It’s always fun planning a Road Trip. What is the destination(s), what are the goals, are you going to be a true tourist along the way, and of course, how far can your pocketbook take you? When I was planning our Road Trip to Idaho, I had two goals in mind. Both Becky and I wanted to see Hell’s Canyon and I wanted to fly fish the Salmon River….The River of No Return. On our Journey, we did some touristy things, experienced a very unexpected event along the way, and we even stopped at Places Ya Just Pointed At.
Living in Western Washington there are several highways you can travel on to get you to Idaho. We chose U.S. Hwy 12, which took us by Mt Rainier, over a beautiful pass (a gap for you folks living out East) in the Cascades, and through the rolling farmland of the Palouse to where we started our Idaho Journey. By the way…. just a fun fact…. U.S. Hwy 12 is an East/West continental road, which has been broken up by the Interstate Highway System. U.S. 12 starts, or ends, in Aberdeen WA, which is on the Pacific Coast, and wonders through 11 states and ends, or starts, in Detroit Michigan at the border with Windsor, Canada.
After a day of driving Hwy 12 across Washington State and reaching the Idaho border, we headed north on U.S. Hwy 95 to Worley, ID, where we had a room reservation at the Coeur d’ Alene Casino for one night. Of course, we enjoyed our stay, and yes, we did participate in what a casino has to offer….you know good food and entertainment!
After a night of casino excitement, the next morning we headed south on Hwy 95 to Lewiston ID., where the Clearwater River converges with the Snake River.
From there we continued south on 95 to Grangeville and found our way onto The Old Spiral Highway (old Hwy 95) at White Bird Hill Summit following it to the town of White Bird. A zigzag of a road covering 14 miles while dropping 2900 ft (about twice the height of the Empire State Building).
Hooking back up with Hwy 95 at White Bird, we continued south with the road running parallel to the Little Salmon River, which gave me the opportunity to find a wide spot along the road, take my shoes and socks off, and wade in the river. And NO…there was not a fish kill down river from me being barefooted in the river.
But we did see and chit chat with a couple of kayakers as they paddled by us.
From there we headed into Riggins, ID, where we had our 2nd night’s stay.
We arrived early to our motel in Riggins as planned. After checking in, and after getting settled, we head out to explore Hell’s Canyon around Heaven’s Gate.
The next morning, we headed south again on Hwy 95 to the little town of Banks. From there we turned east to Lowman on a local road, which ran along, and high above the Payette River. We stopped at a pull off overlooking the river, which REALLY was a long way below us, and guess what, out of the brush, up pops a fellow who had chugged his way up the incline from the valley. He told us the river was full of Gold Claims and he had been checking and working his claim that morning.
At Lowman we hooked up and continued east on State Route 21 to Stanley. On this stretch of highway is where we experienced our unexpected event on our Journey. A FOREST FIRE!
As we approached the fire area the traffic was kept to a slow pace and was restricted to a single lane of traffic, with a “Follow Me” truck guiding the way. This freed traffic from the opposite traffic lane and allowed the fire crews to move personnel and equipment where needed without being delayed.
Traffic came to a complete stand still as we got close to the fire. We waited a good 30 minutes while the fire crews stopped the fire along side of the road and traffic westbound got to use the single lane right-of-away. When we passed the area where the fire was along the road, crews were still cleaning up “hot spots.”
At Stanley, ID, we headed east to Clayton on Hwy 75 following it to Challis, ID, where we turned north on U.S. Hwy 93. Highway 93 runs along side the Salmon River, The River Of No Return, and along this stretch of road is where we found a roadside park with direct access to the river. I went FLY FISHING in the Salmon River!
So the question is: Did you catch anything…? Well, the answer is NO! But, I will tell you this was one of the best hours I’ve ever spent fishing. Becky said I spent at least 1 hour getting my gear on and ready….and yes I did have a 3 day fishing license.
After an hour or so of fishing, we continued north on U.S. 93, crossing over into Montana to Hamliton, where we spent our third night on our Journey.
The next morning we continued north on U.S. Hwy 93 through Missoula to Ravalli, MT. There we headed west on MT Hwy 200 following it to Thompson Falls. In Thompson Falls, we found a back road taking us back into Idaho and to the historic mining community of Wallace.
Wallace, ID is known for several interesting things. It’s the principal town of the Coeur d’ Alene Silver Mining District, which produces more silver than anywhere in the United States. It’s also famous for it’s Vice. From 1940 to 1960 Wallace had 5 well established Brothels. Today the town honors these roots with the Oasis Museum. A former brothel which was preserved when it was closed and the women left.
Interstate 90 passes through Wallace on an elevated freeway viaduct. This was one of the last sections of I-90 built and it opened in 1991. Until then traffic passed through the center of town with it’s one stoplight. Up until that time, Wallace proclaimed it was the Last Stoplight on the “coast to coast” highway system.
A personal note: We drove I-90, east and west, from Seattle, WA to Fargo, ND yearly from 1975 to 2000, and passed through Wallace many times. In the 70’s, when Coors Beer wasn’t sold in Washington State, we always stopped at a little grocery store on the main street in Wallace and bought a friend, who was from Colorado and lived in Washington State, a 6 pack of Coors Beer…Bootleggers…Thunder Road!
After visiting the “Museum” and buying some souvenirs, we headed back out on to I-90 westbound to Spokane, WA for our final night stay on our Journey at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
After 5 days and 4 nights, our Road Trip ended on the 5th day as we headed home to Western Washington on I-90. The Journey in our book was successful. We traversed up to the top of Hell’s Canyon, looked down into the deep valley of the Payette River, experienced 1st hand a forest fire, got to fly fish the Salmon River and visited Wallace, ID and it’s historical museum, and along the way we saw some magnificent sights.
I’ve posted additional pictures on our site of this Road Trip. In the menu bar “click” on Road Trip Pictures & Post Cards and then “click” on Road Trip Idaho – Pictures. If you’d like more information on the casinos we stayed at “click” on Highways & Byways, “click” on Casinos, and then “click” on The Gambling Establishments.
Enjoy the Journey
Road Trip Journal 