Things to do in Salmon, ID (and other places)

[CraigC]

My wife and I are late planning our road trip this year, which will take us through the northwestern US. One of the places we'll be traveling through is Salmon and I wondered if there was much Elmer Keith related to do or see. I figured since the Keith museum was in the Boise Cabela's and all that is now gone, there's probably not much left other than to drive by his home. It's looks like a beautiful area so we might do a little fly-fishing while we're there.

We'll be driving from west Tennessee up through Missouri, parts of Kansas, across Nebraska, into South Dakota, across Montana as far as Missoula where we'll stay three days as kind of a halfway point. Then down into Salmon on our way to Jackson Hole where we'll spend another three days. Then off to Cody, down to Cheyenne and back across Nebraska on our way home. We're going to dip into Colorado and Iowa just to say we've been. Any other suggestions for places to see would be appreciated. We'll have a couple extra days on the tail end of it.

[Snyd]

Road Trip!!! Right on. We did one this spring with the new Ram truck and travel trailer. 11500 miles, 3 Canadian Provinces, 15 states, 55hrs of seat time in two months! We spent a few days poking around in Idaho which we've done before. Salmon and Challis is a great area. Watch for Bighorn Sheep! One of our most favorite campgrounds we stayed in was Cottonwood BLM Campground on the Salmon River between Salmon and Challis. They have water hookup at each campsite and the old guy that was the campground host gives out his WiFi password. We also had the resident Wild Turkey hanging out which was cool since we don't have those here in AK.

www.blm.gov/id/st/en/visit_and_play/places_to_see/challis_field_office/Cottonwood_Recreation_Site.html

Go to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Southern Idaho. It's pretty cool really.

www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm

Also, since you are going through South Dakota, if you haven't already planned on it. Mount Rushmore is worth it. The Badlands are in SD as well but we didn't make it there. Then you might as well swing through Yellowstone on your way to Missoula and check out Old Faithful and the 1000's of Bison.

I grew up in Missoula, left there in 91 at the age of 32 and moved here to AK. When you leave Missoula headed to Salmon you'll be headed down Hwy 93 through the Bitterroot. There is a neat piece of history near Hamilton. The Daly Mansion.

www.dalymansion.org

Also, once you are south past Darby headed up towards Lost Trail pass there is a hotsprings there that I used to stop at after a day of Skiing at Lost Trail Powder Mountain.

losttrailhotsprings.com

Oh, watch for Bighorns south of Darby also.

[sixshot]

The drive from Missoula down through Hamilton & Darby & over Lost Trail Pass is some of the most beautiful country you will ever see. Salmon, Idaho used to be a pretty rough town, I haven't been there in many years since we quit hunting the Selway country but back in the day if you were looking for trouble it was real easy to find in Salmon. Elmer's house was just across the river in town going north & up the hill to the left about 3-4 blocks, right on the corner if its still there. It would be on the left & on the NW corner with an old building in the back.
You might want to visit the cemetery, lots of old trappers & mountain men buried there. Bob Hagel is also buried there as is sheriff Jed Wilson, Judge Martin & probably Ed Maholivoich (spelling) he built Elmer a very special muzzle loader or maybe a flint lock, not sure, I just know that Elmer said he was very, very talented & Elmer was excited to be getting it shortly.
Elmer had no other kin except for his son Ted over by Boise & his brother I think is buried in Durkee, Oregon. There's still some crusty old roosters in Salmon!

Dick

[bulasteve]

Best gun shops along the way ? Best restaurants ? I have memories of the that bar in Jackson that has the saddles for stools. The lodge in Yellowstone.

[stevewhr]

I have some ideas you'd like in Wyoming and Colorado but they can be seasonally challenged. What time of year are you planning this trip?

[Ken O'Neill]

Since you've already driven across Nebraska, struggling to stay awake, rearrange a bit, and when leaving Cody, having done the Museum and eaten at the Irma, go to Yellowstone, then South past the Grand Tetons as you look across the river, past Freedom Wy. and down to Utah, and Arches and/or Canyonlands National Parks. Maybe do Taos, then stop at the Vietnam Memorial near Angel Fire, and come across the mountains to Cimarron, N.M. Stay and / or have lunch at the St. James Hotel. Then on to the NRA Whittington Center near Raton. Shoot. Drop down to I-40 at Amarillo to come home.Stop at the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City.

[stevewhr]

There's a great little museum in Buffalo, Wy that is themed around the Johnson County war. Worth your time, and there's a nice little gun shop in Buffalo. South of Casper is Shirley Basin, a lot of antelope and damned few people. Sort of nice to drive thru just for the seeing of it. Then when you get to Medicine Bow, there's a nifty little Hotel. The Virginian is worth seeing, dinning, or spending the night. From there are several routes that would include some spectacular scenery in Wyoming and Colorado. Going over Trail Ridge road is something for the bucket list but the time of year might make that a no go. Or if you get to Cheyenne, I'd buy you a cup of coffee. Oh, and Big Timber, Montana is home to both Shiloh Sharps and C. Sharps Rifles. Little bitty town with both great rifle builders. On that vein, Cody is in Linebaugh's backyard...Have a great trip, fall sure is a nice time of year to travel.

[sixshot]

Pretty interesting gun shop in Ennis, Montana & some great fishing if the time is right. When you're in Jackson Hole be sure to reserve a night to see the Bar J Wranglers, they put on quite a show, plus the food is great. Also, if you're in Cody be sure to check out the old Ghost Town on the west end of town, quite a few bullet holes in some of those old saloons & several old graves are there including the trapper that discovered Yellowstone (Colter) & I think Jeremiah Johnson, he was one wild looking dude!

Dick

[callshot]

When you go to Jackson Hole, remember to leave your wallet in the car. It is expensive. Not so bad now as in the summer. Just my experience. Steve

[jayhawker]

If thinking of spending the night in the Virginian Hotel, ask to see the room first.

[fanofthefortyone]

In Jackson hole I liked the gun barrel for a place to eat
In Cody Irma's for a place to stay and eat, and Cassie's come to mind, also for breakfast try "our place".
If you are in Salmon, the Big Hole Valley MT is not far and worth a look.
Ronnie

[rangersedge]

Many years ago, my dad and a brother died and my mom was in a bad auto accident (someone ran a stop sign that totaled both vehicles) all within months. The following year, my mom and i took a trip through many of those states. I remember a western mural carved into the bricks of some building (maybe in Cody?) and as a midwestern flatlander, I vividly remember going along a road with no barrier between the road edge and a huge drop. As we were puttering along trying not to look over the edge, an old beater truck with a couple boys in it zoomed past us and barely slowed to take a sharp corner. Some beautiful country.

[CraigC]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

We did the big Cowboy Museum in OK City back in 2012 when we did the southwest but I wouldn't mind seeing it again.