According to Ralph Space's The Clearwater Story: A History of the Clearwater National Forest the first rangers came to the Moose Creek area to build rails and chart the primitive wilderness. With the beginning of forest fire protection, Moose Creek Ranger Station was established as a firefighting base. Eventually it became a supply and communication center for the more than 50 lookout towers. The first building was constructed i 1921 and became known as the 'honeymoon cabin' so named after being occupied by a newly married ranger. Later it mainly serves as a station office and cookhouse during the fire season.

Later building included a bunkhouse and bathhouse for use by fire and trail crews, as well as a corral and barn for livestock. Even today (at the time Space wrote the book in 1964) real 'horse' power is used to pack in supplies and mow the airstrip. Since the Wilderness Act prohibits the use of any motorized equipment, the station's tractor was replaced by a mule team whose job was to rake and mow the airport.

In 1932, a new year dawned, and the first airstrip was carved from among the trees. The landing strips were grandfathered in to allow the Forest Service to fulfill its mission of managing the wilderness. Moose Creek has both a ranger station and some basic camping facilities.

The Moose Creek Ranger Station became an important base for smoke-jumping operations. Today, most the lookouts have been replaced by aircraft fire patrols and with the addition of the 'long' runway in the 1950s to accommodate Forest Service DC-3s, Moose Creek has remained a center for smoke-jumping operations while maintaining its remote and primitive backcountry charm.

In an article by Cyrus Forman, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, he writes, "The Historic Moose Creek Ranger Station is the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness hub supporting youth development in resource stewardship, back country recreation, outfitter and guide operations, scientific research, wildland fire management and wilderness values."

To read the article about some recent work done at the airstrip click this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nezperceclearwater/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1152089

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