

which, according to Nez Perce

legend, the Nimiipuu originated.

Kooskia Crossing

Once a major crossing point

for loggers and miners, and the

base of a grain and freight tramway to the Camas Prairie, this site

now offers recreation information

for travelers and a weigh station

for the Idaho Transportation

Department.

Kooskia Ranger Station

Turn off Highway 12 onto the

bridge which crosses the Middle

Fork of the Clearwater River. Here

the South Fork joins the Middle

Fork to form the Clearwater River.

Turn left to the ranger station.

The following sites are listed

west to east, from Orofino to Lolo

Pass. Most sites ar ost sites are identified on

the map. (Note: Hours of the map. (Note: Hours of

operation and services provided

are subject to change.) are subject to change.)

Canoe Camp

At this Nez Perce National

Historical Park site Lewis and

Clark and their Corps of

Discovery made canoes in 1805.

The site features historical

information and a parklike setting

for a picnic.

North Fork Ranger Station

In Orofino stop by to view

exhibits, browse the books and

other items for sale and ask the

friendly staff for help with your

trip plans.

Kamiah Ranger Station

The ranger station is in

Kamiah along Highway 12. The

staff can answer questions about

visitor attractions in the area.

Kamiah City Park

Before you cross the bridge,

turn right into the city park. You'll

find picnic tables, restrooms and

shady areas to rest along the river.

There are also signs about the Nez

Perce Indians and the Lewis and

Clark Expedition.

At this Nez Perce National Historical Park

site you'll find a rest stop, picnic area and

interpretation of the Nez Perce Heart of

the Monster legend.
5

Lochsa Historical

Ranger Station

Visit an old-time ranger

station and take a self-guided

tour around the grounds. Stop

by to talk with the Forest

Service retirees who staff the

station. They love to share their

stories of what life was like at

remote stations years ago. The

station is open seven days a week,

Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Colgate Licks

Named for George Colgate,

cook for the ill-fated Carlin

hunting party who died here in

1893; and for natural mineral

deposits or "licks," the site has a 1⁄2-

mile National Recreation Trail. As

you walk along, you'll pass by

cedar snags, charred from fires that

swept the area decades ago.

Wendover

You'll find Lewis and Clark

information near Wendover

Campground. At this stop you'll

be about where Lewis and Clark

began their climb from the river

canyon to the ridge (the Lolo Trail)

on their journey west in 1805.

Powell Ranger Station

Turn off Highway 12 at the

junction to Powell Ranger Station.

Here you'll find a campground

and a rustic resort providing

tourist services.

Lolo Pass Visitor Center

and Rest Area

Stop by the new Lolo Pass

Visitor Center near the IdahoMontana state line and follow

the journey of Lewis and Clark

through the interpretive exhibits

on display.

Outdoors, hike the 1⁄4-mile

meadow interpretive trail,

which begins near the visitor

center and loops back to it. Just

follow the signs.

Contact the Powell Ranger

Station for visitor center hours

of operation.

The Montana Side

Once you cross the state line,

you'll find more places to camp

and sights to see as you travel east

on Highway 12.

For more information, contact

the Lolo National Forest (see back

page) and refer to the center map

for campground locations.

A pack string is loaded and ready for work at

the Lochsa Ranger Station in the 1930s.
6

The Middle Fork of the Clearwater River flows by as a visitor

enjoys lunch in the shade. Enjoy your stay at any one of the picnic

areas or campgrounds along Highway 12.

Camping and Picnicking

Public Campgrounds

and Picnic Areas

Most Forest Service

campgrounds east of Kooskia

along Highway 12 open by

Memorial Day weekend and

remain open through Labor Day

or longer. You may stay in one

location 14 days.

Undeveloped Campsites

You can camp outside

developed campgrounds. Follow

these few guidelines to

select your campsite.

• Use an existing

campsite at least 200

feet from water.

• Avoid trampling streambanks.

• Consider your neighbors. Pitch

your camp well away from others.

• Always pack out litter.

• Carry a shovel and a bucket

during fire season, May 10

through October 20.

• Leave no trace of your visit.

If you have questions about

camping regulations outside

developed areas, stop by any

ranger station for information.
7

Things to Do

River Floating

The Lochsa River whitewater

rafting and kayaking season begins

in April and usually runs through

June. You can take a day or an

overnight trip with a commercial

outfitter, or you can ride the

whitewater on your own

(technical expertise a must).

You'll find several developed

river access points with parking

along Highway 12.

River Access Site Mile Marker

◆ Knife Edge 107

◆ Split Creek 111

◆ Fish Creek 119

◆ Nine Mile 130

◆ White Pine 138

You do not need a permit to

raft or kayak the Lochsa. For your

free brochure showing rapids

locations and ratings, contact the

Kooskia Ranger Station.

Swimming

Hot summer days and

swimming go together. While

you'll find no designated

swimming holes in the Wild and

Scenic Rivers canyon, you will see

a few likely places to pull over and

take a cooling dip.

The Middle Fork of the

Clearwater River is wider and

smoother than the Lochsa, but both

rivers can be dangerous. In some

places a strong current runs just under

the water's surface. Be careful, and

watch over your children and pets.

Fishing and Hunting

If you enjoy fishing or hunting, you've come to the right

place. Cutthroat and rainbow

trout, chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. Elk,

deer, moose, bear, cougar and

mountain goats make the steep

canyon country their home.

Fishing or hunting, you'll find

the challenge you're after in a

rugged and primitive landscape.

Check the Idaho

Department of Fish and Game

regulations booklets for

answers to your hunting and

fishing questions. Look for the

department's address and

phone number on the back of

this brochure. Kayaker on the Lochsa River works to turn the

craft in swift water.
8

Lowell

Weippe

Orofino

Recreation Site Units Picnic Water Toilet Fee 

1 Pink House Hole 18     

2 Canoe Camp   

3 Heart of the Monster    

4 Tukaytespe’ PA   

5 Three Devils PA    

6 Wild Goose CG 6     

7 Apgar Creek CG 7     

8 Knife Edge RA 4   

9 Split Creek RA  

10 Fish Creek RA  

11 Wilderness Gateway CG 91     

12 Lochsa Historical Ranger Station 

13 Nine Mile RA  

14 White Pine RA 

15 Colgate Licks Trail  

16 Jerry Johnson CG 15     

17 Wendover CG 27     

18 Whitehouse CG 13     

19 Powell CG 39     

20 White Sand CG 6     

t

CG = Campground PA = Picnic Area RA = River Access 

◆

◆

◆

◆

7 8

◆ 9

11

◆

◆

◆

◆

◆

24

25

26 27 28

30

◆

29

d

To Lewiston



◆

10

224

133

2

3

4

6

Pierce

d

1

Greer

5 d

◆







 ◆ ◆



d 12



13

107

223

2 2

◆

11

11

 Recreation Site 

21 Devoto Grove PA 

22 Lee Creek CG 

23 Lewis and Clark CG 

24 Johnson Bar CG 

25 O’Hara Bar CG 

26 Rackliff CG 

27 Boyd Creek CG 

28 Glover CG 

29 Gedney Creek CG 

30 Selway Falls CG 

12

12

CG = Campground 

Syringa

Kooskia

Kamiah

203

 d







Lochsa River

Selway River

Middle Fork Clearwater

Lo

River

100

100

535

103

104

500

101

50

C

0

learwater

500





South Fork Clearwater

Stites

Elk City Wagon Road

Fenn
9

t

 Rivers and Creeks

 U.S. Highway 12

 State Highway

 Lolo Motorway (Road 500)

 Secondary Roads

 Scenic Byway

 Trails

 Points of Interest

 Rental Lookouts

 Recreation Sites

 Information Sites

 Ranger Stations

To Hamilton

◆

◆

◆

◆

Lolo Pass

◆

13

16

17 18 19 20

21





◆

◆

206

469

49

IDAHO

MONTANA

Lolo

t

14

◆ ◆

211

15

Units Picnic Water Toilet Fee 

   

22     

17     

7  

34     

6     

5     

7     

3   

7    

12

12

◆22

◆23

LEGEND

PA = Picnic Area RA = River Access 

To Missoula

204

ochsa

River

107

500

569

d







d

85

11

Powell

◆

12

The river canyon is rich in history, with archaeological and

historic sites. People, stock animals and vehicles can damage

the land. Please travel and camp only where permitted. Make

no new trails. Enjoy your stay, but take only photographs and

memories with you.

Sites and artifacts on public lands are protected by federal law.

If you discover such remains, please leave them undisturbed.

Report discoveries or violations of the law to Forest Service

personnel. Violators will be fined $200 to $5000 for disturbing

sites or artifacts.
10

Side Tripping by Road

Fenn Ranger Station looks

out on the Selway River

from its site five miles south

of Highway 12. Turn off

the highway at Lowell to

visit the station, listed on

the National Register of

Historic Places.

History Trips

Selway River Road

At Lowell, you can cross the

bridge and get on Selway River

Road. You can travel 20 miles to

road's end.

Along the road you’ll find

campgrounds, picnic and swimming areas, trailheads and the

historic Fenn Ranger Station. Stop

by the ranger station for information and to look at this piece of

history built in the late 1930s by

the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Gold Rush Historic Byway

You can cross the Clearwater

River at Greer, 7 miles east of

Orofino, to follow the Gold Rush

Historic Byway (State Highway 11).

You'll pass through rolling fields of

grain and grasses on your way to

Weippe. There the Niimipuu fed

starving members of the Lewis and

Clark Expedition in 1805.

Keep traveling, and you enter

forests on your way to Pierce, 10

miles distant. Miners discovered

gold near Pierce in the 1860s.

Remnants of history remain—old

buildings, a logging museum and

a collection of artifacts from

Chinese miners (on display in the

city library.) Travel another 12

miles north to Headquarters,

once a bustling company lumber

town. You've reached the end of

the byway.

Note: Gravel and dirt roads

leading off the main highway can

be treacherous. Many are

unsuitable for highway vehicles.

Refer to Forest Service maps for

more information before you decide

to explore these routes.

You can buy maps at most area

ranger stations.
11

Lolo Motorway

The Lolo Motorway is

narrow, a one-lane road with

nothing more than what nature

supplies as a surface. Some

stretches hold big rocks that can

scrape the underside of a lowclearance vehicle. It’s best to drive

a tough vehicle with high clearance

and good tires. Towing

trailers or driving RVs or

motor homes on many

stretches of the

motorway is not

advised.

The high

elevation route

is open and free

of snow

generally from

July through

September.

In the 1930s the

Lolo Motorway

replaced historic

paths that

traversed the

ridges west of

the Bitterroot

Divide. The route the

motorway follows once bore the

footprints of early Indians. The

Lewis and Clark Expedition also

struggled along these same ridges

in 1805 and again in 1806. In the

1860s the Bird-Truax Trail was

surveyed and constructed along

the ridge line.

Elk City Wagon Road

Cross the bridge into Kooskia

and follow State Highway 13 to

Harpster. A sign on the left marks

the turnoff to reach the Elk City

Wagon Road. Keep in mind: The

Wagon Road is a one-lane, winding road with few turnouts. Please

don't travel it in your RV. Overhanging branches and the

sometimes rough road

could damage your

vehicle.

The historic

route originated

from the

Southern Nez

Perce Trail, a

trail used by the

Nimiipuu to

travel from the

Camas Prairie in

Idaho to the

Bitterroot Valley in

Montana.

The first gold

miners from Pierce

used the trail on their

way to explore the Elk City

area in 1861. During the mining

boom which followed, the trail

became a thoroughfare and was

modified for pack strings

and wagons.

 The Elk City

Wagon Road was

constructed in 1894-95,

closely following the original trail.

Want to get away from it all?

Consider renting a retired fire

lookout tower or a rustic cabin. Call

Clearwater or Nez Perce National

Forest offices for information.
12

Side Tripping by Trail

Day Hikes

You can stop along Highway 12 to take a hike or stretch your legs at

several places. In most cases, you’re hiking up and back on the same trail.

The following suggested hiking trails are listed west to east. (Each is

shown on the brochure map.)

• Canyon Creek Trail 107

Trailhead on the north side of

Highway 12 across from Apgar

Campground. Ferns and moss

drape the rock wall on one side of

this narrow canyon trail.

• Fish Butte Trail 223

and Fish Creek Trail 224

Just west of Lochsa Historical

Ranger Station. Drive in 1⁄4

mile to trailhead. Trail 223 leads

to Fish Butte. Drive to road's end

to pick up Trail 224 to Obia

Cabin, 4 miles away.

• Snowshoe Falls

Section of Downriver Trail 2 just

west of milepost 118. Initially it is

a steep climb. Then the trail

becomes gentle for the 1⁄4-mile

walk to the falls, a cool respite on

hot summer days.

• Powell Complex ell Complex Trail 25

Turn off at Powell Junction and

enter Powell Campground. Park

near the picnic area and follow the

11⁄2-mile trail westward through

cool, shady cedar and larch trees.

Trail dead ends at highway.

For more hiking

information, pick up

your free trail guide at

any Clearwater

National Forest office.

Trails to the Lolo Motorway

• Sherman Creek Trail 203

Trailhead on the north side of the

highway across from Wilderness

Gateway Campground. This 7.1-

mile steep trail takes 5 hours to

hike. Difficult for bike travel.

• Skookum Creek Trail 204

Trailhead on north side of highway across from Eagle Mountain

pack bridge. Steep and narrow,

this 5.5-mile trail takes 3 hours to

hike. Unsafe for bike travel.

• Wendover Trail 25

Trailhead on north side of

highway at milepost

153. Climb the 7-mile

route followed by

Lewis and Clark up

Wendover Ridge to

the Lolo Trail.
13

• Mocus Point Trail 469

Cross the Mocus Point Pack

Bridge to access this 4.9-mile

mainline trail. Trail offers a

moderate-to-difficult hike as it

passes through cedar and fir

groves.

• Warm Springs Trail 49

Cross the Warm Springs

Pack Bridge to get on

Trail 49. It follows

Warm Springs

Creek through

old-growth cedar,

spruce, fir and

lodgepole.

Pack bridges cross the Lochsa River,

providing hikers and stock users access to

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness trails.

Trail 211 winds into the Selway-Bitterroot

Wilderness after crossing Boulder Creek.

Trails to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

Grand fir, also known

as white fir, is one tree

species you'll see along

Warm Springs Trail 49.

From Highway 12 cross

the Lochsa River on pack

bridges which lead to Wilderness trails (foot or stock traffic

only on bridges and Wilderness trails). You'll find parking

for stock trailers and access for

stock at most trailheads.

• Split Creek Ridge eek Ridge Trail 133

Cross the Split Creek Pack

Bridge at mile marker 111.

Hike 5 hours to Louse Lake

(11 miles). Spring at mile 3.

• Boulder Creek Trail 211

Get on this mainline trail from

Wilderness Gateway Campground.

You'll encounter steep side slopes

and strings of pack animals the

first 5 miles.

• Eagle Mountain ountain Trail 206

Cross the pack bridge and follow

Trail 206 for 2-3 miles through

cool cedar groves.Trail mostly

follows a rocky, rugged, high ridge.
14

The “pretty purple

flower” you see

along Highway 12 is

Spotted Knapweed.

This noxious weed

can cause liver and

brain damage in

horses.

Spotted Knapweed

continues its spread

in the Wild and

Scenic Rivers

canyon. Please, do

not pick ANY plant

in the canyon.

Changing Landscapes

Water and Landslides

Gravity pulls patiently at the

steep canyon walls. Watch out!

Rocks can tumble onto the

highway anytime but especially in

late winter and early spring when

snow melts, saturates the ground

and loosens the earth—or when

rain pounds the ground.

Runoff from winter snow

leaves its mark on the land. Once

in awhile melting snow, coupled

with heavy rain, builds water

volume so fast streams "blow

out." You can see evidence of a

recent blowout at milepost 124.7.

In 1995 a "rain-on-snow event"

put so much water and debris in

Noseeum Creek that it scoured its

own channel and took out a

section of Highway 12.

Fire

Natural in the river canyon,

fires often start from lightning

strikes. They can spread fast on

hot, dry days.

Fierce fires burned through

the river canyon in 1910, 1919,

1929 and 1934.

You may experience the heat

of the fire season if you're traveling in the summer, especially July

and August. Smoke can hang in

river canyons even from fires

miles away.

Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds are spreading

at the rate of 4600 acres each day.

Seeds scatter when they lodge on

ATVs or the tails and manes of

stock animals, when the wind

blows them to uninfested ground

and when people pick "bouquets"

then discard them.

These non-native

plants are considered

noxious because they force

out native plants,

destroying wildlife habitat.

They suck essential

nutrients and fungi from

soil, harming watersheds

and ecosystems. They can

pose a health threat to

humans and livestock.
15

Constructing Highway 12

Construction of a highway

through the Lochsa River canyon

began in the early 1900s on both

east and west ends. Work

continued over the years until the

highway opened in 1961.

Rail Line Surveys

In 1908 the Northern Pacific

and Union Pacific Railroads began

surveying a route along the

Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers east

to Lolo Pass and over the Bitterroot Divide into Montana. The

Northern Pacific won the surveying race but never built the line.

What they did get was every

other section of public land.

Today from Powell to

Lolo Pass that legacy

lives. Landownership skips from

public to private,

section by section,

in a checkerboard pattern.

Hazards of the Road

Truck Traffic

On Highway 12 truck traffic can

be heavy, particularly when the wheat

fields of Montana spill their bounty

into trailers bound for westward

ports. Be prepared, and expect a

truck around the next blind curve.

Slow Traffic

Some people are unaccustomed

to driving on winding mountain

roads. Slow down, and be patient.

Watch your speed. Take posted

limits seriously.

Rocks and Road Graders Rocks and Road Graders

In late winter and early spring

graders may be clearing the roadway of rocks and debris. Keep that

in mind, and think ahead to what

might be around the next bend.

Road Crews Road Crews

Watch for flaggers slowing or

stopping traffic for road work in

the summer. In the winter give

snow plows plenty of room.

Wildlife Wildlife

At any time of year

you will see wildlife

near or even on the

road. You may

round a corner to

meet an elk, a

moose or a deer—

a close encounter

of the wrong

kind.

U.S. Highway 12, 1962

Watch for

moose!
16

The U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

prohibits

discrimination in its

programs on the basis

of race, national origin,

sex, religion, age,

disability, political

beliefs, sexual

orientation, or marital

or family status. (Not all

prohibited bases apply

to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities

who require alternative

means for

communication of

program information

(Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should

contact USDA’s TARGET

Center at 202-720-2600

(voice and TDD). To file

a complaint of

discrimination, write

USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326-

W, Whitten Building,

1400 Independence

Avenue SW, Washington,

DC 20250-9410, or call

202-720-5964 (voice or

TDD). USDA Forest

Service is an equal

opportunity provider

and employer.

Clearwater National Forest

12730 Highway 12

Orofino, ID 83544

208-476-4541

TDD 208-476-0129

www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater

Lochsa Ranger District Lochsa Ranger District

Kamiah Ranger Station

Rt. 2, Box 191

Kamiah, ID 83536

208-935-2513

Kooskia Ranger Station

Rt. 1, Box 398

Kooskia, ID 83539

208-926-4274

Powell Ranger District istrict

Powell Ranger Station

Lolo, MT 59847

208-942-3113

Nez Perce National Forest

Route 2, Box 475

Grangeville, ID 83530

208-983-1950

TDD 208-983-2280

www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce

Lolo National Forest

Bldg. 24A Fort Missoula

Missoula, MT 59804

406-329-3750

TDD 406-329-1048

www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo

R1-04-30

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Idaho Department Idaho Department

of Fish & Game

1540 Warner Ave.

Lewiston, ID 83501

208-799-5010

www.state.id.us/fishgame

Idaho Outfitters &

Guides Association

P.O. Box 95

Boise, ID 83701

208-342-1438

www.ioga.org