Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area

Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area is a 12,000-acre area in western Idaho that is owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a United States organization that protects and preserves wilderness areas all over the country. The Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area specifically is home to many mountains and mountain peak lakes, and visitors to the area can often spot moose, elk, deer, and even bears.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Cornwall Steam Donkey Trail

The Cornwall Steam Donkey Trail is considered to be a historic trail in Idaho that follows a path with interpretive signs all the way to a steam donkey machine that once served to move logs in and out of the area.

Length: 1 mile

Intensity: Easy

Hobo Historical Trail

The Hobo Historical Trail is a short trail loop that has many remnants of the local logging industry along the route. This trail is for travel by foot only.

Length: 1 mile

Intensity: Easy

Feather Creek Trail

The Feather Creek Trail is a popular trail for hikers and bikers alike, and it follows a path through a pine forest with moderately level terrain.

Length: 5 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing and Boating

Fishing is popular in the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area because there are many large and small lakes full of cutthroat trout. Anyone wanting to fish here should start out at the Little North Fork Clearwater River, which is said to be plentiful when it comes to this type of trout. If you want to fish in this wilderness study area, you should also be sure to have a valid fishing license issued by the state of Idaho, and you should be careful to put back any endangered species of fish you may catch, such as the bull trout.

Wildlife Viewing

There are plenty of Idaho-native animals living in the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area, such as the grizzly bear and the woodland caribou. Of course, you will want to keep your distance from these bigger mammals for your safety and theirs, but you may see smaller mammals a bit closer, like pygmy rabbits and northern river otters. Bird watchers can see plenty of Idaho native species here, too, from the wood duck to the western scrub-jay.

Picnicking

The Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area is a great place to go if you enjoy picnicking right in the center of nature. There are some picnic areas set up for you to use in the Crater Lake Point, Crater Lake Saddle, and Orphan Point Saddle areas. These areas include picnic tables and benches made of wood; however, they may be damp during rainy days, so it wouldn't hurt to bring a towel to sit on. Just remember that there are no garbage receptacles anywhere on the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area land, so you will also need to bring your own trash bags to dispose of trash and excess food off of the land area.

Hunting

Anyone with a valid hunting license issued by the state of Idaho can hunt during the game seasons in the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area. Popular species hunted here include deer and elk, and some rabbits and squirrels may be found as well.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

If you are looking for BLM camping but don't want to stay at a primitive campground, consider RV camping at a nearby RV park or campground that isn't right on the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area land. One such option is Dent Aces Campground with 30- and 50-amp hookups and bathroom facilities with showers. Another good option is Whispering Pines RV Park, which has hookups, though bathroom facilities are not included.

Free Camping

There are Bureau of Land Management free camping options in the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area, including options for dispersed and organized site camping. Along the southern edges of the area, there are marked camping spots with picnic tables at Crater Peak, Crater Lake Saddle, and Orphan Point Saddle. These camping sites are open from July to September and are primitive, meaning that they do not offer electrical or water hookups, but there are some non-electric bathroom facilities near these sites for visitors to use. Dispersed camping away from these sites is also permitted, though it should be noted that RVs may not be able to find wide and open spaces far from the marked roads.

RV Rentals Near Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area BLM trip

Always plan your trip to Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area with the weather forecast in mind. Idaho tends to have very hot summers and very cold winters with varying weather in the spring and fall, so be sure to pack both light and heavy clothing. The wilderness study area is heavily forested and damp, too, so it's a good idea to have some bug repellent on hand.

When you choose to camp on BLM-owned land, you're choosing to have a unique camping experience away from busy cities. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

Whenever you visit the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area, whether you stay at the area for just the day or camp out overnight, you will need to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace Policy. This policy asks you to respect the land and wildlife, and you can do this easily by picking up after yourself and making sure that you do not leave any campfires unattended. Remember, you are merely a visitor to this land, so you are responsible for helping protect and maintain the natural environment for future generations to enjoy as well.

Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area Location

To reach the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area from Spokane, Washington, start by taking WA-27 S to US-95 S, then turn left onto ID-5 E for 19 miles. After that, take State Highway 3 S for about 30 miles. Then, you will turn left onto Poplar Street, left onto Cedar Street, and right onto St Joe National Forest Road 301 for about 4.3 miles. Lastly, turn left onto Round Top-Freezout Road, and you will reach the Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area after eight miles.

Ready to visit Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area? 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 nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.