A Guide to Recreation on the

Moose Creek Ranger District

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest

Service NEZ PERCE NATIONAL FOREST

Selway River

Corridor

Syringa, Idaho's state flower; blooms on the Selway from May to July
 to the Selway River Corridor of the Moose Creek Ranger District. The beautiful Selway River, flows through the heart of this

wild and rugged land. Congress designated the Selway River as an

outstanding national resource under the Wild and Scenic River Act

in 1968. This country is known for its extraordinary scenery, exceptional water quality and excellent wildlife viewing opportunity.

 Historic Fenn Ranger Station

 A stop at Fenn Ranger Station, our main office, is an easy fivemile drive from Lowell. It is on the National Register of Historic

Places. Built in the late thirties, this office is an outstanding example of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) construction.

 If you need assistance, our office is open Monday through

Friday. Or stop and ask any of our employees in the forest. We are

here to serve you and we want your stay on the Selway to be very

enjoyable.

Sincerely,

The folks at the

Moose Creek Ranger District Page 1

 Welcome...
 Page

2Page 2

Page 2

 Road and Trail Access

 Some modes of travel may be restricted to protect areas sensitive

for big-game animals like elk. Other times, roads and trails are

closed during wet weather to prevent roadbed damage and erosion.

In some specific instances, certain types of travel are restricted to

insure pubic safety. A Nez Perce Forest visitor map and access

guide are available at Fenn Ranger Station. The map and guide

show all roads and trails with applicable closures or restrictions.

 Forest Road #223, also called the Selway River Road, is paved to

O'Hara Creek Bridge. From there, the road narrows and has a gravel

or dirt surface. During the summer months especially, the road is

heavily traveled. Washboard conditions are often present on gravel

or dirt roads in the Selway River corridor. Visitors should inquire at

the district about current road conditions and possible logging

traffic.

 Six roads leave the Selway River canyon, as shown on the map

on pages five and six. Four of these, the Coolwater (#317), Fog

Mountain (#319), Indian Hill (#290) and Falls Point (#443) were

built by the CCCs in the 1930s. These roads are steep, narrow,

winding with little or no surfacing and slippery when wet. The

roads are usually blocked by snow at higher elevations until after

July 4th and bad weather can make them dangerous at any time.

Gates accessing the above roads are opened June 15 and closed

November 4 each year.

 Except for the Falls Point Road which is under heavy forest

cover, the roads afford views of the Selway Canyon. You may also

find berries in season along the roadsides.

 The Swiftwater (#470) and Hamby (#651) roads have gravel

surfacing and lead past timber harvest sites and plantations and

connect to other roads out of Elk City. They offer some vistas. You

will probably encounter log trucks and other visitors on these roads.

 One of the main questions visitors ask is what are Selway Falls

like? Selway Falls are most spectacular during the spring melt from

April through June. The remainder of the year, the water flow drops

to a fairly low level.

Selway Falls
Page 3

 Local Trails Numerous trails lead out of the the Selway River Canyon. Four

of these are described below. See trail locations on pages 5 and 6.

These trails are open to hikers, horseback riders, bicycles and motorbikes.

 Meadow Creek Trail (#726): Other than the Selway River

Trail #4 into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, this is the most

heavily-used trail in the area. The first three miles of the trail are

open to all users listed above, the rest of the trail is open to hikers

and horseback riders only. There are rustic camping and picnic spots

along the trail. It offers some fishing opportunities.

 East Boyd-Glover-Roundtop Trail (#703 and #704): This is a

23-mile loop trail. It is difficult to make the loop in one day except

when traveling on motorbikes. You will have good views of the

canyon, but there is little or no water along the maintained six-mile

route.

 Gedney Creek Trail (#708): This 11-mile trail, maintained for

five miles, climbs more than 5000 feet to Cove Lakes over Gedney

Mountain. The middle stretch is through heavy brush; the last

section is hard to find. We don't recommend it as a wilderness

access trail. Fishing opportunities exist along Gedney Creek.

 O'Hara Creek Trail (#713): Starting at the first hairpin turn

about four miles up the Hamby Road, this trail follows O'Hara Creek

to O'Hara Saddle. You'll need to cross the creek three times which is

hazardous when water is high. The trail beyond Saddle Creek hasn't

been maintained for many years and is hard to find in places.

 If you plan ahead, you can get topographic (contour) maps from

the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Distribution, Box 25286,

Denver, Colorado 80225.

 Be sure and stop at Fenn Ranger Station for the latest information

on trail conditions and restrictions, and stock use.

 Services

 Lowell is the commercial center of the Selway. There you will

find food, groceries, gasoline, camping supplies, Fish & Game

licenses, outfitter services, lodging and public telephones.

 For those of you with trailers, dump station facilities are located

at Wilderness Gateway Campground between Lowell and Powell

and also at Kamiah.

Page 3
Camping For the camper, the Selway corridor offers 11 campgrounds with

restrooms. See campground locations on pages 5 and 6. They are

operated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campers may stay in a

single recreation site for a maximum of 14 nights.Drinking water is

only available at O'Hara Campground. Several campgrounds are

located near hiking and horse trails which wind through spectacular

backcountry and into the Selway-Bitterrroot Wilderness.

 O'Hara Campground, located 7 miles up Selway Road #223, is

a reserve campground. Selected O'Hara sites can be reserved

through the National Recreation Reservation System at 877-444-

6777 or by Internet at www.ReserveUSA.com. The campground

roads and pullouts are paved and accomodate larger RVs with easy

access.

 At O'Hara Creek, there is a one-mile, one-way self-guided

interpretive tour. Walk or drive the tour and enjoy six sites that

show how O'Hara Creek has been rehabilitated. "O'Hara Creek - A

Self-Guided Tour" brochure is available at the ranger station or you

can pick one up at the "O'Hara Creek - A Creek Reborn" interpretive sign across from the campground.

 Page 4

 Wilderness The Selway River Corridor area is bounded on the east side by

the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Remember the use of motorized

or mechanized equipment or vehicles is not permitted in a designated wilderness.

 To help safeguard the naturalness of wilderness, practice "leave

no trace" techniques to ensure the country you came to enjoy will

remain pristine for future generations. Another safeguard is the use

of certified weed-free products. All forage or mulch used on national forest lands in Idaho must be certified noxious weed free.

 When camping at primitive locations, please follow these guidelines:

• Choose a site 200 feet from trails and water.

• Use existing fire grates and fire rings when building campfires.

• When going to the bathroom, do as a cat: dig a hole and bury human

waste and paper. Maintain a distance of 200 feet from water and

trails.

• Make sure your campfire is dead out when you leave.

• Pack out all trash, both yours and that of others.

• Leave no trace of your stay.

i Water from springs, lakes, ponds and
Lochsa River

Selway

O'Hara Creek

Fenn 

Pond

223

Lowell

12

N

a

651

Legend

U.S. Highway

Paved Road

Gravel Road

Non-Surfaced Road

Forest Road

River/Creek

Trail

468

Federal Campgrounds

Lookout

Interpretive Sign

Day Use Site

District Office

Wilderness Area

Lowell

 Kiosk

O'Hara

 Kiosk

Rackliff Creek

U

317

Nineteen Mil

a

e C

2

1

3

4

5

To Missoula, MT.

 To 

Lewiston, 

 ID.

470

a a

Moose Creek 

Ranger District

Idaho Point

 Road

Lookout

 Butte 

1113

O'Hara Creek 

 Trail #713

y a

Page 5

M # ap # C r ampground or Site Owne # of

Units P t icnic T r oile W r ate RV/T

Ease

of

Access

1 d J S ohnson Bar Campgroun U 7 SF •• • ●

2 d C S CC Campgroun U 3 SF • • ●

3 d R S ackliff Campgroun U 6 SF • •

4 d O S ’Hara Bar Campgroun U 2 SF 3 ••• • ●

5 d T S wentymile Bar Campgroun U 2 SF •

6 d S S lide Creek Campgroun U 2 SF •

7 d B S oyd Creek Campgroun U 5 SF •• •

8 d T S wentyfive Mile Bar Campgroun U 2 SF •

9 d G S lover Campgroun U 7 SF • •

1 d 0 S S elway Falls Campgroun U 7 SF • • ◆

1 p 1 S S lims Cam U 2 SF •• • ◆

1 d 2 R S ace Creek Campgroun U 3 SF • • ◆
River

Meadow Creek

Twenty-Three Mile Creek

SELWAY-BITTERROOT

WILDERNESS

443

a

a

Selway 

Fallsa

Wild & Scenic

Boyd Creek

Glover Creek

U

Coolwater 

 Lookout

Indian Hill

 Lookout

319

290

East Boyd-Glover-Roundtop

National Recreation Trail

 #703 and #704

Meadow Creek

National Recreation 

Trail #726

a

e Creek

6 Slide Creek

7

8

9

10

11

a a a 223

Meadow

 Creek 

Cabin

s

s

Selway Falls

Ranger Station

Gedney Creek

Gedney

Trail #708

U Trail #206

Trail #343

Trail #4

Trail #602

12

Page 6

"Ease of Access" refers to how the site

meets current accessibility standards

for persons with disabilities.

Challenge levels are indicated by the

following symbols:

● Easy ■ Moderate ◆ Difficult
 Just imagine what

life must have been

like as a Forest Ranger

stationed at Meadow

Creek back in the

1920s and 30s.

 The Meadow Creek

Guard Station, 15

miles up the Meadow

Creek Trail, was

originally built in the

early 1920s. It is

eligible for nomination

to the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors may stay here under the cabin rental

program. The station consists of five buildings. The main cabin

contains the office, a sleeping area and the kitchen. The bunkhouse

contains a main room and loft. There is also a tack shed, woodshed

and outhouse. A post and pole corral is available for stock. There

is a rental fee for the cabin with a maxium use period of seven

nights. The rental season is

May 1 through September 15.

The indoor water system is

operable between June 15 and

September 15, but this water

comes from a small creek and

is not drinkable. The water

must be boiled or filtered

before drinking or culinary use.

 Lookout Butte

Lookout Butte Fire Tower

Page 7

 If hiking or riding stock 15

miles to a cabin does not fit

your needs, you can drive to

the Lookout Butte fire tower.

 The "glass walls" of the

lookout afford a 360-degree

view, at an elevation of 5869

feet. Perched atop the wooden

tower, you can enjoy the rugged

beauty of four states - Idaho,

Washington, Oregon and Montana.

Meadow Creek Guard Station

Meadow Creek Guard Station
Page 8

Hunting Big game species found in the area include black bear, elk,

moose, mule deer, whitetail deer and cougar.

 The Moose Creek District is open to hunting during designated

hunting seasons. Discharging firearms, however, is prohibited near

developed recreation sites, Forest Service buildings and living

quarters. There are stretches of private land and residences along

the Selway corridor. Landowner permission is required to hunt on

private lands. Please respect private property.

 Specific hunting information can be obtained by contacting Idaho

Fish & Game (IDF&G) at the address and phone number on the back

of this brochure. Before going on your hunting trip, contact the

ranger station for access conditions.

 In the center of the lookout cabin you will find a firefinder and a

map. Aligning the firefinder on various locations will help you

identify landmarks and features of the area. The lookout is available

for rent June 15 through September 30 with a seven-night maximum

stay. There is an outhouse near the tower, but no drinking water is

available.

 Trout species in the District include rainbow, cutthroat, bull trout

and eastern brook. Check the IDF&G fishing regulations for open

seasons and catchable species. Some fishing for whitefish also

occurs in the winter. Be aware that chinook salmon and steelhead

also spawn and rear in these streams. Currently, there is no season

in the Selway River drainages for these two species of fish. Special

regulations are in place to protect native fish species in the Selway River.

 Fenn Pond,

located across from

Fenn Ranger Station, is stocked with

catchable fish

during the summer

months. It has a

smooth accessible

trail and boardwalk

and is ideal for

children and those

who can't traverse

rugged ground.

Page 8

Fishing

Fenn Pond
 Hike to an area

away from human

activity and sit

quietly for a while.

Near the river you

may see beaver,

moose, deer, elk,

black bear and an

occasional mink or

otter. The Selway

River is also home

for nesting pairs of

osprey; they arrive in

the spring and leave

for warmer wintering grounds in the fall. The endangered bald

eagle, on the other hand, uses the river during the winter. Other

birds that can be seen are wild turkeys, heron and the dipper.

 The Coeur d' Alene Salamander is found only along the Selway

River and Meadow Creek of the Nez Perce National Forest. They

like spring seeps, waterfall spray zones and small cascading streams.

This salamander has no lungs! An amphibian, it breathes through

its skin. Adults measure about 4 inches in length.

Swimming

 There are several "sand bars" along the river, the most popular

being Johnson Bar. These sites are undeveloped beaches with no

lifeguards. Please use extreme care if you explore the waters.

Watch out for moss-covered rocks, submerged logs and swift, cold

water. Floating The Selway River from below Selway Falls to Lowell provides a

nice twenty-mile float trip. During spring runoff (usually May

through June) the river offers kayaking opportunities. From July

through August, the water level drops and provides canoeing, rafting

and tubing opportunities. At all times of the year, river users should

scout rapids before attempting any river running activity.

 Permits for floating, canoeing or kayaking are not required below

Selway Falls, but are required above. If you want to float the upper

Selway, contact the West Fork Ranger District, Bitterroot National

Forest (address and phone # on back page of this brochure).

 Page 9

Coeur d' Alene Salamander

Wildlife Viewing
Page 10

Page 10

Woodcutting

 If you are gathering wood for camp use, a permit is not required.

Please use only dead and down wood. If you plan to cut wood for

your home use, a valid firewood permit is required prior to cutting

or hauling wood from national forest lands. A permit can be purchased at the ranger station. Firewood cutting is prohibited within

this designated Wild & Scenic River corridor.

Safety

 Food and odors attract bears, so keep a clean camp and store

food and garbage properly at all times. Do not store food in tents.

 Watch out for poison ivy, rattlesnakes and yellowjackets in the

Selway area.

Cultural Heritage Evidence exists which indicates people have inhabited northern

Idaho for over 10,000 years. The Selway River region was heavily

used during prehistoric as well as historic times. The Nez Perce

people called this area home along with settlers who homesteaded

here. The Forest Service also established several administrative

sites along the Selway River.

 From the careful study and analysis of the artifacts from these

sites, archaeologists can relay this information to the public in

several different ways. The remains of prehistoric and historic

cultures belong to all of us. If artifacts are removed from a site,

significant information can be lost forever. Each artifact is a piece

of the puzzle. Without all the pieces, the picture is not complete

and questions go unanswered.

 All prehistoric and historic artifacts (either on the ground's

surface or buried underground) are protected by various laws and

regulations. If you find evidence of past use of the Forest by prehistoric or historic people, please do not disturb the artifacts or site.

Contact the nearest Forest Service office to report the location of

your discovery.

Fire & Smoke

 Because of the high occurrence of fire in this area, hazy and

smoky conditions may be encountered evenings and early mornings,

especially in late summer. It is a good idea to call the ranger station

during fire season to find out current access and trail conditions.
For More Information

R1-01-67

The United States

Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

Forest Service

prohibits discrimination in its programs

on the basis of race,

color, national origin,

sex, religion, age,

disability, political

belief and familial or

marital status.

Persons with disabilities who require

alternative means of

communication of

program information

should contact the

USDA's Target

Center at (202)720-

2600 (voice and

TDD). To file a

complaint, write the

Secretary, USDA ,

Washington, DC

20250, or call

(800)245-6340

(voice) or (202)720-

1127 (TDD). USDA

is an equal opportunity employer.

Moose Creek Ranger District

Fenn Ranger Station

HCR 75, Box 91

Kooskia, ID 83539

(208) 926-4258 *TDD (208) 926-7725

Nez Perce National Forest

Route 2, Box 475

Grangeville, ID 83530

(208) 983-1950 *TTD (208) 983-2280

www.fed.us/r1/nezperce

West Fork Ranger District

6735 West Fork Road

Darby, MT 59829

(406) 821-3269

Idaho Department of Fish & Game

1540 Warner Avenue

Lewiston, Idaho 83501

(208) 799-5010

www.idfg.state.id.us

*Telephone for Hearing Impaired

Cover Photo Credit: Nancy Carlson