Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 25 e Frank Church encompasses some of the finest whitewater boating in the world, including the Middle Fork and Main Fork Salmon, also known as the "River of No Return." Frank Church was an Idaho Senator who sponsored the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980. All told, the Central Idaho Wilderness Complex, also known as the Greater Salmon-Selway Ecosystem, comprises the biggest chunk of wilderness in the United States outside of Alaska, at nearly nine million roadless acres. It includes the Gospel Hump Wilderness as well as several roadless areas such as Meadow Creek, Kelly Creek and Cove and Mallard, scene of major protests against national forest logging and road building in the 1990s. e Magruder Road crosses right through the middle of all this. Nez Perce Pass, at 6,587 feet, is the high point of the road, but with four-wheel drive you can reach the spectacular Burnt Knob Fire Lookout, perched on the very top of a granite crag at 8,200 feet. Other roads lead to similarly remote locations. ough there are no grizzly bears left in Central Idaho, you may see black bear. Wolves were reintroduced into Idaho in 1995 and are now plentiful. Watch for elk, mule deer, moose, river otters, eagles, and bighorn sheep. Mountain goats scurry across the high- est ridges, and lynx and wolverine survive here in remote pockets. LOGISTICS You should allow at least eight hours of travel time to traverse the Magruder. Better yet, take two or three days and camp along the way at one of the many developed campgrounds or dispersed-camping areas. ere are at least 30 trails to choose from, offering numerous hiking and backpacking opportunities in the Bitterroot Range, Salmon River Mountains, Clearwater Mountains and Bighorn Crags. e fishing and hunting poten- tial is superb. You can even rent the Horse Heaven Forest Service guard station for a night or two (see recreation.gov). e Magruder is also the route to the put-in for the Selway River at Paradise Campground, via Road 6223. is a pristine, challenging whitewater river with a drop of at least 28 feet per mile, and the 47-mile float to Selway Falls is on the bucket list of any whitewater boater. Look for Road 6223 at Magruder Cross- ing, the only road bridge over the upper Selway. You've got some options when it comes to vehicles, but high-clearance is required. If the road is muddy or snow-covered — which it is most of the year — four-wheel drive is essential, and of course in winter it's only passable by snowmobile. Lots of people travel the Magruder on motorcycles or four wheelers, and heartier travelers ride mountain bikes followed by a "sag-wagon" (four-wheel drive truck) carrying their gear. MOTORCYCLEJAZZ.COM/MARTIN HACKWORTH Approaching Sabbe Saddle CONTINUED

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