Moose Creek - What to Do

Camping | Ranger Station | Hiking | Fishing & Hunting

Camping

Most visitors arrive in the morning and depart that evening, but you can stay as long as you like. The five campsites that are available are usually enough. The campsites are located a fair distance from each other and provide adequate privacy.

Site facilities include heavy wood picnic tables, cooking grills, and outhouse accommodations. Water is available near the ranger station, and if you need wood, it is permissible to gather it wherever you find it. There is plenty of room to pitch tents since the ground is open under the trees. The Forest Service does not charge a fee for your visit or the use of facilities.

Ranger Station

One of the first things you will want to do after you settle in is visit the ranger station on the east side of the airfield. Its cabin/office and outbuildings still emanate the nostalgic aura of a 1920's ranger outpost with its old log buildings and lantern-equipped interiors. The station is maintained much the way it was when it was first constructed and is listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Hiking

A country as beautiful as the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness makes backpacking and hiking an antidote to big-city blues. Stop at the guard station and pick up a topographic map that list the trails. With Forest Service budget cutbacks, not all trails are maintained as well as they used to be, so ask the ranger for particulars. The most popular trail follows the Selway River up and downstream from the station. Starting from the trailhead at Selway Falls, 25 miles downstream, this well maintained trail traces its way upstream, sometimes keeping company with the river and sometimes rising high above the raging rapids, and seems to cling precariously to the side of the canyon. The Forest Service currently uses this route to bring in supplies by pack train.

If the 25-mile trek to Selway Falls is a little too far but you still want to use the calories from too much camp cooking, you can try puffing up the steep terrain to the Shissler Peak Lookout Tower 5,375 feet above sea level. Follow the trail from the camping area down to Moose Creek and across the charming suspension bridge (there is another similar bridge across the Selway). Since the five-mile hike is rather strenuous-uphill all the way-there will be plenty of opportunity to perfect your rest step, but the view is worth it. Shissler Lookout is one of the few remaining towers in use since fire spotting is primarily accomplished with aircraft. The tower ranger will be glad to show you around.

Fishing & Hunting

The tumbling waters of the Selway River and Moose Creek offer great fishing. You can even buy your fishing license before you leave home. Call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, (800) 554-8685, or visit their site at http://www.state.id.us/fishgame/fishgame.html.

   

=> conclusion

Feature Article: Moose Creek, ID, by Martin Stentzel

Page 1 ............... Main Page / Intro
Page 2 ............... Flying There
Page 3 ............... Flying There (cont.)
Page 4 ............... History

• Page 5 ............... What to Do
  Page 6 ............... Conclusion

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