It's hard not to love the town of Stanley, Idaho. At 6260 feet elevation, this community of a hundred hearty folks lies at the base of the stunning Sawtooth Mountain range, with a view of the White Cloud peaks across U.S. Highway 93. Stanley is the town closest to the headwaters of the famous River of No Return. It is situated in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and is one of Idahos must see places. This mile-high town got its start as a trading center for nearby mines.
Mining is still an important element in the towns success.
Approximately one thousand folks live in Challis, many of them connected to cattle ranching. With a population of approximately three thousand, Salmon is the largest town along the Salmon River. It was near here that Sacagawea was born. The town got its start when gold was discovered in 1866, but today Salmon is a cattle town and, increasingly, a recreation center for river running, steelhead fishing and elk hunting. Riggins is wedged in between high mountains steep enough to deter outward growth.