Posted by Marcy Ugstad on August 27, 2010 at 3:55 PM
Hi folks, we are planning to take 10 days vacation the end of September - first week of October and planning a fall photography/camping trip. Looking at both Idaho and Montana for this trip. Anyone have any suggestions for locations? We do have 4 x 4 if needed.
Looking primarily for landscape, closeup nature, waterfalls, wildlife, agriculture and old buildings for photo subjects.
Are you looking to do much backpacking or primarily car camping?
Posted by Marcy Ugstad on August 27, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Hi Jeremy
We do plan to do one backpack of 2-3 nights length, but otherwise just day hikes and RV camping.
Posted by Don Grall on August 28, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Check out Dagger Falls on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. It's just upstream about 50 yards from the put in for Middle Fork Trips. Go west out of Stanley, Idaho about 10 miles and you'll see a brown Forest Service sign on the north side of the highway. The falls is about 12-15 miles in from the highway on a good gravel road that gets a little narrow at times.
Also, Little Redfish Lake just south of Stanley. Stanley(?)Lake about 5 miles west of Stanley and south of the highway.
Big Falls on the South Fork of the Payette River which is about 20 miles west of Stanley and can be seen right from the highway. It is a bit hidden and not easy to hike to. The easiest way to get to it is to kayak or raft that Class 4 section. Big Falls is class 5+ at the lowest water levels and Class 6 most other times.
Take a raft on a day trip on the upper Main Salmon. Outfitters available in Stanley and Salmon, Idaho.
Posted by Marcy Ugstad on August 28, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Hi Don
Thanks for the great info! We are trying to find places we haven't been to before, and the ones you listed fit that bill. :) Thanks!
Dagger Falls is indeed very nice (http://frishmanphoto.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/dagger-falls-leap/), and exploring the river canyons of central Idaho wouldn't be a bad way to go. That season's getting pretty late for rafting, though, not much water and the commercial companies won't be running much if at all. If it were me, I'd probably look at driving around the Sawtooths, Pioneers and Lost Rivers. There are aspen groves in there, so you might find some color, and there's tons of spectacular mountain scenery. 4x4 gives you numberless options. A backpack into Loon Creek in the Frank Church might have a lot of potential. If the weather's really crappy, you can check out the river valleys and look for changing cottonwoods and hot springs. Alternatively, I think there are larches in the Montana Bitterroots, so that might well be worth checking out.
I'm jealous! I only ever seem to make it up there in June and July. I'd love to explore Idaho in the fall.
I don't know how far east you plan on going but if your interested in coming out the Bozeman/ SouthWest Montana area, feel free to give me a pm and I'd be happy to give you some suggestions.
Discussion
6 repliesLooking primarily for landscape, closeup nature, waterfalls, wildlife, agriculture and old buildings for photo subjects.
Thanks for any suggestions or tips.
Marcy
Redmond, Oregon
We do plan to do one backpack of 2-3 nights length, but otherwise just day hikes and RV camping.
Also, Little Redfish Lake just south of Stanley. Stanley(?)Lake about 5 miles west of Stanley and south of the highway.
Big Falls on the South Fork of the Payette River which is about 20 miles west of Stanley and can be seen right from the highway. It is a bit hidden and not easy to hike to. The easiest way to get to it is to kayak or raft that Class 4 section. Big Falls is class 5+ at the lowest water levels and Class 6 most other times.
Take a raft on a day trip on the upper Main Salmon. Outfitters available in Stanley and Salmon, Idaho.
Thanks for the great info! We are trying to find places we haven't been to before, and the ones you listed fit that bill. :) Thanks!
Marcy
Dagger Falls is indeed very nice (http://frishmanphoto.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/dagger-falls-leap/), and exploring the river canyons of central Idaho wouldn't be a bad way to go. That season's getting pretty late for rafting, though, not much water and the commercial companies won't be running much if at all. If it were me, I'd probably look at driving around the Sawtooths, Pioneers and Lost Rivers. There are aspen groves in there, so you might find some color, and there's tons of spectacular mountain scenery. 4x4 gives you numberless options. A backpack into Loon Creek in the Frank Church might have a lot of potential. If the weather's really crappy, you can check out the river valleys and look for changing cottonwoods and hot springs. Alternatively, I think there are larches in the Montana Bitterroots, so that might well be worth checking out.
I'm jealous! I only ever seem to make it up there in June and July. I'd love to explore Idaho in the fall.