On August 17th, I will get my chance at fair redemption. The Lemhi County Fair kicks off that Saturday and lasts through the week. The closing day is Saturday, August 24. Events will include the Family Fun Night-Alcohol Free, Horse and Dog Races & Ranch Rodeo, the Salmon Stampede PRCA Rodeo, and more. Continue reading
“The earth laughs in flowers.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson Wildflowers are generally associated with late spring and early summer, but Salmon has always been unconventional. July is halfway over and temperatures are climbing; the last of the balsamroot blooms may be wilted memories, but the lavender is in full bloom! On Saturday July 20, Shannon and Doug Weaver are hosting the 6th Annual Lavender Fest in Carmen, just four miles from downtown Salmon. There will be lavender wares, lavender lemonade, lavender picking, live music, and much more. While you’re here, download a wild plants app and walk one of the nearby trails in search of other late-season wildflowers. Just north of downtown Salmon sits Discovery Hill, or Disco to the locals. Here you will find over 32 miles of trails for hiking, biking, trail running, and frisbee golf. Other great trails in the area include the Goldbug Hot Springs trail, the … Continue reading
The Lemhi offers something for everyone—it’s approachable and kind to newcomers, yet it’s pristine and complex enough to satisfy even the most discerning anglers Continue reading
Ten years ago, the best looking man I had ever seen told me about Salmon River Days. I was in no place to be making plans for the holiday weekend—Fourth of July was almost two months away and Salmon was 250 miles from where we were working together at the time, but, as I said, most handsome man I’d ever seen. It was my first summer in Idaho, and I had never even heard of Salmon. When the holiday rolled around, I had the weekend off, and the lure of fireworks, a demolition derby, dunk tanks, and a parade down Main Street proved more than I could resist. I loaded up the rig and started the drive. Next thing you know, I was at Arfmann’s Four Seasons buying a USA t-shirt and some light-up sunglasses. This year the events start on Thursday, July 4, and continue through the weekend. There … Continue reading
The days are getting longer, and school is out for summer. Although I look forward to the lazy summer afternoon and slower pace that June brings, I also vividly remember some of the boredom I experienced during summer breaks as a kid. Continue reading
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James, qtd. in A Backward Glance, Edith Wharton Summer is fast approaching and with it the pleasant leisure of the summer afternoon. Although many recognize the summer solstice as the official start to summer, the Farmers’ Almanac also references another date: the meteorological beginning. This beginning is based on the annual temperature cycle and occurs on June 1st. As someone who is continuously trying to fit everything in, I am going to advocate for that June 1st date. After all, there are a lot of summer events kicking off in June, and if we wait until June 21st, we will miss so much. It seems the Lemhi Valley Farmers Market also recognizes the earlier date as the 2019 opening day is Saturday, June 1st. There will be local produce, ready to … Continue reading
Salmon, Idaho has long been a base for anglers, river runners, and snow sports enthusiasts. Most people immediately think of outdoor sports when they hear the name of this Lemhi County town; not that the locals mind, heck it’s half the reason most of us live here. Or half the reason most of us live here, half the time? I am a Salmon resident, not a local. The locals might kill me just for hinting that I might, possibly consider Salmon my home. For eight years, I have called Salmon home in the summer only. As a seasonal worker, the winters have led me elsewhere. This winter, however, I finally got to spend most of my time in Salmon. Although I love fishing, rafting, and skiing, sometimes I do other things. As Walt Whitman said, “I am large, I contain multitudes.” My first winter in Salmon, I found that while … Continue reading
Posted in Idaho January 31, 2018 by Emerson Curtright Located on the banks of “The River of No Return” and surrounded by several different national forests is the quaint town of Salmon. With a population of 3,112, this little town isn’t Idaho’s smallest. However, its remote location makes this place truly feel like its in the middle of nowhere. It’s easy for people to overlook how truly incredible this town is. Salmon contains many qualities that make it one-of-a-kind and although it can take a long drive to get to it, it’s totally worth the journey. The town of Salmon is the county seat for Lemhi County. Located on the eastern border of central Idaho, there’s a lot more to this town than meets the eye. Outdoor enthusiasts travel from all over the world to experience this town which sits on the edge of some truly awe-inspiring wilderness areas. J. … Continue reading
Another online travel magazine finds Salmon, Idaho and loves it! “Salmon is a town clinging to an old wild west identity without the roughness…” TheCrazyTourist.com ranks Salmon #2 in 15 “Best Small Towns to Visit in Idaho“. – “The western themed architecture and untouched surroundings might just make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, especially if you’re a city slicker. You’ll have to venture over unpopulated and rugged terrain to arrive here if you come by car, but it’s worth it.Salmon is a great base for outdoorsmen, white water rafting, and is next to the Frank Church River of the No Return Wilderness Area. If you visit during winter, spend the days on the ski slopes, tucked into wooden cabins, and tasting comfort food at the town’s many restaurants.” Read the entire article here
This is a featured article in BigSkyJournal.com written by Greg Thomas and illustrated by Fred Thomas from February 2017. I grew up along the Pacific Northwest’s coastal salmon and steelhead streams where it was easy to spot the rookie anglers: These were people who proudly posed for photos with fish that had begun the inevitable freshwater deterioration process, indicated by their dull gray scales, deep red sides, and soft bodies. Those were fish that experienced anglers allowed to swim past. We targeted fish that arrived on incoming tides and carried bright silver scales and bluish backs instead. These were firm fish and great fighters, and they were the best to eat. When I moved to Idaho in the 1990s, it was difficult for me to get excited about the area’s salmon and steelhead runs. If I’d lifted my nose at “darkish” coastal fish just a few miles from saltwater, what made … Continue reading