Autumn Approaches
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still plenty to do here in the valley before we wade into the approaching holiday fervour.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still plenty to do here in the valley before we wade into the approaching holiday fervour.
Long my favorite season, I relish the days as the sun rises later each morning to burn off the chill and the shorter evenings bring with them the smell of wood smoke. Before we get caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays, and the eventual winter gloom, we first get the fleeting respite that is September.
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.
“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 Henry Creek Loop, or a nature walk at the Sacajawea Center. After your walk, enjoy a Schilling “Grapefruit and Chill” Cider at the Pork Peddler. This refreshing hard cider is infused with hibiscus flowers. I highly recommend showing up a few days before the Lavender Festival so that you can enjoy the music of the Black Lillies on July 18th at Sweetwater Hollow. I may be partial because the band is from my hometown (Knoxville, TN—Go Vols!), but American Songwriter Magazine backs me up. The magazine describes their sound well: “vocal harmonies that recall the Eagles, Steely Dan-esque lyrics, and plenty of crunchy Southern Rock guitar.” The show starts at 6:00 PM. Make a long flower-filled weekend of it by booking a riverside room at the Stagecoach Inn, walking distance to the show! For more information about all the great things to see and do & where to stay go to visitsalmonvalley.com
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
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 will be sidewalk sales, craft sales, and art shows in town; along with events out at the rodeo grounds. Fireworks will be after dark on Thursday, and the parade will follow on Friday morning. Friday night features live music at the Sacajawea Amphitheatre at 7:00 PM. Saturday brings a full day of activities, and the demolition derby starts at 6:00PM. The weekend will wrap up with live music at Sweetwater Hollow on Sunday night. Maybe I will even get to dance with that good looking man who hasn’t been able to shake me off after all these years. After several years together, I cannot remember our anniversary, but this year I will celebrate it on the Fourth of July. If you can’t make it down for Salmon River Days, keep an eye out for news of the Lost Trail Music Festival. This annual event falls on the July full moon weekend, which will be July 12th-14th in 2019. Along with a packed music line-up, there will be food, beer, hiking, camping, yoga, and art. For more information on Salmon River Days and all the things mentioned here, go to www.visitsalmonvalley.com
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.
“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 eat goods, artisan crafts, kids’ activities, and more. The weekly market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Veteran’s Memorial Park, rain or shine. While there, you may come across Jeremy and Jessica from Swift River Farm, a local outfit that just received their official Organic Certification! Swift River Farm also takes the hassle out of food packing for those of you who may be planning a river trip this summer. Visit their website, give them a budget, and they will take care of your produce needs! Speaking of boating, June also brings the annual Salmon River Fest at Sweetwater Hollow! Join the river community on June 7th and 8th. There will be two days’ worth of activities, including a community float, gear swap, film fest, and live music. Info on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/280484712906473/ Kick off summer whenever you would like, but you’ll find me toasting the changing of the season on June 1st, with a crisp glass of rosé on a summer afternoon! Landon is an international travel guide and writer who is based out of Salmon, Idaho. Her work in the travel industry takes her to rivers around the Pacific Northwest, the Galapagos Islands, and Cuba. Her work as a writer mostly just takes her to a table in the back of a local coffee shop. She writes for television and creates online content. When not working, she enjoys fishing, boating, and knitting.
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 it may not be large (population 3,200) it also contains multitudes. I recently got to experience the multitudinous side of Salmon, with a group of ladies who also call Salmon home. Although I am not a morning person, a friend was able to convince me that a hot springs soak is worth getting up early for. We filled our coffee mugs and set out for Sharkey Hot Springs before the sun fully rose. Just 17 miles southeast of town, we turned left then followed the signs for Warm Springs Road. The best part was that we were able to drive right up and park in the lot, no hiking required! There are heated changing rooms and two pools to choose from. There is a $3 usage fee, or in our case a $10 fee, because the drop box offers no option for change. After our coffee ran out, thoroughly relaxed, we headed down the hill for our next stop. On the way back to town, we stopped at the Country Market in Baker for snacks. This Amish owned market (multitudes, y’all!) just eight miles from Salmon features sweet treats, Amish cheese, and canned goods, among other staples. Back in Salmon, we went to Bertram’s Brewery for lunch and a drink. This locally owned restaurant features house brewed beer and an extensive menu. I had the bacon cheeseburger (on a gluten free bun!). When finished with lunch, we realized we still had some time before our afternoon yoga class. I cannot get enough of the incredible selection of distinctive jewelry at Goodenow Designs, so we stopped in to look. Judy Goodenow travels the world for inspiration and makes a lot of the featured jewelry herself. What better souvenir of a visit to the Gem State than a handmade piece featuring Owyhee Jasper, Idaho Garnet, or even Mammoth bone? After spending time browsing and chatting with Judy, we continued down Main Street and over the bridge to the Episcopal Hall, where we joined with a few more friends. Here in the naturally lit hall, Kit Kauffman teaches an hour long class every Monday and Wednesday afternoon, and Friday mornings. Drop-ins are $5 and Kit’s warm personality will instantly make you feel like a regular. After yoga, we arrived at Paulette’s for a private crafting night. Seven of us hung out and learned how to make a customized craft with Trish and Dylan teaching. As someone who has never been to a craft night, I was soon surprised by how much fun they are! Dylan encouraged us to bring in food and drinks so we spent hours together catching up, having a drink, and enjoying take-out from the Pork Peddler (check out their menu here!). Everyone enjoyed getting to spend time together, and no one had to pull clean up duty after. We all went home with our craft creations, plus a little more. Dylan offers 10% off the store during classes, which was a deal several of us couldn’t resist. If you would like to experience a weekend in Salmon, I recommend the rustic charm and warm hospitality of the Syringa Lodge Bed and Breakfast. Perched above town, on what the locals refer to as “the bar hill,” this beautiful log cabin features nine guestrooms (three standards and three suites which feature two rooms) and beautiful decks from which to take in the views of the valley. When I visited, Paula the inn keeper warmly greeted me in the amazing living room as a fire crackled away in the stone fireplace. Each room is uniquely decorated and perfect for quiet relaxation or socializing in the great room. This will provide the perfect accommodations for your own Salmon getaway weekend. Check out further resources to fill up your weekend getaway on the Visit Salmon Valley website, and start planning your trip. Landon is an international travel guide and writer who is based out of Salmon, Idaho. Her work in the travel industry takes her to rivers around the Pacific Northwest, the Galapagos Islands, and Cuba. Her work as a writer mostly just takes her to a table in the back of a local coffee shop. She writes for television and creates online content. When not working, she enjoys fishing, boating, and knitting.
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. Stephen Conn/Flickr In many ways, Salmon is your quintessential small Idaho town. The residents are friendly and it almost feels like the town exists in its own little bubble. Well, that’s partly because it does. Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Salmon is an isolated town which is completely surrounded by wilderness areas. In fact, it can be found right outside the largest protected wilderness area in the continental United States—The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. R Brown/Flickr Not only is the natural beauty of the area absolutely stunning, but this region also had an important role in Idaho’s history. The area is most noted for being a stop along the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the birthplace of their Shoshone navigator, Sacagawea. J. Stephen Conn/Flickr The town is currently home to the Sacajawea Interpretive Culture and Education Center which is dedicated to preserving the history of the expedition and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes. Visitors of the Center should definitely take a stroll through the historic 71-acre park located nearby. If you love being outdoors 24/7, Salmon is the place for you. There’s so much to explore and Idaho’s natural areas have never been more easily accessible. R Brown/Flickr Take a multi-day journey through the one and only Frank Church Wilderness. Or perhaps just a day-trip through the Salmon-Challis area. There are dozens of scenic hiking trails to choose from. The trick is choosing which one to explore first! With a name like Salmon, you can bet the town is also an ideal place for fishermen. The Salmon River is renowned as one of the best places to fish in the entire country. NOAA Fisheries West Coast/Flickr Fishing is open year-round on the Salmon River, and contains plenty of Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Steelhead Trout to go around. Whether you choose to go solo or use one of the town’s guides to navigate the region, you’ll definitely always remember your time on the river. It’s impossible to list all of the hidden gems you can come across in this region. That’s what makes this area so exciting. R Brown/Flickr Loon Creek is a delightful tributary which flows from the Salmon River in the Frank Church Wilderness. A hike along this trout-filled creek will yield in the discovery of a wonderfully remote hot spring. It’s private spots like this that remind us why it’s so great to live in Idaho. A popular option for hot springs enthusiasts is Gold Bug Hot Springs which is situated about 20 miles south of Salmon. Jocelyn Catterson/Flickr Located along Warm Spring Creek, the hot spring offers six different pools for soaking, all of which are fed by a waterfall. Although it’s considered a well-known hot spring, a small hike is required to reach it and it’s usually not crowded. Possibly due to its remote location, Salmon doesn’t really come up as a “hot” vacation spot like other areas of Idaho. That’s just fine, because its the pure peace and quiet of this charming town that makes it such an awesome place to visit. A. Davey/Flickr Have you been to Salmon, Idaho? Be sure to check out our list of the 15 Smallest And Most Isolated Towns In Idaho for more charming communities you probably didn’t even know about.