The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government agency that was established in 1946 with the goal of enabling citizens to begin settling in new United States land in the west. With time, the BLM changed its goals to focus on the management of US public land, such as national parks. It is now in charge of over 247.3 million acres of US land used for both development and recreation. To gather funds needed to manage and maintain this land, the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds may charge visitors a fee. If you would like to learn more about BLM, the sites it manages, and activities to enjoy in those areas, be sure to check out the BLM official website.
The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness contains roughly 2,366,757 acres within the state of Idaho, and it is a BLM-managed site. This wilderness officially became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1980 when the Central Idaho Wilderness Act passed. The large region is filled with hiking trails of all difficulty levels and plenty of other activities to enjoy, such as fishing and water sports. Additionally, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is surrounded by national forests, so there are plenty of side attractions to visit if you have the time.
This expansive wilderness holds many ecosystems within its borders. There are plenty of trails for visitors to enjoy during their stay. Walking these trails will allow you to view amazing sights such as the Salmon River and the abundant local wildlife.
This out-and-back trail sees an elevation gain of 620 feet and takes around three and a half hours to finish. Hikers that complete this trail will have easy access to the Bear Valley Hot Springs.
Length: 7.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This is a looping trail that sees an elevation gain of 1,338 ft and takes, on average, a little less than five and a half hours to complete. Creeks will be avoided thanks to bridges, and visitors will be rewarded with several hot springs along the path.
Length: 11.1 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The Middle Fork Salmon River Trail is a point-to-point trail with an elevation gain of 442 feet that can take multiple days to complete. The Salmon River offers visitors a chance to see stunning, crystal-clear waters where they can do catch-and-release fishing.
Length: 95.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This is an out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 4,064 feet that can take days to finish. This long and challenging trek offers visitors great views of the surrounding region, and the trail is open throughout the year.
Length: 23.7 miles
Intensity: Difficult
If you're thinking about finding a place to fish within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, then you'll want to stop by the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Within these waters, you can find the West Slope cutthroat and bull trout. Note that these waters have been operating under a catch-and-release policy since 1973.
Looking to get some climbing in during your trip? You can visit Cliffside Camp Crack, which offers visitors 60 feet of traditional climbing. To access this climb, you must start on a boat from beneath the rock formation. The climb is short and offers plenty of steady holds on the way up.
Wildlife viewing in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is a wonderful experience that gives visitors a chance to see rare animals. Within the 2.3 million acres of this wilderness, you can find wolves, bighorn sheep, bobcats, otters, elk, mule deer, and lynxes. Additionally, you can expect to see countless species of songbirds and raptors such as golden eagles and bald eagles flying overhead.
BLM RV camping is not available within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness since motorized access is prohibited and camping is restricted to tents only. However, you may find accommodations nearby in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Here you will find Wagonhammer RV Park, which offers 52 campsites with amenities such as Wi-Fi, a dump station, a recreation room, restrooms, showers, and a private phone. Starting rates for this campsite are $25 per night.
Finding Bureau of Land Management free camping in the nearby Salmon-Challis National Forest is easy since there are over 80 primitive campsites in the region. Many of these have few amenities and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admittedly, it is difficult to restrain the excitement of going on an adventure with an RV trip, but there are several things you need to do before hitting the road. These essential steps are what will keep you focused on the local attractions rather than having to worry about where you'll be staying for the night.
The first thing you'll want to do is find a campsite for your trip close to your destination. Are you looking for certain amenities? Are you bringing a pet? How many people will come with you on your trip? Knowing the answer to these questions will allow you to find a campsite that meets all your needs.
Next, you will want to make your reservations either online or over the phone. Most RV parks will allow you to make a reservation free of charge, and you won't regret having a guaranteed spot waiting for you. Alternatively, you can choose to stay for free at one of the primitive campsites that offer no amenities, but keep in mind that these might be filled when you get there.
Finally, you need to learn the local camping rules. These rules are guidelines that apply to all campers and can restrict your ability to gather firewood, start a campfire, and interact with wildlife.
Still not sure of the answer to questions like, “How can I locate BLM camping near me?” Getting everything right on your first RV trip is a real challenge, so save yourself some trouble by checking out our blog about BLM camping.
The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is a BLM site, which means that you need to treat the environment with respect by leaving no trace behind when you are done camping. That means taking your trash to a proper RV dump, cleaning up your campsite, not disturbing wildlife, and, of course, being considerate of other campers.
The main access highway to get to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is US 93, which you must take to the town of Challis. From there, to access the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, you need to be on US 55. The address of the local BLM office is 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709.
Ready to visit the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and a nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
