Selway River Trail #4

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

There are two trailheads.

The western trailhead is at Race Creek Campground at the end of Selway River Road, a 20 mile gravel road that is well maintained and used. Selway River Road is a turnoff from US 12, at Lowell, Idaho.

The eastern trailhed is at Paradise Camgground, and is accessed from Montana, and is a longer trek on the forest service roads.

Watch for rattlesnakes. The are typically active from early May into the fall.

Starting from the Race Creek Campground (western) trailhead, Selway River Trail follows the Selway River upstream to Paradise Campground, for a net elevation gain. However, there are uncountable ups and downs along the way, as the trail goes from next to the river, to high above the river, and back down again, but always near the river. Many side creeks that empty into the river, are crossed, with the larger ones bridged. The trail is well used and well maintained. The tread runs from dirt and pine needle covered, to rocky, and everything in between.

The scenery is quite awe inspiring. The river is large, and wide, and full of rapids up to class IV+ during the spring melt. The terrain is rugged - steep valley walls rise to ridges and summits more than 4,000 feet above the river. These mountains are covered with beautiful, dense pine forests, to grassy and brush covered areas with sparse tree cover. And of course rocks, boulders, and amazing rocky outcrops, and cliffs, everywhere. No significant burn areas are crossed :>). A truly rugged landscape.

This area is in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness that abuts with the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, to form the largest contiguous Wilderness area in the lower 48 states. As Wilderness, motorized anything is not allowed. The exceptions are some "grandfathered in" things, such as small planes that occasionally visit the Moose Creek Ranger Station airstrip. To summarize, this is a vast, wild land.

Here are some landmarks along the way from Race Creek Campground to Paradise Campgound:

• Mile 0.0 - Race Creek Campground and trailhead
• Mile 13.2 - Major trail junction (Three Links Creek Trail, Sixty Two Ridge Trail, Mink Peak Trail) with bridge across the Selway River
• Mile 22.7 - Bridge across Moose Creek, Moose Creek empties into the Selway River
• Mile 23.1 - Trail junction with Moose Ridge Trail and the bridge across the Selway River to Moose Ridge Trail
• Mile 23.5 - Moose Creek Ranger Station and airstrip
• Mile 37.4 - Bridge across Selway River, Selway Lodge and airstrip
• Mile 38.4 - Shearer Guard Station and airstrip
• Mile 45.5 - Running Creek Ranch and airstrip; bridge across Selway River
• Mile 53.0 - Paradise Campground and trailhead

Vegetation ranges from forests with dense undergrowth, to grassy areas sprinkled with trees, especially ponderosas. The forests have an abundance of ponderosas, however also have deciduous trees, and cedars in a few places. Plenty of spring/summer wildflowers. Deer and some black bears are around. Also rattlesnakes (See Need to Know above).