Memorial Day Weekend on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend provides a great opportunity to visit the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. The following information will help you plan your visit.

Please be advised that all Forest Service offices on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will be closed on Memorial Day, May 29.

Camping and Trails

Most campgrounds on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests offer first-come, first-served site selection, although you can reserve campsites at a few campgrounds managed by the forest. Contact your local Forest Service office for a list of local campgrounds that accept reservations. To reserve a campsite, call Recreation.gov at 1­ (877) 444-6777, or visit www.Recreation.gov. Reservations should be made at least four days in advance.

Visitors can also camp in areas outside of developed campgrounds, called “dispersed sites.” However, campers who choose to stay in dispersed sites should take extra care to protect natural resources such as vegetation. If you camp at a dispersed site, leave no trace of your stay. Use existing fire rings if available, and pack out your trash. 

Numerous trails on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are currently available for use by forest visitors. Please consider hazards involved with hiking before heading out on the trail, such as uneven terrain and steep grades. Hazards such as falling trees, rolling logs and rocks, poor tread, and holes from burned-out stumps are evident in places recently impacted by fire. Make appropriate safety considerations before heading out, which may include changing your travel plans. Be aware that conditions can change very quickly.

Palouse Ranger District

All campgrounds on the Palouse Ranger District are now open. Laird Park, Little Boulder, and Giant White Pine Campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Elk Creek Campground, near the town of Elk River, features 23 sites with electrical hookups; a portion of these campground sites can be reserved through Recreation.gov. Camp-ground hosts are in place to assist you during your stay.

Water at campgrounds on the Palouse Ranger District has not yet been tested, so plan to bring drinking water with you on your trip. There is no trash service at any of the four campgrounds on the Palouse Ranger District, so please take your refuse with you when you leave. 

You can reserve group picnic areas at Little Boulder and Laird Park Campgrounds, as well as the pavilion at Elk Creek Campground, by calling the Potlatch Ranger Station.

North Fork Ranger District

It is anticipated that Aquarius, Washington Creek, and Weitas Creek Campgrounds will be open for visitor use by Memorial Day weekend. Other campgrounds on the district, including Kelly Forks and Hidden Creek Campgrounds, are currently inaccessible. 

Water systems serving North Fork campgrounds are typically operational when campgrounds open. However, potable water might not be available until water tests are completed. Campers are advised to bring their own drinking water.

Almost all of the trails on the North Fork Ranger District are currently inaccessible due to snow and downed trees.

Lochsa/Powell Ranger District

All campgrounds on the Lochsa/Powell Ranger District opened Monday, May 22, with the exception of Jerry Johnson Camp-ground. Jerry Johnson Campground will be open this season starting Friday, May 26. The RV dump at Wilderness Gateway Campground will be open by Wednesday, May 24. 

It is expected that most sites will have potable water by Friday, May 26; signage will be posted at any campground where water is not potable. A campground host will be arriving at Wilderness Gateway Campground on Thursday, May 25.

Big Hill Trail #65 and Pete King Ridge Trail #708 are fully cleared. Mocus Point Trail #469, Van Camp Trail #16, Split Creek Trail #133, and Boulder Creek Trail #211 are partially cleared.

Moose Creek Ranger District

All campgrounds on the Moose Creek Ranger District opened Monday, May 22. It is anticipated that the RV dump at Cedar Flats will be open by Friday, May 26. For those campgrounds providing water, water has been turned on and is potable. A campground host is currently available at O’Hara Campground.

Selway River Trail #4 is cleared. Several trails on the district have been partially cleared, including Three Links Trail #405, East Moose Trail #421, Bear Creek Trail #516, Big Rock Trail #693, Glover Creek Trail #704, Gedney Trail #708, and Meadow Creek Trail #726.

Salmon River Ranger District

Fee campgrounds located along the South Fork of the Clearwater River, including Castle Creek and South Fork Campground, are open and potable water is available. Our friendly campground host is also available to help you settle in! Fish Creek Campground, located seven miles south of Grangeville, is open and potable water is available.

A camp host will be on site in early June. Spring Bar Campground, located along the Salmon River, is open and potable water is available. All of these campgrounds have a fee of $12 a night.

Rapid River Trail, located along the Salmon River, and Johns Creek Trail, located along the South Fork of the Clearwater River, are open and offer early season hiking opportunities due to their relatively low elevation.

Red River Ranger District

Red River Campground is open and potable water is available.

Roads

Road condition reports and road closure notices can be found on our website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices. Please contact the Ranger District where you plan to travel for the latest updates on road conditions.

Palouse Ranger District

Portions of the Palouse Divide Road #377 are currently closed; alternative routes to areas such as Bald Mountain Lookout are available. Please visit our website for the closure order and map of alternate routes. 

North Fork Ranger District

Many roads on the North Fork are closed due to snow, ice, and landslides. French Mountain Road #250 is open for the first five miles, then closed between Pierce and Bungalow due to snow and ice. Between Bungalow and Kelly Forks, Road #250 is open, but is very rough with deep potholes – travel with care.

Through Black Canyon, Road #250 is impassable due to deep snow, landslides, and avalanches. Deception Saddle, Road #255, is impassable due to snow and a major landslide. Toboggan Road #581 is closed due to snow. Heavy rain and melting snow might cause flooding on some roads – proceed with caution.

Lochsa/Powell Ranger District

Most roads on the Powell Ranger District, including Elk Meadows Road #373 and Granite Pass Road #595, are closed due to snow. Motorists should be sure to chain up before traveling on snow-covered, back-country roads. Heavy rain and melting snow might also cause flooding on some roads–proceed with caution. 

Salmon River Ranger District

Most of the roads on the Salmon River Ranger District are open, except higher elevation roads such as Square Mountain Road #444. Travelers should use caution when traveling in areas of higher elevation.

Red River Ranger District

Many Forest Service roads on the Red River Ranger District are still closed due to snow. The Magruder Road Corridor (Forest Service road 468) between Elk City, Idaho and Darby, Montana is continuing to receive snowfall and is not currently open to through travel. 

Off-highway vehicle users, please note that ATVs and motorcycles driven on National Forest roads and trails are subject to state of Idaho registration laws and requirements. Contact your local motor vehicle department or the state of Idaho Parks and Recreation website (http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/) for a listing of registration sticker vendors and regulations. Also, please remember that all vehicles classed as UTVs (side-by-sides), regardless of weight or width, are not allowed on forest trails.

Visitor centers

The Lolo Pass Visitor Center, located on Highway 12 at the Idaho-Montana state line, will be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. The visitor center will be closed on Wednesday, May 31 and Thursday, June 1.

Lolo Pass Visitor Center may also be closed Friday, June 2. In the event of a Friday closure, signage will be posted at the facility and an announcement will be made on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Discover-Your-Northwest-Lolo-Pass-Visitor-Center-278605048836443/).

Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Pacific). Beginning June 11, Lolo Pass Visitor Center will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stop by the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, located along Highway 12, 48 miles east of Kooskia. Forest Service volunteers host the site and are happy to answer your questions about what life was like at remote ranger stations in days gone by. Starting Friday, May 26, the site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

More information

For more information about activities on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, please contact your local Forest Service office or visit our website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater. Our website provides information about campgrounds, road and trail conditions, and contact information for your local Forest Service office.

Memorial Day weekend on the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests

Snow-laden landscapes are giving way to green grass and wildflowers – a sure sign that spring has finally arrived. An early season getaway to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is the perfect way to celebrate the long Memorial Day Weekend. 

Campsites

Most campgrounds offer first-come, first-served site selection, although you can reserve campsites at a few campgrounds managed by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. Contact your local Forest Service office for a list of local campgrounds that accept reservations. 

To reserve a campsite, call Recreation.gov at 1­ (877) 444-6777, or visit: www.Recreation.gov. Reservations should be made at least four days in advance.

Visitors can camp at sites outside developed campgrounds called “dispersed sites.” However, campers who choose to stay in undeveloped sites should take extra care to protect natural resources, such as plant life. If you camp at a dispersed site, leave no trace of your stay. Use existing fire rings if available, and pack out your trash. 

All campgrounds on the Palouse Ranger District are now open with all standard campground amenities available. Laird Park, Little Boulder and Giant White Pine are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Elk Creek Campground, near the town of Elk River, features 23 sites with electrical hookups; a portion of the campground sites can be reserved through www.recreation.gov/ or by calling 1 (877) 444-6777.

There is no trash service at any of the four campgrounds on the Palouse District, so please take your refuse with you when you leave. 

You can reserve group picnic areas at Little Boulder and Laird Park Campgrounds, as well as the pavilion at Elk Creek Campground, by calling the Potlatch Ranger Station at (208) 875-1131.

On the North Fork Ranger District, Aquarius Campground is already up and running. Washington Creek and Noe Creek Campgrounds are set open on Friday, May 22, just in time to welcome holiday visitors. Two popular campgrounds will remain closed through Memorial Day weekend: The Kelly Forks Campground is scheduled to open Friday, June 5, and Hidden Creek Campground is expected to open June 12.

If you’re looking for a shady campsite on the shores of the Lochsa River, you’re in luck; all campgrounds on the Powell and Lochsa Ranger Districts, including Wilderness Gateway, Powell, Wendover and Whitehouse Campgrounds, will open by May 22. Lolo Campground and White Sands Campground opened in early May. Elk Summit Campground and Rocky Ridge Campground will most likely not be accessible until sometime mid to late June, when the snow melts outs. Jerry Johnson Campground will remain closed all summer, and Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is open for day use only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Water systems have been turned on and tested at Wild Goose, Apgar, Wilderness Gateway, Wendover, Whitehouse, Powell, and White Sands Campgrounds. Campers will have to bring water if they plan to stay at other Lochsa River sites.

On the Moose Creek Ranger District, all of the campgrounds that flank the beautiful “Wild and Scenic” Selway River are open. Johnson Bar has potable water. O’Hara Campground has been open since May 8 and the water system is on. The RV dump station at Cedar Flats is open and available to campers. Visitors are welcome to fill water jugs at the Fenn Visitor Center. 

On the Salmon River Ranger District, all of the following campgrounds are $12 a night. Fee campgrounds located along the South Fork Clearwater River, including Castle Creek and South Fork Campground, are open and potable water is available. However, dumpsters will not be available until June 1. A camp host is on site. Fish Creek Campground, located seven miles south of Grangeville is open with potable water available. A camp host is on site. Spring Bar Campground, located along the Salmon River is open, potable water is available and camp host is planned to arrive on site before Memorial Weekend. Dumpsters won’t be available until July 1. 

The Red River Campground, located on the Red River Ranger District, is open. Water is on, but it is not potable. Part of the system is down due to a cracked valve, recreation staff plans to have it fixed before the weekend. No camp host available.

River and stream conditions

Boaters are encouraged to use caution and wear personal floatation devices and helmets while on the water. For the adventurous, there are several outfitters that provide whitewater adventures on the Lochsa, Selway and Salmon Rivers. Outfitter information can be found at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ioglb. 

Roads and trails

For your safety and to prevent damage to the land, stay on roads and trails and avoid those that are too wet or muddy. Spring break-up can wreak havoc on roads.

Trails

On the Powell and Lochsa Ranger Districts, trails are starting to clear of snow to roughly 3500’ in elevation although, in the deep woods, snow can still be found at 5000’. Visitors hiking Forest trails over Memorial Day weekend should be aware that they might encounter downed trees, rocks, flooded trails, or other hazards.

Trail crews are just beginning to open trails on the Powell, Lochsa, and Moose Creek Ranger Districts. Selway River Trail #4 and Meadow Creek Trail #726, between the trailhead at Slims Camp and Meadow Creek Cabin, are open and are good destinations Memorial Day hikers and stock users.

Most low-elevation trails on the North Fork Ranger District are open for the first two to three miles.

Trail users should always to yield to stock. 

Off-highway vehicle users, note: ATVs and motorcycles driven on national forest roads and trails are subject to state of Idaho registration laws and requirements. Contact your local motor vehicle department or the state of Idaho Parks and Recreation website at: http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/ for a listing of registration sticker vendors and regulations. Also, please remember that all vehicles classed as UTVs (side-by-sides), regardless of weight or width, are not allowed on Forest trails. 

Roads

On the North Fork Ranger District, French Mountain Road 250, from Pierce to Kelly Forks and north, through Black Canyon, is open. Due to residual snow and plow berms, the road might be narrow in places, so drivers should proceed with care. The remainder of Road 250, Cedars Campground to Hoodoo Pass, remains blocked by snow. Road 255, Kelly Forks through Deception Saddle is open, but in rough shape. Toboggan Ridge Road 581, from its junction with Road 255 to Cayuse Landing, is in poor condition. The road is washed out in spots and it’s difficult to navigate; drivers should think twice and use extreme caution. 

Road 100 is open from Kamiah to Lolo Creek Campground. Due to severe slumping and a broken road surface, part of the road has closed at Eldorado Creek, near the junction with Road 500. Traffic will be detoured along Road 500, the Lolo Motorway, to Cedar Creek Road 520. From there, travelers will make their way west on Road 5132, which junctions with Road 100 near Nevada Creek. 

Road 100 from Pierce is open to the Bradford Bridge, but motorists will come across a six-mile-long detour prior to reaching the bridge. The detour route is narrow and covered with debris in places, so drivers should proceed with care. Despite the short distance, travel time may be as long as 45 minutes. The route is not recommended for RVs or tow trailers. 

Road 103, Musselshell Meadows, is open for the first two miles from its junction with Road 100.

Elk Meadows Road 373 and Granite Pass Road 595, near Lolo Pass on the Powell Ranger District, are starting to melt out, but neither road will open by Memorial Day.

Most of the roads on the Salmon River and Red River Ranger Districts are open for a few miles before snow impedes travel. Memorial Day drivers should contact their local Forest office for updated road information. Conditions can change rapidly. 

The Magruder Road Corridor (Road 468) between Elk City and Darby, Montana, remains closed by snow.

Visitor centers

There are a handful of places you can stop for information, firewood permits, mushroom permits and maps while visiting the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests. All Forest Service offices will close Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. 

The historic Fenn Ranger Station, located just a few short miles from US Highway 12 near Lowell, is on the National Register for Historic Places. A self-guided walking tour highlights this beautifully landscaped, working historic ranger station built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Fenn Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday. The Fenn Visitor Center will be issuing commercial use mushroom permits.

The Lolo Pass Visitor Center on Highway 12 at the Idaho-Montana state line will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday of Memorial Day week. Hours of operation will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Beginning June 1, the Visitor Center will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) each day. The Visitor Center has personal use mushroom permits available, but will not be selling commercial use mushroom permits.

Forty-eight miles east of Kooskia, along Highway 12, stop by the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station. Beginning May 22, the station will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Forest Service volunteers host the site and are happy to answer your questions about what life was like on remote ranger stations in days gone by.

For Information

For more road and trail information and updates, call the Supervisor’s Office in Kamiah at (208) 935-2513, the Grangeville Office at (208) 983-1950 or the North Fork Ranger District Office at (208) 476-8267. You’re also invited to check online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater.