North Central Idaho

This past week I drove up to Cottonwood, Idaho - about 4 1/2 hours from Boise. Cottonwood is a small town in the middle of nowhere on the edge of the Camas Prairie and surrounded by mountains. The drive up was gorgeous. I passed through the Payette National Forest, 7 Devils Mountain Range, along Hell’s Canyon and Nez Perce National Forest. I stopped to take a work call in Riggins by the Salmon River. It was a gorgeous day.

The pictures don’t even do it justice. It’s incredibly gorgeous out there. I passed a sign that warned of elk on the road for the next 25 miles. However all I ever saw were cows and horses in pastures on the sides. No wildlife. The roads were winding - which I love - alternating with forests of evergreens and desert mountains. And then, it opened out onto the golden Camas Prairie.

The Camas Prairie is a large area that extends between the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers. It was a traditional gathering place of the Nez Perce where they harvested the roots of the blue flowering Camas plant. The bulb roots were an important food source for the Native Americans.

The closest decent place to stay was about 30 minutes away in Kamiah, ID (pronounced Cam-ee-uh). The Hearthstone River Lodge hearkens back to another era. It lies on the banks of the Clearwater River at the base a mountain. It’s decorated with dark brocades, solid wood furniture and floral pictures in gilt frames. The owner/operators are an older couple who are just adorable. It’s like staying with your grandparents. “Grandpa” checked me in after questioning me as to where I was coming from, whether I had a dog with me and how long I was staying. He gave me a mild lecture on the rules: if you stain the sheets, you will be charged; lights out and doors locked on the lobby at 9:30 pm. You can get into your room after that through the outside doors. But if you get locked out, you’ll have to call to the house and wake him up to come let you in.

Breakfast is comped at the Hearthstone Bakery & Restaurant on Main Street in town. When you walk in, you’re faced with wooden floors, bakery cases filled with bread and pastries. The booths along the walls were filled with groups of old men. The waitresses knew them by name and shared pictures of their daughters engagement.

Cottonwood is known for the world’s largest beagle. It used to be an Inn and gift shop called the Dog Bark Park Inn. The owners retired this year - so while couldn’t visit, I did drive by it. It’s a little worse for wear now.

On my last evening in town, I drove back toward the Lodge and was reminded that it’s still fire season and very dry. Fire on the Camas Prairie and distant fires in the mountains.

Here are a few more pictures of Kamiah, and beautiful views on the road home. Idaho is such a gorgeous state. I’m blessed to live here and get to experience this beauty.

“Travel opens your mind as few other things do. It is its own form of hypnotism, and I am forever under its spell.” - Libba Bray

As always, thanks for reading.

Gypsy Jules