Salmon River, Riggins - Idaho

Looking down to river from city park

We have died and gone to heaven - this area is just so pretty!  So hard to put into words the beauty and nature we see.  Yesterday we went into Riggins - the closest town to where we are camping here in Pollock and stopped at the US Forest Service Office to get information on what to see and do while here.  We got sensory overload.  Did get a little disappointed when we found out that the two major roads (dirt roads) into Devils Canyon Wilderness area are still snow covered and hence closed, but there are other things to do while here.  Again, timing is everything - if we were here about two weeks later, we could have done the drive, but the snow will stop us.

Looking east on the Salmon River - notice rafter?

While in town we parked at the city park to overlook the Salmon River and the fishing going on.  There are some serious enterprises here.  White water rafting, fishing tours, helicopter tours, you name it and pay for it, you can do it.  We drove along the Salmon River on a road that at times was very narrow and only allow one car to pass at a time, and was just stunned at the scenery.  We traveled about 15 miles to where the road became very narrow and felt that with our large truck, just to find an area to turn around might be impossible.  As we traveled along this road and had the river raging by us, at the next turn our breaths would be taken away with the scene.  This area is BLM land and primitive camping is allowed and found a number of sites taken.  Rafters, fishing folks, did not see any hikers, did see a biker (wow!), saw horses so there had to be a ranch somewhere ? and lots of raw pristine land.  Did I tell you how pretty?

Baby deer just hanging around

Would love to live here.  Got out of the car at one point and walked along the river and found 3 mule deer just grazing right at the water's edge.  Two quickly went away and the third (smaller - possibly a baby) just was amazed at us, kept us about 30 feet away, but stayed for quite some time.  Found also at least 50 butterflies right on the water's edge.  Rafters floating by, could tell some were on a tour, some were privately owned.  Still trying to figure out what to do - have gotten more literature to review and hopefully will do a hike tomorrow.  An awesome day!

Raw beauty of Salmon River