Chuck Johnson, Fairbanks, AK, is the winner! Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is the answer for Number 523 of Orofino History Trivia a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country. Watch each day for another clue. When you think you know the answer, drop us an email at: info@windowontheclearwater.com. Please, let us know where you are from, if it is out of the area. Join in the discovery! Monday: Began with a study Tuesday: One of the largest in the US Wednesday: Restrictions Friday: 1964 Saturday: Both sides of a border Monday: Idaho has the most. Tuesday: Third largest in the Lower 48 Wednesday: Raw granite peaks Thursday: Named for natural features The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness on the border of Idaho and Montana is one of the third largest designated Wilderness in the United States with a total of 1,347,644 acres. Idaho has the largest portion with approximately 1,092,854 acres. Montana has approximately 254,790 acres. It is named for the rugged, glacier-carved border between Idaho and Montana, as well as the Selway River. It began with a study and was designated by Congress in 1964. It is separated from the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness by the 600 foot wide Nez Perce Trail (Magruder Corridor), an unimproved dirt road. Except for the high crests of the Bitterroot Mountains, it is characterized by ridges broken with granite peaks. Below the ridges are deep canyons covered with conifer forests. The lower valleys have old-growth cedar, fir and spruce with Ponderosa pine dominating the open grassy slopes along rivers. Few people visit the huge area making it more appealing the the Selway elk herd. There are also abundant deer, moose, black bears, cougars and wolves. There are 1,800 miles of trail, but many are unmaintained and rugged. The Wild and Scenic Selway River flows mostly within its boundaries. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service and crosses the boundaries between the Nez Perce-Clearwater and Bitterroot forests. Sponsored by:
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