June 14, 2007.

Our motorhome is in Garrity RV-Park in Nampa 10-miles west of Boise. It was $21 per-night for FHU & Cable while every place else in the area seemed to start at $26 and rapidly go up. Garrity was just fine. It was clean, well managed, the sites were close but we were not there and didn't go outside except when heading to and from the automobile. There was a good number of permanent or long term in the campground but they were being managed properly thus were no problem. We would stay at Garrity again but those that like to spend the day and evening under the awning sipping cool ones might rather be in one of the other area parks. N43° 35.245' W116° 31.592'

Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho

State Highway-74 is closely following the Salmon River as we head downstream out of Stanley, Idaho.

Rafting the Salmon River out of Stanley, Idaho

It was late in the day and not many people were on the river. Fortunately we came across a few people enjoying the river in in these inflatable craft.

Gold was mined in this area for a number of years. Mining in Central Idaho began with the discovery of gold in the Stanley Basin in 1863 followed by finds at nearby Robinson Bar in 1868 and the Loon Creek gold rush in 1869. In 1870 the first prospectors began working claims at the junction of Jordon Creek and the Yankee Fork River. The gold rush on the Yankee Fork was on and the area went through several boom periods until ending permanently in 1910. During this period hundreds of people lived in the towns of Bonanza and Custer and large mills like the General Custer, Charles Dickens, Lucky Boy and Sunbeam were built to process this rich ore. Gold dredging was active on the Yankee Fork from 1940 to 1952 when an estimated 1.8 million was mined from the area.

Rafters on the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho

In Sunbeam we turned around and returned to Stanley. On the way we spotted more people enjoying the river.

Rafters on the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho

This group was having a good time.

Rafter's on the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho

This group of experienced river runners was going down the the right way -------------- facing forward.

This is unusual. Most we see are side ways or backwards.

Old bridge across the Salmon River

Somewhere along the way we found this old bridge crossing the Salmon River to a small Forest Service Campground on the other side.

Salmon River, Salmon River Valley, Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains

Then as we approach Lower Stanley the Sawtooth Mountain Range comes into view across the Salmon River Valley.

Sawtooth Range, Salmon River and Lower Stanley

This picture has it all, the Sawtooth Range, Salmon River and Lower Stanley.