Are you and your family looking for an interesting driving Day-Trip experience this weekend? If so, take a look at some of these suggestions!
Photo & Sightseeing Opportunities!
The Birds Eye View:
The multiple grades leading up and out of the Kamiah Valley provide a great opportunity to view the Clearwater River. Sunrises and Sunset can be specular. Watch the sunrise over the valley on the west side of Highway 64 and then watch the sunset from the east side of the Beaverslide or Woodland grade.
The Clearwater River:
The Clearwater River at this time of year offers a great place to watch waterfowl such as the Canadian Geese. If you watch closely you may see the majestic eagle perched on a snag near the river’s edge. A recommended spot is Rock Bar and Island. It is accessible by taking Rock Road located between Kamiah and Kooskia.
Lawyers Canyon & Tommy Robinson Pond:
Located a short distance from Kamiah off Highway 162. Take a right onto Lawyers Creek Road. This is is a very historic site. It is named after the Nez Perce tribal Chief Lawyer as this was the approximate location of his encampment. Lawyers Canyon features spectacular bluffs and caves. This is a great place to see wildlife as well as waterfowl, pheasants, and deer. Tommy Robinson Pond, a family fishing location is open to the public. Watch closely and you may even see an Otter family playing along the edge of the pond.
Self-Guided Walking Tours:
Heart of the Monster:
Located East of Kamiah along Highway 12, this is the ancestral birthplace of the Nez Perce People. Audio stations tell the story of Coyote and his epic battle with the monster.
Looking Glass’ 1877 Camp Site Trailhead:
Take the second Kooskia Bridge and turn left onto the Toll Road follow posted signs to the Kooskia National Fish Hatchery. The trail is located about 1/8 mile before the fish hatchery. You can park just after the Clear Creek bridge (46.1322260, -115.9492148) or turn left on Kings Bluff Road to park on the other end of the short trail (46.133430, -115.946716).
A hiking trail along the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River at the hatchery tells the story of the attack on Chief Looking Glass’ village. The trail is very short, roughly 0.15 miles each way. There is also a historical marker that explains the attack on Looking Glass Camp at a highway pullout on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River off U.S. Highway 12, three miles east of Kooskia, Idaho.
Kooskia National Fish Hatchery is located 2 miles east of Kooskia on Clear Creek Road. Take either bridge exit off Highway 12 and follow the posted signs to the main hatchery entrance. Hatchery hours are daily 7:30 am to 4 pm. Closed major holidays.
Historical Schoolhouse Field Trip –Driving Tour:
Take a “field trip” and visit some of the schoolhouse locations that were once the learning centers to the pioneer children of yesteryear. These schoolhouses also represent villages or small communities that were once thriving in the 1800s to mid-1900.
Some are still standing, some refurbished into community centers and the others have been claimed by time and the elements. Many of the sites of these noble institutions of education have been marked by iron signage that gives a brief history of the school.
The Big Butte School House is located off Highway 162 approximately 12.5 miles from the town of Kamiah.
The Woodland and Glenwood Schoolhouse has been refurbished. You can view them by leaving Kamiah East on Highway 12. Take the left on Woodland Road, after crossing the Clearwater River. Follow Woodland Road up the grade 11 miles to the Woodland School House on your right.
To view the Glenwood Schoolhouse, turn around and head back 2.9 miles to a left on Harrisburg Road. Take another left in 1.4 miles to Glenwood Road. Turn left and proceed 2.4 miles to the Glenwood School House. The Glenwood Road (approximately 11 miles) will take you back to Kamiah.
Other schoolhouses in the area are Big Cedar and Clear Creek. These are located in the Kooskia area.
Leaving Kamiah via Highway 12, turn right onto the second Kooskia Bridge 8.6 miles then turn sharp left onto the Toll Road. In 2.3 miles turn left up Leitch Creek Rd. In 4.6 miles turn right onto Big Cedar Rd. In 3.7 miles turn left on onto Red Fir Road. The schoolhouse is on your right.
We hope you find some of these suggestions beneficial. The following brochures are available in downloadable versions on the Kamiah Chamber of Commerce website.
Visit us at www.kamiahchamber.com
The Upper Clearwater River Corridor offers great sightseeing and historical opportunities. We welcome you to our area and hope that you will enjoy exploring!
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