Treesearch
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness: Campsite impact monitoring, 1978-2019
| Authors: | Gabriel Oppler, Jennifer Thomsen, Chris A. Armatas, Molly McDevitt, Katherine Coe, Iree Wheeler |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Source: | Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute |
Download (PDF 7.77 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/81220.pdf
Abstract
The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (FC-RONRW) covers 2.4 million acres in central Idaho. Designated by Congress in 1980, the FC-RONRW is administered by four National Forests (Salmon-Challis NF, Payette NF, Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Bitterroot NF). As in all designated Wilderness, recreation is a fundamental part of the landscape. “The Frank” offers vast opportunities for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and swimming among its trails, rivers, and lakes. Jagged mountains spread out in all directions, topping out over 10,000 feet in the Bighorn Crags area. This arid land is covered by forests of fir, pine, and spruce. Below, the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon River carve canyons thousands of feet deep.