Idaho County: Nimiipuu History and Historic Sites

Several different interests can serve as a guiding theme for a trip to Idaho County: Nimiipuu history, historic routes, and distinctive landscapes. Heart of the Monster tells a creation story; elsewhere, you’ll find traces of early expeditions, river landscapes, and mountain ranges. You can plan your trip around whether you’re especially interested in cultural history, landscapes, or outdoor activities.

Cultural history at specific sites

Heart of the Monster is a sacred site of the Nimiipuu. It is associated with the creation story in which Iceye’ye (Coyote) killed a great monster near present-day Kamiah. The 53-acre site lies in eastern Kamiah, about two miles upriver from the bridge over the Clearwater River. An interpretive shelter features two exhibits and audio programs about the legend. Heart of the Monster is open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset; check visiting hours before you arrive.

There are two trail options of different lengths: a trail about 0.2 miles long leads to the rock. An unpaved, scenic trail can be extended into a loop totaling 0.5 miles. You can limit your visit to the trail to the rock or choose the longer loop.

Historic sites also give your trip a sense of time and place. Choppunish Camp, also called Camp Chopunnish, Long Camp, or Camp Kamiah, was a camp of the Corps of Discovery on the Clearwater River in present-day Idaho County. The expedition stayed there for almost a month, from May 14 to June 10, 1806. At Lolo Pass, the U.S. Forest Service maintains a visitor center and rest area. You can follow a historic route on U.S. Highway 12 or Forest Road 500, also known as the Lolo Motorway. Lewis and Clark used the historic Nez Perce Trail at Lolo Pass in 1805 and 1806; during the 1877 war, the Nez Perce followed it into Montana.

The Kamiah Historical Society and Museum houses mammoth bones found on the outskirts of town on the property of Sig Grove. The museum welcomes school classes, tour groups, and family groups by appointment. Another mammoth story leads to Grangeville: the visitor center there displays a real mammoth humerus discovered and excavated at nearby Tolo Lake in September 1994. A life-size replica of a mammoth skeleton can also be seen at Eimers-Soltman Park.

Landscapes and getting oriented

Tolo Lake is the largest natural body of water on the Camas Prairie and a traditional gathering place for many Nimiipuu groups. The Camas Prairie itself consists of rolling hills and plains in a treeless landscape between the Salmon River and Clearwater River watersheds. A historic information marker about the Camas Prairie is located on U.S. Highway 95, about six miles south of Grangeville.

White Bird Hill Summit is on U.S. Highway 95 in Idaho County, about halfway between White Bird and Grangeville. The highway pass is at an elevation of 4,245 feet (1,294 m) above sea level and forms the watershed divide between the Salmon River and the Camas Prairie. There are several viewpoints along the route, some with historic information. White Bird Battlefield is about 15 miles south of Grangeville and about half a mile from Whitebird. Separate from this is the account of the encounter in White Bird Canyon: on June 17, 1877, Captain David Perry led 106 mounted soldiers of the First Cavalry Regiment and eleven civilian volunteers into the canyon, where the Nimiipuu encountered his advance party under a white flag.

Maps and brochures are available at the Grangeville Visitor Center, which provides information about local attractions, scenic drives, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Check opening hours before your visit. Kooskia National Fish Hatchery is in Idaho County on Clear Creek, about three miles east of Kooskia. This location provides another specific reference point to help you get oriented.

River activities and winter recreation

Island Bar Recreation Site is a frequently used launch site for rafting, kayaking, and jet boating on the Lower Salmon River. It is near large sandy beaches and offers easy access to the Salmon River. If you’re interested in water activities, several types of watercraft outings are available here.

Snowhaven is seven miles north of Grangeville. During the winter season, it offers family skiing, snowboarding, tubing, equipment rentals, and lessons. Since it is a seasonal operation and its services may change, check the latest information before making plans. A winter stay therefore offers a different focus from a visit centered on cultural history or river landscapes.

A local tradition in Kamiah

Kamiah BBQ Days carries on a free barbecue dinner tradition that began in 1936 and has been held on Labor Day weekend for more than 80 years. If you’d like to plan your stay around the festival, check the dates and details for the year. Along with the historic sites and scenic points, the tradition offers its own reason to include Kamiah in your travel plans.

Explore more destinations: Grangeville, Kooskia, Stites, Bingham County, Boise, Oneida County, Madison County, Fremont.

For the broader travel overview: Idaho.