Salmon–Challis National Forest

(Redirected from Challis National Forest) National forest in Idaho, United States

Salmon–Challis National Forest
Lost River Range in Salmon–Challis National Forest

Location	Idaho, United States
Nearest city	Salmon, Idaho
Coordinates	45°16′54″N 114°11′45″W / 45.28167°N 114.19583°W / 45.28167; -114.19583
Area	4,235,940 acres (17,142.2 km)
Established	July 1, 1908
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Salmon-Challis National Forest

Interactive map of Salmon–Challis National Forest

Salmon–Challis National Forest is located in east central sections of the U.S. state of Idaho. At 4,235,940 acres (6,618.66 sq mi, or 17,142.24 km) it is one of the largest national forests in the lower 48 states and also has most of the land area of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest wilderness area south of Alaska.

Borah Peak, the tallest mountain in Idaho, is also found here. The Wild and Scenic designated Salmon River weaves through the rugged terrain of the Sawtooth Mountains and Sawtooth National Recreation Area, while it flows for over 75 miles (121 km) through the forest. The Big Lost River has its headwaters within the national forest.

Challis National Forest, the more southerly of its two parts, lies primarily in Custer County, but also has major areas in Lemhi and Butte counties, as well as smaller areas in Clark and Blaine counties. It has a total area of 2,463,471 acres (3,849.17 sq mi, or 9,969.31 km). There are local ranger district offices located in Challis, Clayton, and Mackay.

Salmon National Forest, which lies to the north, is primarily located in Lemhi County, with spillover into Valley and Idaho counties. It has a total area of 1,772,469 acres (2,769.48 sq mi, or 7,172.93 km). There are local ranger district offices located in Leadore, North Fork, and Salmon.

The combined forest headquarters are located in Salmon, Idaho.

Climate

There is a weather station at Middle Fork Lodge, which is on the western edge of Salmon–Challis National Forest.

Climate data for Middle Fork Lodge, Idaho 1991–2020 normals: 4480ft (1366m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	34.1 (1.2)	40.4 (4.7)	49.8 (9.9)	57.3 (14.1)	66.6 (19.2)	75.0 (23.9)	85.7 (29.8)	85.0 (29.4)	75.9 (24.4)	60.7 (15.9)	43.0 (6.1)	33.3 (0.7)	58.9 (14.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	25.0 (−3.9)	29.2 (−1.6)	37.4 (3.0)	44.0 (6.7)	52.4 (11.3)	59.5 (15.3)	67.1 (19.5)	65.6 (18.7)	57.5 (14.2)	45.8 (7.7)	33.1 (0.6)	24.2 (−4.3)	45.1 (7.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15.9 (−8.9)	17.9 (−7.8)	25.0 (−3.9)	30.8 (−0.7)	38.1 (3.4)	43.9 (6.6)	48.4 (9.1)	46.3 (7.9)	39.1 (3.9)	30.8 (−0.7)	23.1 (−4.9)	15.2 (−9.3)	31.2 (−0.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.44 (37)	1.24 (31)	1.22 (31)	1.45 (37)	1.75 (44)	1.64 (42)	0.76 (19)	0.68 (17)	1.02 (26)	1.27 (32)	1.59 (40)	1.79 (45)	15.85 (401)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	11.90 (30.2)	6.40 (16.3)	3.30 (8.4)	1.10 (2.8)	0.20 (0.51)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	1.00 (2.5)	4.30 (10.9)	12.50 (31.8)	40.7 (103.41)
Source: NOAA

Wilderness areas

An overview map of Salmon–Challis National Forest with ranger districts and surrounding forests labelled — A map of Salmon–Challis National Forest

There are two officially designated wilderness areas within Salmon–Challis National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Both extend into neighboring National Forests or onto lands of the Bureau of Land Management.

Frank Church—River of No Return Wilderness (partly in Payette NF, Boise NF, Bitterroot NF, Nez Perce NF, or BLM land). The Salmon–Challis NF is the largest component (39.59%) of this wilderness if they are considered as one forest; otherwise, if the Challis NF and the Salmon NF are considered separately, the Payette NF (33.45%) becomes the largest component.
Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Wilderness (most is managed by Salmon–Challis National Forest, while part is managed by the Bureau of Land Management)
Sawtooth Wilderness (only about 5.5% of this wilderness lies with Salmon–Challis NF; most of it lies within Boise NF; part of it lies within Sawtooth NF; all of it is managed by Sawtooth National Forest)

References

Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
"Middle Fork Lodge, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness acreage breakdown, Wilderness.net
Sawtooth Wilderness acreage breakdown, Wilderness.net

External links

Media related to Salmon-Challis National Forest at Wikimedia Commons
Salmon–Challis National Forest federal website

Protected areas of Idaho

Federal

National Parks	Yellowstone
National Historic Sites & Historical Parks	Minidoka NHS Nez Perce NHP
National Monuments	Craters of the Moon Hagerman Fossil Beds
National Forests	Bitterroot Boise Caribou-Targhee Clearwater Coeur d'Alene Idaho Panhandle Kaniksu Kootenai Nez Perce Payette Salmon-Challis Sawtooth St. Joe Wallowa–Whitman Wasatch-Cache
National Grasslands	Curlew
National Recreation Areas	Hells Canyon Sawtooth
National Wildlife Refuges	Bear Lake Camas Deer Flat Grays Lake Kootenai Minidoka Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area
National Conservation Areas	Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey
Wilderness Areas	Big Jacks Creek Bruneau–Jarbidge Rivers Craters of the Moon Frank Church–River of No Return Gospel Hump Hells Canyon Hemingway–Boulders Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Little Jacks Creek North Fork Owyhee Owyhee River Pole Creek Sawtooth Selway–Bitterroot Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds
National Wild and Scenic Rivers	Battle Creek Big Jacks Creek Bruneau Bruneau (West Fork) Clearwater (Middle Fork) Cottonwood Creek Deep Creek Dickshooter Creek Duncan Creek Jarbidge Little Jacks Creek Lochsa Owyhee Owyhee (North Fork) Owyhee (South Fork) Rapid Red Canyon Saint Joe Salmon Salmon (Middle Fork) Selway Sheep Creek Snake Wickahoney Creek

State

State Parks

Wildlife
Management
Areas

Other

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

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