Sawtooth National Forest

Last updated

Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth Valley ID1.jpg
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Location Blaine, Boise, Camas, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Oneida, Power, and Twin Falls counties, Idaho, and Box Elder County, Utah, United States [1]
Nearest city Twin Falls, ID
Coordinates 43°44′N114°40′W / 43.733°N 114.667°W / 43.733; -114.667
Area2,110,408 acres (8,540.52 km2) (administered);
1,802,133 acres (7,292.97 km2) (proclaimed) [2] [3] [4]
EstablishedMay 29, 1905
Visitors1,188,600(in 2005) [5]
Governing body U.S. Forest Service
Website Sawtooth National Forest

Sawtooth National Forest is a National Forest that covers 2,110,408 acres (854,052 ha) in the U.S. states of Idaho (~96 percent) and Utah (~4 percent). Managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was originally named the Sawtooth Forest Reserve in a proclamation issued by President Theodore Roosevelt on May 29, 1905. On August 22, 1972, a portion of the forest was designated as the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), which includes the Sawtooth, Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds, and Hemingway–Boulders wilderness areas. The forest is managed as four units: the SNRA and the Fairfield, Ketchum, and Minidoka Ranger Districts.

Contents

Sawtooth National Forest is named for the Sawtooth Mountains, which traverse part of the SNRA. The forest also contains the Albion, Black Pine, Boise, Boulder, Pioneer, Raft River, Smoky, Soldier, Sublett, and White Cloud mountain ranges, as well as Hyndman Peak, the ninth-highest point in Idaho at 12,009 feet (3,660 m) above sea level. Sawtooth National Forest contains land cover types which include sagebrush steppe, spruce-fir forests, alpine tundra, and over 1,100 lakes and 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of rivers and streams. Plants and animals found only in the Sawtooth National Forest and adjacent lands include Christ's Indian paintbrush, Davis' springparsley, the South Hills crossbill, and the Wood River sculpin.

The area that is now Sawtooth National Forest was first occupied by people as early as 8000 BC and by the Shoshone tribe after 1700 AD. The first European descendants migrating from the eastern United States arrived in the area around the 1820s; they were mainly explorers, trappers, and prospectors, and they founded many of the current towns around what later became the forest. Sawtooth National Forest offers facilities for recreation, with four ski areas, whitewater and flatwater boating, hunting, 81 campgrounds, and over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) of trails and roads for hiking, mountain biking, and all-terrain vehicle use, including two National Recreation Trails. [3]

Forest history

The Sawtooth Mountains from the southern Sawtooth Valley Sawtooth Range ID1.jpg
The Sawtooth Mountains from the southern Sawtooth Valley

The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 gave the President the authority to establish forest reserves in the U.S. Department of the Interior. [3] [6] After passage of the Transfer Act of 1905, forest reserves became part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the newly created U.S. Forest Service. [7] Sawtooth National Forest was created as the Sawtooth Forest Reserve in the Department of Agriculture by proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt on May 29, 1905. The forest's initial area was 1,947,520 acres (3,043 sq mi; 7,881 km2), and it was named after the Sawtooth Mountains in the northwestern part of the forest. [3] [8]

On November 6, 1906, President Roosevelt announced the addition of 1,392,640 acres (2,176 sq mi; 5,636 km2) to the Sawtooth Forest Reserve, which then also constituted much of the present-day Salmon-Challis and Boise National Forests. These lands were split into separate National Forests by executive order on June 26 and July 1, 1908. [9] :12 The forest's area underwent a number of smaller changes in the early 20th century. [9] :13 The Fairfield Ranger District was established in 1906 and merged with the Shake Creek Ranger District in 1972 to form the present-day Fairfield District. [3] The Cassia Forest Reserve was established on June 12, 1905, and the Raft River Forest Reserve on November 5, 1906. [8] The names of the forest reserves were changed to national forests on March 4, 1907. Formed from the consolidation of Cassia and Raft River National Forests, the Minidoka National Forest was created on July 1, 1908, and then added to Sawtooth National Forest on July 1, 1953. [8]

In 1936, Senator James Pope, a one-term Democrat from Idaho, introduced the first legislation to establish a national park in the Sawtooths. Under his proposal, the park would have been approximately thirty miles (50 km) in length and 8 to 15 mi (13 to 24 km) wide. The rest of Idaho's congressional delegation did not support the proposal, which occurred at a time when the National Park Service was taking a more preservation-oriented stance, and the bill died. On October 12, 1937, the Forest Service established the Sawtooth Primitive Area in the Sawtooth Mountains. Subsequently, Sawtooth National Forest began to extensively develop recreation opportunities, including new campgrounds, trails, and roads. [10]

In 1960, Democratic Senator Frank Church of Idaho introduced legislation for a feasibility study to survey the area for national park status. [10] [11] While Church allowed the 1960 feasibility study legislation to die, he introduced a bill in 1963 to create Sawtooth Wilderness National Park, which would primarily encompass the existing Sawtooth Primitive Area. Although the 1963 bill also was not voted on, Church admitted that it was not designed to pass but rather to encourage thorough feasibility studies by both the Forest Service and National Park Service. A 1965 joint report by the two agencies recommended either a national park administered by the National Park Service or a national recreation area managed by the Forest Service. In April 1966, Church introduced two bills, one to establish Sawtooth National Park and another to establish the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). The SNRA bill was cosponsored by Republican Senator Len Jordan, a former governor and sheep rancher, because it preserved the area while also permitting traditional uses such as logging, hunting, and grazing. The legislation was not supported by Idaho's two members of the House; [10] Republican congressman George Hansen of the second district introduced a separate bill in the House in April 1967. [12]

Castle (left) and Merriam (right) peaks in the White Cloud Mountains Castle and Merriam Peaks.JPG
Castle (left) and Merriam (right) peaks in the White Cloud Mountains

In 1968, the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) discovered a molybdenum deposit at the base of Castle Peak, the highest peak in the White Cloud Mountains. ASARCO filed paperwork with the Forest Service to construct roads and to allow for an open pit mine below Castle Peak to extract the ore. The proposed mine would have been 350 ft (110 m) deep, 700 ft (210 m) wide, and 7,000 ft (2,100 m) long. About 20,000 short tons (18,000 t) of material would be processed daily with 99.5 percent being deposited in waste piles and settling ponds. ASARCO estimated that the mine would create 350 jobs and $1 million ($8.76 million today [13] ) in taxes per year, while the roads would open up opportunities for further exploration. The Forest Service would not be able to stop mining and protect the White Cloud Mountains because the General Mining Act of 1872 gave mining rights to anyone who had located a lode or placer. [11] Nationally, opposition to the mine mounted, while Republican Governor Don Samuelson voiced support for the mine in 1970, saying that ASARCO was not, "going to tear down mountains. They are only going to dig a hole." He also characterized Castle Peak as, "nothing but sagebrush on one side and scraggly trees on the other." [10] Samuelson lost his reelection bid that November in a rematch with Democrat Cecil Andrus, a supporter of preserving the forest who later (1977–81) served as U.S. interior secretary in the Carter Administration. [10]

In March 1971, Idaho's congressional delegation, which included senators Church and Jordan and Republican representatives Jim McClure and Orval Hansen, was finally united and introduced legislation to create the SNRA. On August 22, 1972, Public Law 92-400 establishing the SNRA, covering 756,019 acres (1,181 sq mi; 3,060 km2), and banning mining passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Republican President Richard Nixon. [3] [11] [14] This legislation included the White Cloud and Boulder Mountains as part of the SNRA. The 217,088-acre (339 sq mi; 879 km2) Sawtooth Primitive Area became the Sawtooth Wilderness (also in the SNRA) as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act of 1964. The original bill also authorized $19.8 million ($144 million today [13] ) for land acquisition and up to $26 million ($189 million today [13] ) for development. [14] The SNRA was dedicated in a ceremony held on the shores of Redfish Lake on September 1, 1972. [11] The Burley and Twin Falls Ranger Districts of Sawtooth National Forest were consolidated on October 16, 2002, into the Minidoka Ranger District. [8]

On August 7, 2015, Democratic President Barack Obama signed the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act to create three wilderness areas: Hemingway–Boulders, Jim McClure–Jerry Peak, and White Clouds. They cover a total of 275,665 acres (431 sq mi; 1,116 km2) of central Idaho, primarily in Sawtooth National Forest. [15] On March 23, 2018, the White Clouds Wilderness was renamed the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness in honor of Andrus and his efforts to protect central Idaho. [16]

Management

An overview map of Sawtooth National Forest (red), including Sawtooth National Recreation Area (blue) and Sawtooth Wilderness (yellow) Sawtooth National Forest Map with roads.jpg
An overview map of Sawtooth National Forest (red), including Sawtooth National Recreation Area (blue) and Sawtooth Wilderness (yellow)

Sawtooth National Forest is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency within the Department of Agriculture, as four units: the Fairfield (420,720 acres or 170,260 hectares), Ketchum (321,544 acres or 130,124 hectares), and Minidoka (604,108 acres or 244,474 hectares) Ranger Districts and Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). [3] The forest's headquarters are in Jerome, where they moved to in 2018 after 32 years of being headquartered in Twin Falls. [17] The Minidoka Ranger District is separated into the Albion (95,000 acres or 38,000 hectares), Black Pine (90,000 acres or 36,000 hectares), Cassia (234,000 acres or 95,000 hectares), Raft River (95,000 acres or 38,000 hectares), and Sublett (90,000 acres or 36,000 hectares) divisions. [3]

Guard stations and work camps dot the forest. [1] The SNRA headquarters and main visitor center are located north of the city of Ketchum, while there is a ranger station in Stanley and visitor center at Redfish Lake. [3] There are more than 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of private land inholdings within the forest, and it is bordered by the Boise and Salmon-Challis National Forests as well as private, state, and Bureau of Land Management land. [18] [19] Curlew National Grassland is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the Sublett Division's eastern boundary. Small portions of the area originally designated as Sawtooth National Forest are managed by the Boise and Challis National Forests, while the Sawtooth manages portions of the Boise and Challis National Forests. [1]

Sawtooth National Forest balances interests of different groups, such as those interested in recreation, preservation, or resource extraction. The forest practices conservation of resources, in some areas allowing for production of raw materials, such as lumber for construction purposes and wood pulp for paper products, alongside recreational uses, while in other areas only recreation is permitted. [3] [20] :I-1 Additionally, mineral extraction through mining and oil and natural gas exploration and recovery are also conducted, though in Sawtooth National Forest this has become less common due to a consensus to protect the natural surroundings. [20] :I-17 Leases offered to ranchers to allow them to graze cattle and sheep on the forest are common. [3] [20] :II-19 The forest provides guidelines and enforces environmental regulations to ensure that resources are not overexploited and that necessary commodities are available for future generations. [20] :I-3

Wilderness

Alice Lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness Alice Lake.jpg
Alice Lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness

The Sawtooth Wilderness was originally designated the Sawtooth Primitive Area in 1937 before becoming part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1972 under the Wilderness Act. [11] Although entirely managed by Sawtooth National Forest, only about a quarter (25.33 percent) of the Sawtooth Wilderness lies within the area Congressionally designated as Sawtooth National Forest, with the majority (69.13 percent) lying in Boise National Forest and a relatively small portion (5.54 percent) in Salmon-Challis National Forest. [21] According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Sawtooth Wilderness has some of the clearest air in the lower 48 states. [22] [23]

On August 7, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act creating the Hemingway–Boulders (67,998 acres or 27,518 hectares), Jim McClure–Jerry Peak (116,898 acres or 47,307 hectares), and White Clouds (90,769 acres or 36,733 hectares) wilderness areas covering a combined 275,665 acres (111,558 ha) of Sawtooth National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land after it passed Congress on August 4, 2015. The Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness is entirely within SNRA, while all but 450 acres (180 ha) of the White Clouds Wilderness is in the SNRA, with the rest managed by the BLM. The Jim McClure–Jerry Peak wilderness is entirely outside the administered area of Sawtooth National Forest, but partially within the area designated as Sawtooth National Forest and thus managed by Salmon-Challis National Forest and the BLM. [24] [25] [26] [27] The 2015 bill and previous versions were introduced by Republican Representative Mike Simpson, while prior bills had proposed to designate 312,000 acres (126,000 ha) of wilderness as part of the controversial Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA). [28] [29] [30] [31] CIEDRA would have opened over 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) adjacent to the new wilderness areas to motorized vehicle use, given 5,693 acres (2,304 ha) of public land to local municipalities, and established a "no net loss" policy for motorized trails. [30]

Prior to the 2015 wilderness designations, the White Cloud and Boulder mountains were part of the largest unprotected roadless area in the United States outside of Alaska. [32] In the absence of Congressional action that would designate the Boulder-White Clouds region as wilderness, the area had been studied for possible protection as a national monument by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act. Former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne initially studied the area for national monument status, but did not recommend it because Congressional action seemed likely. The 2015 bill passed after receiving increased attention when President Obama indicated he would designate a national monument in the area if the wilderness bill did not pass. [33] [34] Additionally, other large areas of the forest are parts of proposed wilderness areas, such as through the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. These other proposals have gained no support among Idaho's congressional delegation because the bills could place undue public use and development restrictions on Idaho's public lands. [35] [36]

The Wilderness Act enhanced the protection status of remote or undeveloped land already contained within federally administered protected areas. Passage of the act ensured that no human improvements would take place aside from those already existing. The protected status in wilderness-designated zones prohibits road and building construction, oil and mineral exploration or mining, and logging, and also prohibits the use of motorized equipment and bicycles. The ways people may enter wilderness areas are on foot or on horseback. [37] [38]

Natural resources

Flora

Pine beetle-killed trees below Mount Heyburn Mt Heyborn Morning Sun.jpg
Pine beetle-killed trees below Mount Heyburn

About 47 percent of the forest's land is forested, and an additional 3 percent can support trees, but does not currently have any. Lower elevations in Sawtooth National Forest often have sagebrush and grassland vegetation types, while forested areas contain a variety of tree species. Lodgepole pine forms nearly monotypic forests in part of the SNRA with sparse vegetation under the tree cover. Plants that can be found under lodgepole pines include grasses, scattered forbs, dwarf huckleberry, and grouse whortleberry. Douglas-fir and quaking aspen are found in similar environments throughout the forest with understories of low shrubs, such as common snowberry and white spirea. [20] :A-21 Aspen is also found throughout the forest at elevations ranging from 5,000 ft (1,500 m) to 11,000 ft (3,400 m). [20] :A-22

The highest elevation forests contain whitebark pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and limber pine, including the largest individual whitebark pine in North America. [2] [39] Based on tree ring chronologies, some of the whitebark pines are believed to be 700 to 1000 or more years old. [40] The highest elevation forests typically have understories of grasses and forbs that are resistant to freezing at any point of the growing season. [20] :A-22 Willows, alders, cottonwoods, and sedges are found in riparian areas. [20] :A-18 Ponderosa pine occupy the dry, lower elevations near the western edge of the forest and historically persisted due to the occurrence of frequent non-lethal fires. Ponderosa pine forest understories typically consist of perennial grasses such as Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass. In the slightly moister ponderosa pine forests grasses such as pinegrass are found with a cover of shrubs including white spirea, common snowberry, and mallow ninebark. [20] :A-20

The Minidoka District is separated from the rest of the forest by the Snake River Plain, also known as Idaho's potato belt; snowmelt from the forest provides a steady supply of water to the plain. The Minidoka District is a part of the Basin and Range Province, and while much of the vegetation here is similar to the northern part of the forest, the presence of Rocky Mountain juniper is notable as well as is the occasional cactus plant. [41] In these pinyon-juniper woodlands trees also include singleleaf pinyon, Utah juniper, and curl-leaf mountain mahogany. [20] :A-23 Idaho's rarest plant, the Christ's Indian paintbrush, is endemic to 200 acres (81 ha) on upper elevations of Mount Harrison in the Albion Mountains in the Minidoka District. [2] [42] [43] [44] [45] Davis' springparsley is also endemic to the Albion Mountains. [42] [46] Additionally, the forest contains potential habitat for the threatened Ute lady's tresses. [20] :I-9

Castilleja christii, Christ's Indian paintbrush Castilleja christii TPrendusi lg.jpg
Castilleja christii , Christ's Indian paintbrush

Exotic species (also known as invasive or non-native species) are often unintentionally introduced by people traveling from outside the forest by sticking to vehicle tires, shoes, or cattle and are usually found near roadways, campgrounds, and other areas used by people. The Forest Service has an invasive species control effort that identifies and attempts to contain the further spread of non-native plants. [20] :II-17 Invasive plants of particular concern in the forest include spotted knapweed, yellow starthistle, rush skeletonweed, leafy spurge, and cheatgrass. [20] :II-18

The mountain pine beetle is a native insect species that is known to experience large outbreaks that infest forest groves, and is particularly common in areas with numerous lodgepole pines and fir trees. A large infestation occurred from 1995 through 2003, and the beetle wiped out areas of lodgepole pine in the SNRA, an area historically too cold for outbreaks to occur. [47]

Fauna

Sawtooth National Forest is home to over 243 bird species, 78 mammals, 28 reptiles and amphibians, and 29 fish. [20] :II-22 [48] [49] Invasive zebra and quagga mussels are potential threats to the forest's aquatic ecosystems because they can spread rapidly and cover large surface areas, including human structures, thus altering ecosystems, removing native mussels and threatening native fish. [2] Wolves were controversially reintroduced to the SNRA in the mid-1990s to restore the ecosystem stability that they provide as top predators. This included managing high elk populations, which had inhibited new vegetation growth. Opponents to the reintroduction included hunters concerned that wolves would inhibit their ability to hunt the highest number of game species possible, ranchers concerned for the welfare of their animals, and land developers concerned that a species listed under the Endangered Species Act may restrict what they can do to their land. [50]

Along with cougars, timber wolves are the largest top predators that live in the forest and have no predators of their own except humans. Most of the area's native mammal species are present in the forest, with the exception of grizzly bears, which have become locally extinct. Plans for their reintroduction to central Idaho have been proposed since the 1990s, but have not progressed because of concerns similar to those with the wolf reintroduction as well as fears for human safety. [51] [52] [53] [54] The northern and high elevation areas of the forest contain habitat for wolverines and the endangered Canadian lynx, but no recent sightings of these species have been reported. [3]

Cutthroat trout in the SNRA Cutthroat Trout.JPG
Cutthroat trout in the SNRA

Elk (also known as wapiti), mule deer, and pronghorn (also called pronghorn antelope) are some of the most commonly seen large mammals. During winter, pronghorn that spend the summer in the Sawtooth Valley migrate south to the lower elevations on the Snake River Plain, and some sections of the forest are closed to motorized use to protect the elk winter range. Bighorn sheep are rare sights in the forest, but the forest contains one-third of Idaho's mountain goat population, and they are commonly seen at high elevations in the Boulder, White Cloud, Pioneer, and Sawtooth mountains. Other mammals in the forest include the coyote, moose, bobcat, beaver, yellow-bellied marmot, pika, and badger. [55]

Bull trout are one of the management indicator species for the forest. Population monitoring efforts are undertaken every year to provide an assessment of forest health. [20] :II-26 [56] [57] They were selected because they are dependent upon specific habitat conditions and are sensitive to habitat changes. [20] :II-26 [58] [59] [60] Bull trout are only found in parts of the Salmon, Boise, and Payette river watersheds on the Fairfield District and the SNRA. [61] The forest is home to the longest salmon migration in the continental United States, but with the damming of the Columbia River, salmon populations have collapsed. Redfish Lake was named for the sockeye salmon that would return to breed in the lake and its tributaries and historically had 10,000 to 35,000 adult fish return to the lake annually. Between 1990 and 1998 a total of 16 adult fish returned to Redfish Lake, but populations have recovered somewhat, and in 2014 approximately 1400 adult fish returned, up from 1100 in 2011. [62] [63] [64] Repeated efforts to repopulate the sockeye salmon have taken place in the Columbia River watershed, and in 2008 the first salmon season in 31 years was held for chinook salmon in the upper Salmon River. [65] [66] Brook trout have been introduced to the forest and are now an invasive species that compete with the threatened bull trout. The Wood River sculpin is a fish species that is endemic to the Big Wood River and its tributaries on the Ketchum District and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. [48] [67] [68] Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish are all native to portions of the forest waterways. [20] :II-22 [55]

A bull trout in the SNRA Bull Trout.JPG
A bull trout in the SNRA

243 bird species have been observed in the upper Salmon River Basin, with an additional 36 accidental species, or those that are not normally found in the region but have been observed on at least one occasion. [69] Bald eagles can be found on the forest, particularly along rivers, while golden eagles are occasionally seen over the sagebrush steppe. Northern goshawks are listed by the Forest Service as a sensitive species and are found on the forest. [70] [71] Black-billed magpies are common on the forest, and sandhill cranes are seen during the breeding season in the Sawtooth Valley. Black rosy finch breed at the highest elevations in the northern section of the forest, while greater sage-grouse can be found in sagebrush habitats throughout the forest. [55]

The South Hills crossbill is a finch endemic to the South Hills and Albion Mountains in the Minidoka District. [72] It rarely interbreeds with similar crossbills that are present in its range, and it has been proposed as a separate species created via ecological speciation. The American Ornithologists' Union failed to find consensus on the issue so the South Hills crossbill is still considered a subspecies of the red crossbill. [73] [74]

There are few reptiles in the forest. Snakes species include bullsnakes and rubber boas, as well as western rattlesnakes, which are most likely to be found at lower elevations and in the Minidoka District. [55] Amphibians including the Columbia spotted frog, long-toed salamander, and the Rocky Mountain tailed frog are relatively common. [55]

Fire ecology

The 2013 Beaver Creek Fire Beaver Creek Fire 2013 Idaho 1.jpg
The 2013 Beaver Creek Fire

Sawtooth National Forest has an active Fire Management Program which recognizes that forest fires are a natural part of the ecosystem, but this was not always the case. The 1987 forest plan did not recognize fire as an ecosystem process or as a tool for ecosystem management; this was rectified in the 2012 forest plan. [20] :II-13 Previous firefighting efforts, which emphasized quickly extinguishing all fires, caused dead and dying trees to accumulate well in excess of the level found when fires are allowed to burn out naturally. Historically speaking, fires became more common in parts of the SNRA after the development of lodgepole pine forests, which occurred prior to 1450 AD. [75] Between 1989 and 1998 there were on average 50 fires per year, with 58 percent of them caused by lightning. [20] :II-13 The Smoky Mountains of Idaho were named from the frequent forest fires, and in 2007 the Castle Rock Fire burned 48,000 acres (19,000 ha) of the Smoky Mountains near Ketchum. [76] [77] In 2005 the Valley Road Fire burned 40,800 acres (16,500 ha) in the White Cloud Mountains after being ignited from embers that came from a trash barrel which were blown out on a windy day. [78] In August 2013 the Beaver Creek Fire and the Kelley Fire were both ignited by lightning and burned 111,490 acres (45,120 ha) and 17,346 acres (7,020 ha), respectively, of the Fairfield and Ketchum ranger districts. [79] [80] Another lightning-caused fire, the McCan Fire, burned 23,389 acres (9,465 ha) of the Fairfield Ranger District and other lands north of Fairfield in 2013. [81] Both natural and prescribed fires are used as a tool to maintain desired vegetation and fuel levels. While the forest's fire plan operates within historical fire regimes, locally fire is actively suppressed to protect human life, investments, and resources. [20] :III-41

The forest maintains a full-time fire staff throughout the summer, not only to control and extinguish fires that pose threats to people and structures but also to set controlled burns. Their jobs include maintaining a high level of preparedness, keeping a vigilant lookout for fire activity, responding to reports of fires, maintaining equipment, monitoring weather and relative atmospheric dryness, and preparing daily fire activity reports, which are used to post fire information for visitors and staff. [3] The forest has wildland fire engines, pumps, hand tools and fire hose at its disposal. A helicopter can be summoned quickly, along with support from the South Central Idaho Interagency Dispatch Center, including a team of smokejumpers and air tankers used to provide air support in dropping flame retardant and water. There are small areas around Stanley and Mount Harrison where aerial retardant would not be used in the case of a fire. [82] The 10-member Sawtooth Helitack crew was established in 1963 and is based at the SNRA headquarters 7 miles north of Ketchum. [83] [84] In the case of larger fires, the National Interagency Fire Command can quickly mobilize available resources. Only four of the original fire lookout towers remain standing in the forest, but they are no longer in use: Iron Mountain, Horton Peak, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Harrison, which was last fully staffed in 2007. [1] [85] Many of these towers were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. [20] :I-20

Geography and geology

Hyndman Peak in the Pioneer Mountains is the forest's highest point Hyndman Peak.JPG
Hyndman Peak in the Pioneer Mountains is the forest's highest point
The Soldier Mountains Soldier Mountains Idaho.JPG
The Soldier Mountains
The Boulder Mountains and Big Wood River Outside of Ketchum, Idaho.jpg
The Boulder Mountains and Big Wood River

The elevation in the forest ranges from 4,514 feet (1,376 m) at Rock Creek south of Twin Falls to 12,009 feet (3,660 m) above sea level at the top of Hyndman Peak, an elevation gain of 7,495 feet (2,284 m). [2] [20] :I-8 The mountains of the Minidoka District are part of the Basin and Range Province, while those in the northern section of the forest are part of the Rocky Mountains. The Sawtooth Mountains have at least fifty peaks over ten thousand feet (3,050 m). [1] [86] [87]

Mountain ranges of Sawtooth National Forest [1] [86] [88]
Mountain Range Highest point Elevation Location Ranger District
Pioneer Mountains Hyndman Peak 12,009 ft (3,660 m) 43°44′58″N114°07′52″W / 43.7494°N 114.1311°W / 43.7494; -114.1311 (Hyndman Peak) Ketchum
White Cloud Mountains Castle Peak 11,815 ft (3,601 m) 44°02′23″N114°35′07″W / 44.0396°N 114.5853°W / 44.0396; -114.5853 (Castle Peak) SNRA
Boulder Mountains Ryan Peak 11,714 ft (3,570 m) 43°54′08″N114°24′34″W / 43.9022°N 114.4094°W / 43.9022; -114.4094 (Ryan Peak) SNRA
Sawtooth Mountains Thompson Peak 10,751 ft (3,277 m) 44°08′29″N115°00′36″W / 44.1415°N 115.0100°W / 44.1415; -115.0100 (Thompson Peak) SNRA
Smoky Mountains Saviers Peak 10,441 ft (3,182 m) 43°49′19″N114°42′47″W / 43.8219°N 114.7130°W / 43.8219; -114.7130 (Saviers Peak) Fairfield/Ketchum/SNRA
Albion Mountains Cache Peak 10,339 ft (3,151 m) 42°11′08″N113°39′40″W / 42.1856°N 113.6611°W / 42.1856; -113.6611 (Cache Peak) Minidoka
Boise Mountains Two Point Mountain 10,124 ft (3,086 m) 43°44′14″N114°58′36″W / 43.7371°N 114.9767°W / 43.7371; -114.9767 (Two Point Mountain) Fairfield
Soldier Mountains Smoky Dome 10,095 ft (3,077 m) 43°29′36″N114°56′10″W / 43.4932°N 114.9362°W / 43.4932; -114.9362 (Smoky Dome) Fairfield
Raft River Mountains Bull Mountain 9,925 ft (3,025 m) 41°54′17″N113°23′20″W / 41.9048°N 113.3888°W / 41.9048; -113.3888 (Bull Mountain) Minidoka
Black Pine Mountains Black Pine Mtns HP 9,389 ft (2,862 m) 42°08′19″N113°07′32″W / 42.1386°N 113.1256°W / 42.1386; -113.1256 (Black Pine Mountains High Point) Minidoka
Sublett Mountains Sublett Range HP 7,492 ft (2,284 m) 42°22′12″N112°55′50″W / 42.3699°N 112.9305°W / 42.3699; -112.9305 (Sublett Range High Point) Minidoka

The mountains of Sawtooth National Forest have a varied geological history. The northern Sawtooth Mountains formed from the Eocene Sawtooth batholith, while south of Alturas Lake the Sawtooth, Smoky, and Soldier mountains formed from the Cretaceous granodiorite of the Idaho Batholith. [89] [90] Foothills of the Smoky Mountains are from the Pennsylvanian and Permian Dollarhide formations. The White Cloud Mountains are underlain by the gray granodiorite of the Idaho batholith, while some of the exposed rock is baked impure limestone from the Permian Grand Prize Formation.

The central mass of the Raft River Mountains consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks with Elba quartzite and interlayered schist on the southern slopes and Cambrian quartzite outcrops on the western part of the range. [91] [92] Below the Sublett Mountains the Phosphoria Formation, a basal phosphorite overlain by a thick sequence of chert and cherty sandstone, reaches its greatest thickness. [93] [94] Soils in the northern part of the forest are generally deep and highly fertile in lowlands but shallow and less so on steep slopes. In the Minidoka Ranger District, soils are generally productive, derived from volcanic and sedimentary material, shallow on steep slopes, and deep in the lowlands. [20] :I-9

The Boulder, Pioneer, Sawtooth, Smoky, and White Cloud mountains are generally jagged, while the ranges on the Minidoka District, the Albion, Black Pine, Raft River, and Sublett mountains, are generally smooth and rolling. [20] :I-9 Galena Summit is a mountain pass at 8,701 ft (2,652 m) on State Highway 75 between Stanley and Ketchum, roughly where the Boulder and Smoky Mountains meet. [95] While not in Sawtooth National Forest, Banner Creek Summit is a 7,037-foot (2,145 m) mountain pass on State Highway 21 at the northern end of the Sawtooth Mountains, on the border of the Boise and Challis National Forests. [96]

The Sawtooth Mountains from southeast of Stanley The Sawtooth Mountains.jpg
The Sawtooth Mountains from southeast of Stanley

Waterways

Iron Creek in the Sawtooth Mountains Iron Creek Sawtooth NRA.JPG
Iron Creek in the Sawtooth Mountains

There are over 1,100 lakes covering 7,600 acres (11.9 sq mi; 30.8 km2) and an estimated 7,500 miles (12,100 km) of temporary and permanent streams and rivers in the forest. [20] :I-9 Over 680 miles (1,095 km) of streams are found in the Fairfield District, over 500 miles (800 km) in the Ketchum District, and over 450 miles (725 km) in the Minidoka District. [3] The entire northern portion of the forest is in the watershed of the Snake River, a tributary of the Columbia River. The Salmon River's headwaters are in the upper Sawtooth Valley, and this river drains much of the SNRA and follows a tortuous, overall northwesterly course before flowing into the Snake River 425 mi (685 km) downstream. The western side of the Sawtooth Mountains is drained by the South Fork of the Payette River. The northern Soldier Mountains, southern Smoky Mountains, and much of the Fairfield District are drained by the South Fork of the Boise River, which flows into Anderson Ranch Reservoir just west of the forest. The Ketchum District, part of the SNRA, and the southern slopes of the Fairfield District are drained by the Big Wood River. Much of the Minidoka District is also drained by the Snake River via the Raft River and other tributaries, but portions of the Black Pine and Raft River Mountains drain into the Great Salt Lake. [1] The annual water yield from the forest is estimated just below 2,300,000 acre-foot (2.8×109 m3). [20] :I-9

Most of the forest's lakes are the result of glaciation and occur in the SNRA in the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains, but lakes can be found in most of the other mountain ranges of the forest. There are over 20 lakes in the Fairfield District, 90 in the Ketchum District, and 6 lakes and 3 reservoirs in the Minidoka District. The largest lake on the forest is Redfish Lake, a moraine-dammed lake that is 4.5 mi (7.2 km) long, 0.72 mi (1.16 km) wide, and up to 387 ft (118 m) deep. [1] [97] Other large lakes include Alturas, Pettit, Sawtooth, Stanley, and Yellow Belly lakes. [1]

Redfish Lake and the Sawtooth Mountains Boats in Redfish Lake.jpg
Redfish Lake and the Sawtooth Mountains

Seismology

The Sawtooth Fault is a 40-mile (65 km) long east-dipping normal fault that runs along the base of the Sawtooth Mountains and was discovered and mapped in 2010. It is believed to be capable of producing an earthquake measuring up to 7.5 on the Richter magnitude scale. [98] [99]

The most recent earthquake, measuring M5+, occurred on March 31, 2020, and measured 6.5 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). [100] The quake has had numerous aftershocks of 2.5 or greater. The aftershocks have continued through early August 2020.

Glaciology

Thompson Peak has an unnamed glacial lake in the cirque just northeast of its peak Thompson Peak Idaho.JPG
Thompson Peak has an unnamed glacial lake in the cirque just northeast of its peak

Sawtooth National Forest has a history of alpine glaciation that is most obvious in the Sawtooth Mountains, and while no surface glaciers exist today, perennial snow fields and rock glaciers remain, usually on north or east facing slopes. There have been 202 perennial snow fields mapped in the Sawtooth Mountains, and while none have been mapped elsewhere on the forest, some may still exist in the Boulder, Pioneer, and White Cloud Mountains. [101]

The Sawtooth Mountains were last extensively glaciated in the Pleistocene, but glaciers probably existed during the Little Ice Age, which ended around 1850 AD. [102] [103] Evidence of past glaciation is abundant in the Sawtooth, White Cloud, Boulder, and Smoky mountains, as well as the north and east-facing slopes of the Albion, Raft River, and Soldier mountains. Remnants of the glaciers include glacial lakes, moraines, horns, hanging valleys, cirques, and arêtes. [102]

Climate

Much of Sawtooth National Forest receives less than 15 inches (38 cm) of precipitation a year, with higher elevations typically receiving more precipitation. Summer and early fall are usually drier than winter in most of the forest, while in the lowlands of the Minidoka District, such as near Oakley, the spring may be the wettest season. [104] Winter snowfall provides a steady water supply to the streams during the summer. Locally, climate may depend on mountains that block moist air and river valleys that can funnel weather systems. Dry lightning is common in summer and fall. The growing season ranges from 150 days in the lower valleys to less than 30 days in the highest alpine areas. [20] :I-8 The climate charts below are ordered (left to right) from highest to lowest in both latitude and elevation.

Stanley, Idaho
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.6
 
 
26
−1
 
 
1.3
 
 
33
0
 
 
1.1
 
 
42
9
 
 
1.1
 
 
50
20
 
 
1.3
 
 
60
28
 
 
1.2
 
 
68
33
 
 
0.6
 
 
79
36
 
 
0.6
 
 
78
33
 
 
0.8
 
 
69
27
 
 
1
 
 
56
21
 
 
1.5
 
 
39
12
 
 
1.6
 
 
26
−1
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA, [105]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
41
 
 
−3
−18
 
 
33
 
 
1
−18
 
 
29
 
 
5
−13
 
 
28
 
 
10
−7
 
 
32
 
 
15
−2
 
 
30
 
 
20
1
 
 
15
 
 
26
2
 
 
15
 
 
25
0
 
 
19
 
 
20
−3
 
 
25
 
 
14
−6
 
 
39
 
 
4
−11
 
 
40
 
 
−3
−18
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Ketchum, Idaho
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.2
 
 
31
6
 
 
2
 
 
36
8
 
 
1.9
 
 
43
17
 
 
1.2
 
 
53
25
 
 
1.9
 
 
62
32
 
 
1.3
 
 
71
38
 
 
0.9
 
 
80
43
 
 
0.8
 
 
79
41
 
 
1.1
 
 
70
34
 
 
1.1
 
 
58
26
 
 
1.7
 
 
41
15
 
 
2.5
 
 
32
7
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA, [106]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
56
 
 
0
−15
 
 
50
 
 
2
−13
 
 
47
 
 
6
−9
 
 
31
 
 
12
−4
 
 
48
 
 
17
0
 
 
34
 
 
22
3
 
 
22
 
 
27
6
 
 
19
 
 
26
5
 
 
28
 
 
21
1
 
 
27
 
 
15
−4
 
 
43
 
 
5
−9
 
 
64
 
 
0
−14
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Fairfield, Idaho
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.4
 
 
29
5
 
 
1.7
 
 
34
8
 
 
1.3
 
 
42
17
 
 
1.1
 
 
55
27
 
 
1.3
 
 
66
35
 
 
0.9
 
 
75
40
 
 
0.5
 
 
86
46
 
 
0.4
 
 
84
44
 
 
0.6
 
 
75
35
 
 
0.8
 
 
63
27
 
 
1.8
 
 
44
18
 
 
2.3
 
 
32
8
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA, [107]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
60
 
 
−2
−15
 
 
43
 
 
1
−13
 
 
32
 
 
6
−9
 
 
27
 
 
13
−3
 
 
33
 
 
19
2
 
 
24
 
 
24
5
 
 
12
 
 
30
8
 
 
11
 
 
29
7
 
 
16
 
 
24
2
 
 
20
 
 
17
−3
 
 
46
 
 
7
−8
 
 
58
 
 
0
−13
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Oakley, Idaho
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
0.8
 
 
38
19
 
 
0.7
 
 
43
23
 
 
0.9
 
 
51
28
 
 
1.3
 
 
60
33
 
 
1.6
 
 
68
40
 
 
1.2
 
 
77
47
 
 
0.7
 
 
86
55
 
 
0.8
 
 
85
53
 
 
0.8
 
 
76
45
 
 
0.8
 
 
65
36
 
 
0.8
 
 
49
27
 
 
0.8
 
 
40
21
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA, [108]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
20
 
 
3
−7
 
 
17
 
 
6
−5
 
 
23
 
 
10
−2
 
 
32
 
 
15
1
 
 
40
 
 
20
5
 
 
31
 
 
25
8
 
 
19
 
 
30
13
 
 
19
 
 
30
12
 
 
19
 
 
24
7
 
 
21
 
 
18
2
 
 
20
 
 
9
−3
 
 
21
 
 
4
−6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

Human history

Bald Mountain Ski Area Baldmountainid.jpg
Bald Mountain Ski Area

Spear points dating to 12,000 years ago document the earliest presence of Paleo-Indians in the area, and there are nearly 1,500 known heritage sites in the forest. [2] [20] :I-15 [109] After AD 1700, the Shoshone, also known as the Sheepeater people, as well as the Bannock and Northern Paiute tribes, harvested fish, game, roots, timber, tubers, and rocks for tools while living in small groups at the northern end of the forest. [2] [20] :I-15

Trappers and explorers arrived in southern Idaho in the early 19th century. [20] :I-16 They established immigrant trails in the region by 1849, including the Oregon and California trails. [110] [111] The forest was used by early settlers primarily for extractive industries. [10] Fur trappers of the Hudson's Bay Company discovered the Stanley Basin in the northern part of the forest in the 1820s, but mostly avoided it due to the scarcity of beaver. [112] :188–189 For early settlers, the welfare of their community was dependent upon timber supply, regulation of stream flow for irrigation, and use of the land for cattle range. [3] Mining began in the 1860s, peaked in the 1880s, and fluctuated over the following century with the extraction of gold, silver, lead, and zinc. [113] [114] The Black Pine Division of the forest was explored in the late 1800s, and the Tallman Mine began producing gold in the 1920s with production peaking from 1949 to 1954. [115] [116] [117] The Black Pine Mine again produced gold from 1992 through November 1997, when the mine's parent company, Pegasus Gold, declared bankruptcy. The location of the mine has since been reclaimed. [117]

Sheep grazing near Stanley c. 1937 IDAHO-J-0085 Sheep - Stanley Basin.jpg
Sheep grazing near Stanley c. 1937

Towns around the forest, including Stanley, Ketchum, and Sawtooth City, were founded as mining towns in the latter part of the 19th century by prospectors and trappers, including Civil War veteran Captain John Stanley, after whom the town of Stanley is named. Ketchum is named after the trapper and guide David Ketchum, while the Sublett Mountains are named after trapper William Sublette, who lived in the area in the 1830s. [118] [119] Most of the logging in the region was for firewood and timber for miners and homesteaders. For much of the 20th century, sheep and cattle grazing were the primary large-scale land uses of the forest. [2] Sheep drives were common in the Wood River Valley after the mining boom and shepherds from southern Idaho drove their flocks north to graze the upper elevation areas in Sawtooth National Forest. [112] :348–349 The original sheepherders were Basque Americans, while today many of the sheepherders are Peruvians contracted through the Department of Labor. [120] [121] [122]

In 1936 the Union Pacific Railroad and its chairman W. Averell Harriman developed Sun Valley and the Bald Mountain ski area—the first winter-destination resort in the United States developed for the purpose of increasing railroad passenger numbers. [112] :348–349 [123] The area became popular with celebrities, including Ernest Hemingway and Gary Cooper. On July 2, 1961, Hemingway committed suicide at his home overlooking the Big Wood River; he is buried at the Ketchum Cemetery. [124]

On February 9, 1945, a B-24 Liberator bomber crashed on Mount Harrison in the Albion Division of the forest during a training mission in dense fog. All nine crew were killed in the crash, and their bodies were found inside the plane and recovered over the following days. The plane's remains have never been removed. A memorial service was held on July 29, 2004, and a plaque was permanently installed honoring those who died. [125]

Recreation

Hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness Hiker and Redfish Canyon from Alpine Lake trail in Sawtooth Wilderness.jpg
Hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness

Sawtooth National Forest receives over one million visitors a year. [5] Two visitor centers, one at the SNRA headquarters north of Ketchum and one at Redfish Lake, provide orientation, books, maps, and interpretive displays and are staffed by either forest service interpreters or volunteers. The forest's ranger stations also provide these services, but without interpretive displays. Along the roadways, exhibits showcase key parts of the forest, and there are plentiful day use and picnic areas. [3] There are more than 81 campgrounds in the forest, with 12 in the Fairfield District, 6 in the Ketchum District, 25 in the Minidoka District, and 38 in the SNRA. [1] [3] [49] [126] Most of the campgrounds are on a first come first served basis, while some can be reserved. [127]

Visiting distant backcountry areas requires accessing hiking trails and then backpacking or horseback riding into remote destinations. Free permits are required for use of the wilderness and can be obtained at trailheads. Group size is restricted in the wilderness, open fires are not permitted in some high-use areas, and visitors are expected to follow Leave No Trace practices. There are abundant trails throughout the forest, with over 700 miles (1,100 km) in the SNRA, 440 miles (710 km) in the Fairfield District, and 341 miles (549 km) in the Minidoka District. [3] Two National Recreation Trails are found on the forest, the Fishhook Creek Boardwalk at Redfish Lake and the Wood River Nature Trail at the Wood River Campground. [2]

Driving in the Raft River Mountains SawtoothsUtahRidgedrive.jpg
Driving in the Raft River Mountains

All-terrain vehicles are allowed on over 500 mi (800 km) of forest roads and some trails, but access may be restricted depending on season and environmental conditions. The Sun Valley area has an extensive network of mountain biking trails. [3] Hunting and fishing are popular recreational activities permitted throughout the forest, provided that proper permits are obtained and the applicable rules and regulations are followed. Hunting and fishing licenses are available from the state of Idaho through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. [128]

The SNRA is the primary destination for mountain climbers and rock climbers within the forest. Thompson Peak and Hyndman Peak are two popular peaks to hike to, and Mount Heyburn is a popular rock climbing destination. Opportunities for rafting and kayaking on the upper Salmon River with conditions range from flatwater to class IV whitewater. [2] Water levels are highest during snowmelt in spring and early summer. [129] The large lakes in the Sawtooth Valley, including Redfish, Alturas, Pettit, and Stanley lakes, have developed boat accesses. Redfish Lake has a lodge with a marina, restaurant, and various activities. [130] There are numerous hot springs distributed across the forest and open to public use. A few have developed tubs, including those in the Baumgartner Campground. [3] [131] [132] [133]

Winter activities

Skiing in the Sawtooth Mountains RKTNCopper.jpg
Skiing in the Sawtooth Mountains

Winter activities include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. [3] The first destination winter resort in the U.S. was developed at Sun Valley in 1936 with ski slopes on Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. There are four ski areas in Sawtooth National Forest as well as the Rotarun Ski Area just west of Hailey and Dollar Mountain in Sun Valley, but these are just outside the forest's boundary. There are snowshoe loops and 78 mi (126 km) of groomed Nordic ski trails around Galena Lodge in the SNRA. [134] Sno-Cat and heliskiing opportunities also exist in the forest. Over 50 mi (80 km) of groomed snowmobile trails and warming huts are found in the Fairfield District, and there are 30 mi (48 km) in the Cassia Division. [2] [3] Backcountry hut and yurt accommodations are available in the Sawtooth National Forest for overnight trips for winter recreationalists. [135]

Ski areas of Sawtooth National Forest [2] [136]
Ski area Top elevation Vertical dropLiftsRunsSnowfall Location Mountain rangeDistrict
Bald Mountain 9,150 ft (2,790 m)3,400 ft (1,000 m)1475220 in (560 cm) 43°39′18″N114°24′32″W / 43.655°N 114.409°W / 43.655; -114.409 (Bald Mountain) Smoky Ketchum
Magic Mountain 7,240 ft (2,210 m)700 ft (210 m)311230 in (580 cm) 42°11′17″N114°17′10″W / 42.188°N 114.286°W / 42.188; -114.286 (Magic Mountain) South HillsMinidoka
Pomerelle 8,762 ft (2,671 m)1,002 ft (305 m)324500 in (1,300 cm) 42°19′05″N113°36′29″W / 42.318°N 113.608°W / 42.318; -113.608 (Pomerelle) Albion Minidoka
Soldier Mountain 7,177 ft (2,188 m)1,425 ft (434 m)336100 in (250 cm) 43°28′59″N114°49′59″W / 43.483°N 114.833°W / 43.483; -114.833 (Soldier Mountain) Soldier Fairfield

Scenic roads

The Salmon River and Sawtooth Mountains along Idaho State Highway 75 approaching Stanley Sawtooth Mountains and Salmon River.JPG
The Salmon River and Sawtooth Mountains along Idaho State Highway 75 approaching Stanley

Sawtooth National Forest is home to four of Idaho's scenic byways, three of which intersect in Stanley. Idaho State Highway 75 is designated as the Sawtooth Scenic Byway for 115.7 mi (186.2 km) from Shoshone north to Stanley. Highway 75 from Stanley to Challis and U.S. Route 93 from Challis north to the Montana border are designated as the Salmon River Scenic Byway for 161.7 mi (260.2 km). Idaho State Highway 21 is the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway for 130.9 mi (210.7 km) from Stanley to Boise. The City of Rocks Backcountry Byway follows a series of roads for 49 mi (79 km) around the Albion Mountains and through the City of Rocks National Reserve at the southern end of the Albion Mountains. [137]

Movies, television shows, and documentaries have been filmed in and around Sawtooth National Forest, particularly around the Sun Valley area. [138] Movies filmed in Sun Valley include I Met Him in Paris (1937), Sun Valley Serenade (1941), and Bus Stop (1956). [139] Clint Eastwood's 1985 film Pale Rider was filmed in the SNRA, mostly in the Boulder Mountains in late 1984. The opening credits scene was shot south of Stanley in front of the Sawtooth Mountains. [140] [141] The SNRA was one of the settings of the 2010 3-D computer-animated film Alpha and Omega . [142] [143] [144]

Beginning in 1986 Idaho license plates depicted a basic mountain range that was supposed to represent the Sawtooths; in 1991 the plates were revised to more accurately represent the mountains. [145] The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles also created a license plate depicting the SNRA. [146]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaine County, Idaho</span> County in Idaho, United States

Blaine County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 24,272. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. It is also home to the Sun Valley ski resort, adjacent to Ketchum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmon River (Idaho)</span> River in Idaho, United States

The Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return", is a river located in the U.S. state of Idaho in the western United States. It flows for 425 miles (685 km) through central Idaho, draining a rugged, thinly populated watershed of 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2). The river drops more than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, to its confluence with the Snake River. Measured at White Bird, its average discharge is 11,060 cubic feet per second. The Salmon River is the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Redfish Lake</span> Lake in the state of Idaho

Little Redfish Lake in central Idaho is in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Custer County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boise National Forest</span> National forest in the US state of Idaho

Boise National Forest is a National Forest covering 2,203,703 acres (8,918.07 km2) of the U.S. state of Idaho. Created on July 1, 1908, from part of Sawtooth National Forest, it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as five units: the Cascade, Emmett, Idaho City, Lowman, and Mountain Home ranger districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth Wilderness</span> Wilderness area in the state of Idaho

The Sawtooth Wilderness is a federally-protected wilderness area that covers 217,088 acres (87,852 ha) of the state of Idaho. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was designated the Sawtooth Primitive Area in 1937 to preserve the scenic beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains. On August 22, 1972 Public Law 92-400 designated the Primitive Area as the Sawtooth Wilderness and part of the newly created Sawtooth National Recreation Area. As part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Sawtooth Wilderness is an area where human development and use are restricted and people are to remain only visitors. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Sawtooth Wilderness has some of the clearest air in the lower 48 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth National Recreation Area</span> National recreation area in Idaho, US

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) is a national recreation area in central Idaho, United States that is managed as part of Sawtooth National Forest. The recreation area, established on August 22, 1972, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and includes the Sawtooth, Hemingway–Boulders, and Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds wilderness areas. Activities within the 730,864-acre (2,957.70 km2) recreation area include hiking, backpacking, White water rafting, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth Range (Idaho)</span> Mountain range in Idaho, United States

The Sawtooth Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho, United States, reaching a maximum elevation of 10,751 feet (3,277 m) at the summit of Thompson Peak. It encompasses an area of 678 square miles (1,756 km2) spanning parts of Custer, Boise, Blaine, and Elmore counties, and is bordered to the east by the Sawtooth Valley. Much of the mountain range is within the Sawtooth Wilderness, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Sawtooth National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Idaho</span>

The U.S. state of Idaho borders six other U.S. states and one Canadian province. The states of Washington and Oregon are to the west, Nevada and Utah are to the south, and Montana and Wyoming are to the east. Idaho also shares a short border with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho State Highway 75</span> State highway in Lincoln, Blaine, and Custer Counties in Idaho, United States

State Highway 75 is a two-lane highway in the western United States that travels through the Sawtooth Valley of central Idaho. The highway's southern terminus is in Shoshone, and its northern is near Challis. It is designated as one of Idaho's scenic byways and provides access to Sawtooth National Recreation Area and primarily follows the Big Wood River in the south and the main Salmon River in the north, divided by Galena Summit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Heyburn</span> Mountain in the state of Idaho

Mount Heyburn, at 10,229 feet (3,118 m) is one of the many 10,000-foot (3,050 m) peaks in the Sawtooth Range of central Idaho. Mount Heyburn is located in Custer County and within the Sawtooth Wilderness portion of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The town of Stanley is located eight miles (13 km) north-northeast of Mount Heyburn. Grand Mogul, 9,733 ft (2,967 m), and Mount Heyburn are the two signature peaks that frame the southwest end of Redfish Lake ; all are in the Salmon River watershed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Cloud Mountains</span> Mountain in Idaho, United States

The White Cloud Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, located in central Idaho, southeast of Stanley in Custer County. The range is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and partially within the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bench Lakes (Idaho)</span> Alpine lakes in the state of Idaho

The Bench Lakes are a chain of five small alpine glacial lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. A cutoff from Sawtooth National Forest trail 101 along Redfish Lake leads to the Bench Lakes. The lakes are drained by an unnamed stream that flows into Redfish Lake, Redfish Lake Creek, and eventually the Salmon River.

The Upper Redfish Lakes are a chain of small alpine glacial lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are drained by an unnamed creek that is a tributary of Redfish Lake Creek, which flows into the Salmon River. There are no trails that lead to the lakes, although they are most easily accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 154 along Redfish Lake Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback Lakes</span> Alpine lakes in the state of Idaho

The Saddleback Lakes are a chain of small alpine glacial lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are drained by an unnamed tributary of Redfish Lake Creek, which flows into the Salmon River. There are no trails that lead to the lakes, although they are most easily accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 154.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulder Mountains (Idaho)</span> Mountain range in Idaho, United States

The Boulder Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains in the western United States. Located in central Idaho, they stretch from a few miles north of Ketchum to north to near Challis, and part of the range is within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and partially within the Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness. The highest point in the range is Ryan Peak, at 11,714 feet (3,570 m) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoky Mountains (Idaho)</span> Mountain range in the state of Idaho

The Smoky Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains and located on the west side of the Wood River Valley near Sun Valley, Idaho, in the Western United States. The range is within Sawtooth National Forest, while part of it is within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The highest point in the range is Saviers Peak at 10,441 ft (3,182 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth Valley</span> Valley in Blaine and Custer counties in Idaho, United States

The Sawtooth Valley is a valley in the Western United States, in Blaine and Custer counties in central Idaho, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness</span> Protected area in the US state of Idaho

The Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness is a protected area in the western United States, located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in central Idaho. Part of the Sawtooth National Forest in Blaine and Custer counties, the 67,998-acre wilderness covers part of the Boulder Mountains and directly adjoins the Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Wilderness on its northeast side and is south of the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness, which it does not directly adjoin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness</span> Protected area in the US state of Idaho

The Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness is a 90,769-acre (367.33 km2) protected area in the western United States, located in Custer County, Idaho. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area, in the Sawtooth National Forest, manages the majority of the wilderness, with 450 acres (180 ha) managed by the Bureau of Land Management at the wilderness's eastern edge along the East Fork Salmon River. The wilderness encompasses part of the White Cloud Mountains and is north of the Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness and west of the Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Wilderness.

The Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route is an off-road bicycle touring route in central Idaho. Developed by Adventure Cycling Association, the route consists of 518 miles of mostly dirt roads and 227 miles of optional singletrack, with access to more than 50 hot springs.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sawtooth National Forest (Map) (1998 ed.). 1:126,720. Sawtooth National Forest, U.S. Forest Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Sawtooth National Forest Visitor Guide" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Sawtooth National Forest". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  4. Land Areas of the National Forest System (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. November 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "National Visitor Use Monitoring Results for Sawtooth National Forest". U.S. Forest Service. September 2006. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  6. Steen, Harold K. (May 1991). "Reserve Act and Congress: Passage of the 1891 Act". The Beginning of the National Forest System. Washington, DC: U.S. Forest Service. pp. 18–23. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  7. "The U.S. Forest Service – An Overview" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). Forest History Society . Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Godfrey, Anthony (February 15, 2004). From Burley to Hailey, Idaho: Administrative Facilities of the Sawtooth National Forest, 1891–1960. U.S. Forest Service.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dant Ewert, Sara E. (Summer 2000). "Peak park politics: the struggle over the Sawtooths, from Borah to Church". The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. 91 (3): 138–149. ISSN   0030-8803. JSTOR   40492581.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Osborn, John (1979). "Creating the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Protecting Wilderness". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  12. "Sawtooth bill is introduced". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 29, 1967. p. 3.
  13. 1 2 3 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "New 755,000-acre Idaho recreation area created". The Bulletin. Bend, OR. August 26, 1972. p. 14. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  15. Landers, Rich (August 7, 2015). "Obama signs Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Bill". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  16. Mattingly, Phil (March 23, 2018). "Idaho senator holds up bill over political rivalry with deceased governor". CNN. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  17. Dao, Elaine (April 3, 2018). "Sawtooth National Forest headquarters move to Jerome after 32 years in Twin Falls". KMVT. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  18. "Transportation Observation, Considerations, and Recommendations for Sawtooth National Recreation Area" (PDF). National Transportation Library. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  19. "BLM 1:100K Maps | Land Status | Counties" (PDF). Public Lands Information Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "2012 Amended Forest Plan". Sawtooth National Forest. 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  21. "Wilderness Acreage Breakdown for The Sawtooth Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  22. "Control of Emissions from Marine SI and Small SI Engines, Vessels, and Equipment" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 16, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  23. "Sawtooth Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Archived from the original on December 26, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  24. Landers, Rich (August 4, 2015). "Idaho's Boulder White-Clouds Wilderness Approved". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015.
  25. Simpson, Mike. "H.R. 1138" (PDF). U.S. Congress. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2015.
  26. "Wilderness Area Proposals" (PDF). U.S. Congress. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  27. Ridler, Keith (August 7, 2015). "President signs legislation creating new Idaho wilderness". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  28. Simpson, Mike. "An Idaho Solution to Idaho Land Management". U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  29. Crapo, Mike (June 2, 2011). "CIEDRA". U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  30. 1 2 "Sawtooth Group". Sierra Club Idaho Chapter. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  31. "Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act" (PDF). U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  32. Rasker, Ray (2005). "Wilderness for its own sake or as economic asset?". Journal of Land, Resources, & Environmental Law. 15.
  33. "Why the Boulder-White Clouds? Why Now?". Idaho Conservation League. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  34. Barker, Rocky (April 14, 2013). "New life for Idaho treasures as national monuments?". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  35. Maloney, Carolyn B. (November 29, 2011). "H.R. 3334 Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act". Washington, DC: Library of Congress. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  36. Power, Thomas Michael (February 2000). "Making a Case for Wilderness in the Community: It's Good Business" (PDF). The Economics of Wildland Preservation: excerpt from a report prepared for the PEW Wilderness Center. Helena, MT: University of Montana. pp. 23–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  37. Zahniser, Howard (September 3, 1964). "The Wilderness Act" (PDF). Washington, DC: U.S. Congress. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  38. "The Wilderness Act of 1964". Wilderness.net. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  39. Kershner, Bruce; Mathews, Daniel; Nelson, Gil; Spellenberg, Richard; Purinton, Terry; Block, Andrew; Moore, Gerry; Thieret, John W. (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company. ISBN   978-1-4027-3875-3.
  40. Perkins, Dana L.; Swetnam, Thomas W. (December 1996). "A dendroecological assessment of whitebark pine in the Sawtooth-Salmon River region, Idaho" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 26 (12): 2123–2133. doi:10.1139/x26-241. hdl: 10150/278529 . ISSN   1208-6037. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2010.
  41. Tausch, Robin J.; West, Neil E.; Nabi, A. A. (July 1981). "Tree age and dominance patterns in Great-Basin pinyon-juniper woodlands" (PDF). Journal of Range Management. 34 (4): 259–264. doi:10.2307/3897846. hdl: 10150/646276 . ISSN   0022-409X. JSTOR   3897846. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 9, 2015.
  42. 1 2 Moseley, Robert K. (October 1993). "The status and distribution of Christ's Indian paintbrush (Castilleja christii) and Davis' wavewing (Cymopterus davisii) in the Albion Mountains, Sawtooth National Forest and City of Rocks National Reserve" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  43. Holmgren, Noel H. (March–April 1973). "Five new species of Castilleja (Scrophulariaceae) from the Intermountain Region". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 100 (2): 83–93. ISSN   1095-5674. JSTOR   2482396.
  44. Moseley, Robert K. (April 1996). "Christ's Indian paintbrush (Castilleja christii) monitoring on the Sawtooth National Forest: transect establishment and baseline data" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  45. Pierson, Kim (October 13, 2010). "Plant of the Week: Christ's Indian Painbrush". U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  46. Hartman, Ronald L. (January–March 1985). "A new species of Cymopterus (Umbelliferae) from southern Idaho". Brittonia. 37 (1): 102–105. doi:10.2307/2806254. ISSN   0007-196X. JSTOR   2806254. S2CID   84433973.
  47. Logan, Jesse A. "Climate change induced invasions by native and exotic pests" (PDF). Logan, UT: U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  48. 1 2 Groves, Craig R.; Butterfield, Bart; Lippincott, Abigail; Csuti, Blair; Scott, J. Michael (1997). Atlas of Idaho's Wildlife (PDF). Boise, ID: Idaho Department of Fish and Game. ISBN   978-0-9657756-0-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2012.
  49. 1 2 Harvey, Jacqueline (1999). "Sawtooth National Forest". Idaho Museum of Natural History, Idaho State University. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  50. Ring, Ray (May 27, 2002). "Wolf at the Door". High Country News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  51. Merrill, Troy; Mattson, David J.; Wright, R. Gerald; Quigley, Howard B. (February 1999). "Defining landscapes suitable for restoration of grizzly bears Ursus arctos in Idaho" (PDF). Biological Conservation. 87 (2): 231–248. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00057-3. ISSN   0006-3207. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013.
  52. Smith, Rob Roy (2003). "Unbearable? Bitterroot Grizzly Bear Reintroduction & the George W. Bush Administration". Golden Gate University Law Review. 33 (3). Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Electronic Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  53. "Grizzly Bears Will Not Be Reintroduced into U.S. West". Environment News Service. June 21, 2001. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  54. "Nature final plan afoot to reintroduce grizzly bears". CNN. March 15, 2000. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  55. 1 2 3 4 5 Alden, Peter; Grassy, John; Cassie, Brian; Kahl, Jonathan D. W.; Leventer, Amy; Mathews, Daniel; Zomlefer, Wendy B. (1998). National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Rocky Mountain States (1st ed.). New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN   978-0-679-44681-1.
  56. Isaak, Dan; Rieman, Bruce; Horan, Dona (April 2009). "A watershed-scale monitoring protocoal for bull trout" (PDF). Fort Collins, CO: Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  57. "Focus: Bull Trout Monitoring" (PDF). Rocky Mountain Research Station. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  58. "Salvelinus confluentus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  59. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Salvelinus confluentus". FishBase . May 2012 version.
  60. "Bull Trout Facts (Salvelinus confluentus)" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. May 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  61. "Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus)". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  62. "Success at Redfish Lake". Northwest Fisheries Science Center. December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  63. Kunz, Aaron (September 16, 2011). "Idaho Sockeye Salmon Count Exceeds Expectations". KPLU.org. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  64. Ridler, Keith (September 18, 2014). "Salmon numbers jump at Redfish Lake". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  65. Griswold, Robert G.; Taki, Doug; Stockner, J. G. (2003). Redfish Lake Sockeye salmon: nutrient supplementation as a means of restoration. American Fisheries Society Symposium. Vol. 34. Bethesda, MD: American Fisheries Society. pp. 197–211. ISBN   978-1-888569-44-5. ISSN   0892-2284.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  66. Kauffman, Jason (April 18, 2008). "First salmon season in 31 years?". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  67. "Wood River Sculpin". American Fisheries Society Idaho Chapter. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  68. Gimenez, Dixon, M. (1996). "Cottus leiopomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  69. Birds of the Upper Salmon Basin Checklist. Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
  70. Peterson, Roger Tory (2008). Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (1st ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN   978-0-618-96614-1.
  71. "Interagency Special Status / Sensitive Species Program (ISSSSP)". U.S. Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  72. Benkman, Craig W.; Smith, Julie W.; Keenan, Patrick C.; Parchman, Thomas L.; Santisteban, Leonard (February 2009). "A New Species of the Red Crossbill (Fringillidae: Loxia) From Idaho" (PDF). The Condor . 111 (1): 169–176. doi:10.1525/cond.2009.080042. ISSN   0010-5422. S2CID   9166193. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  73. Smith, Julie W.; Benkman, Craig W. (April 2007). "A coevolutionary arms race causes ecological speciation in crossbills". The American Naturalist . 169 (4): 455–465. doi:10.1086/511961. ISSN   0003-0147. JSTOR   511961. PMID   17273981. S2CID   23415653.
  74. "2009-A-10:Recognize a new species of Red Crossbill, Loxia sinesciurus (Benkman)". American Ornithologists' Union. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  75. Whitlock, Cathy; Briles, Christy E.; Fernandez, Matias C.; Gage, Joshua (2011). "Holocene vegetation, fire and climate history of the Sawtooth Range, central Idaho, USA". Quaternary Research . 75 (1): 114–124. Bibcode:2011QuRes..75..114W. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2010.08.013. ISSN   0033-5894. S2CID   128712615.
  76. Kauffman, Jason (31 August 2007). "Castle Rock Fire battle ends where it began". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  77. Wutz, Katherine (August 27, 2010). "Still scarred – but new life emerges". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  78. Tuohy, Jennifer (June 13, 2007). "Learn about the big burn: SNRA program reveals Valley Road Fire benefited the forest". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  79. "Beaver Creek Fire". InciWeb. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  80. "Kelley Fire". InciWeb. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  81. "McCan Fire". InciWeb. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  82. "USFS Aerial Fire Retardant Avoidance: Sawtooth National Forest" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  83. "South Central Idaho Interagency Dispatch Center". Bureau of Land Management. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  84. "Sawtooth Helitack". South Central Idaho Interagency Dispatch Center. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  85. "Our View: Mount Harrison's Lookout is Worth Preserving". Times-News . Twin Falls, Idaho. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  86. 1 2 Lopez, T. (October 1, 2000). Idaho, a climbing guide: climbs, scrambles, and hikes (2nd ed.). Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books. ISBN   978-0-89886-608-7.
  87. "The Complete Sawtooths List". SummitPost.org. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  88. "U.S. Board on Geographic Names". USGS . Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  89. Taubeneck, William H. (July 1971). "Idaho batholith and its southern extension". GSA Bulletin. 82 (7): 1899–1928. Bibcode:1971GSAB...82.1899T. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[1899:IBAISE]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   1943-2674.
  90. "Idaho Batholith" (PDF). Idaho State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  91. Houseman, Richard M.; Baumann, Richard W. (1997). "Zoogeographic affinities of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Raft River Mountains, Utah". Great Basin Naturalist. 57 (3). Provo, UT: Brigham Young University: 209–219. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  92. Cook, Kenneth L.; Halverson, Mark O.; Stepp, J. C.; Berg Jr., Joseph W. (1964). "Regional gravity survey of the northern Great Salt Lake Desert and adjacent areas in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho". GSA Bulletin. 75 (8): 715–740. Bibcode:1964GSAB...75..715C. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[715:RGSOTN]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0016-7606.
  93. Roberts, Ralph J.; Critten, M. D.; Tooker, E. W.; Morris, H. T.; Hose, R. K.; Cheney, T. M. (1965). "Pennsylvanian and Permian Basins in northwestern Utah, northeastern Nevada and south-central Idaho". AAPG Bulletin. 49: 1926–1956.
  94. Blatt, Harvey; Tracy, Robert J. (1996). Petrology: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic (2nd ed.). New York, NY: W. H. Freeman and Company. pp. 345–349. ISBN   978-0-7167-2438-4.
  95. "Galena Summit". Idaho Transportation Department. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  96. "Banner Creek Summit". Idaho Transportation Department. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  97. "Redfish FAQ". Redfish Lake Lodge. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  98. "Scientists find new seismic fault in Rocky Mountains". BBC News. May 20, 2012. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  99. Wall, Tim (November 19, 2010). "Large Seismic Fault Found in the Rockies". Discovery News. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  100. "Magnitude 6.5 Earthquake Felt in Central Idaho". US Geological Survey. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  101. Cannon, Charles (August 24, 2011). "Glaciers of Idaho". Portland State University. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  102. 1 2 Thackray, Glenn D.; Lundeen, Kari A.; Borgert, Jennifer A. (March 2004). "Latest Pleistocene alpine glacier advances in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho, USA: reflections of midlatitude moisture transport at the close of the last glaciation". Geology . 32 (3): 225–228. Bibcode:2004Geo....32..225T. doi:10.1130/G20174.1. ISSN   1943-2682.
  103. Mijal, Brandon (2008). Holocene and latest Pleistocene glaciation in the Sawtooth Mountains, central Idaho (MS thesis). Bellingham, WA: Western Washington University.
  104. "Idaho Climate Summaries". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  105. "Stanley, Idaho- Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  106. "Ketchum, Idaho- Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  107. "Fairfield, Idaho- Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  108. "Oakley, Idaho- Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  109. "Sawtooth". National Forest Foundation. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  110. Dary, David (November 9, 2004). The Oregon Trail: An American Saga (1st ed.). New York, NY: Random House. p.  24. ISBN   978-0-375-41399-5.
  111. "Oregon National Historic Trail Map". National Park Service. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  112. 1 2 3 Conley, Cort (June 1, 2003). Idaho for the Curious (1st ed.). Backeddy Books. ISBN   978-0-9603566-3-8.
  113. Park, William A. (1990). The geology and ore deposits of the Rook's Creek stock, Blaine County Idaho (PDF) (MS). Idaho State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  114. Umpleby, Joseph B. (1914). "Ore deposits in the Sawtooth Quadrangle, Blaine and Custer counties, Idaho" (PDF). USGS. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  115. Ellsworth, John C. (1996). "Computer visual simulations and surface mine closure studies". British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium 1996. University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  116. Ream, Lanny R. (1995). "Idaho: Mineral Locality Index". Rocks and Minerals. 70 (4): 242–263. doi:10.1080/00357529.1995.9926628.
  117. 1 2 "Black Pine Mine: Sawtooth National Forest" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  118. "History". Ketchum/Sun Valley Historical Society. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  119. Sudweeks, Leslie L. (July 1941). "The Raft River in Idaho history". The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. 32 (3): 289–305. ISSN   0030-8803. JSTOR   40486471.
  120. "On The Front Lines In Wolf Country, Peruvian Herders Keep 'Los Lobos' At Bay". Northwest News Network. October 24, 2011. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  121. Barnes, Bingo (July 27, 2005). "A Trip Through Basque Sheep Country". Boise Weekly. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  122. Douglass, William A. "Basque Sheepherding" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  123. Holland, Wendolyn Spence (1998). Sun Valley: an extraordinary history. Ketchum, ID: Idaho Press. ISBN   978-1-56044-587-6.
  124. Gilroy, Harry (August 23, 1966). "Widow Believes Hemingway Committed Suicide; She Tells of His Depression and His 'Breakdown' Assails Hotchner Book". The New York Times . p. 36. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  125. Dayley, Lisa (January 5, 2011). "WWII Bomber Crash on Mt. Harrison". Burley, ID: Weekly New Journal. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  126. "Sawtooth National Forest: Forest Information". U.S. National Forest Campground Guide. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  127. "Recreation.gov". Recreation.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  128. "Idaho Department of Fish and Game". Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  129. "Current Conditions". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  130. "Redfish Lake Lodge". Redfish Lake Lodge. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  131. Schmidt, Thomas. "Road Trip: The Sawtooths, Idaho". National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  132. Moseley, Robert K. (December 1995). "The Ecology of Geothermal Hot Springs in South-Central Idaho" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  133. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. (2006). This Land: A Guide to Western National Forests. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. pp. 193–196. ISBN   978-0-520-23967-8.
  134. "Galena Lodge". Galena Lodge. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  135. "Guided Backcountry Trips - Hut & Yurt Rentals". Sun Valley Trekking. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  136. "Ski Areas in Idaho". Idaho Ski Resorts. Archived from the original on March 2, 2001. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  137. "Idaho Scenic Byways". Idaho Scenic Byways. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  138. Dugan, Dana (December 18, 2002). "Sun Valley films: a match made in celluloid heaven". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  139. Lund, Mort (December 1, 1958). "High, White And Wonderful". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  140. Heumann, Joseph K.; Murray, Robin L. (2004). "Pale Rider environmental politics, Eastwood style". Jump Cut (47). Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  141. Eastwood, Clint (Director, producer) (June 26, 1985). Pale Rider (film). Warner Bros.
  142. "Film Review: Alpha and Omega". Film Journal International. September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  143. Bell, Anthony and Gluck, Ben (Directors) (September 17, 2010). Alpha and Omega (film). Lionsgate.
  144. McCarthy, Rebecca (August 1, 2010). Alpha and Omega: Kate and Humphrey's Big Adventure. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN   978-0-545-21460-5.
  145. Murray, Thomas C. (March 2004). The Official License Plate Book. Mill Neck, NY: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN   978-1-886777-07-1.
  146. "Personalized Plates for Your Vehicle and Souvenir Sample Plates". Idaho Transportation Department. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2012.