Here in Idaho we’re lucky to enjoy numerous remote and completely untouched wilderness areas. It’s one of the best things about the great Gem State. However, there’s one wilderness area that towers over all others in regards to sheer size and scale: the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. A wilderness area that officially became protected in 1980, the Frank Church Wilderness may just be the most underrated wilderness area in the country…and that’s just the way we like it. Here are 12 photos of this stunning region that will remind you just how scenic this area truly is!
At over 2.3 million acres, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is the largest contiguous federally-managed wilderness area in the United States outside of Alaska.
Boasting the state's most wild scenery, the area is an iconic adventure destination for nature-loving Idahoans. Considering it protects several mountain ranges, rivers, and extensive wildlife, it's no wonder why!
Protection for this beautiful area dates back to 1931 when over a million acres of Central Idaho was declared by the U.S. Forest Service as "The Idaho Primitive Area."
It wasn't until 1980 that the area would be designated an official protected wilderness area by United States Congress. The area was then renamed in 1984 as the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area, and for good reason.
An Idaho native and U.S. Senator, Church played a huge role in protecting Idaho's wilderness. Without the major environmental legislation he helped pass throughout his career, Idaho's landscape would probably look a lot different today.
Church was the Senate floor sponsor for the Wilderness Act of 1964 that protected 9 million acres of land across the United States. He also introduced the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968, which notably included the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
However, it was the Central Idaho Wilderness Act that passed in 1980 that Church is most well-known for. The act created what's now known as the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness by combining the Idaho Primitive Area, the Salmon Breaks Primitive Area, and part of the Magruder Corridor.
President Carter famously took his family on a multi-day float trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River—assisted by former Idaho governor and Interior Secretary Cecil Andrus—before the act passed. He must've been impressed by the area's wild beauty, because Carter signed the final protection act two years later.
In its entirety, Frank Church Wilderness is located in six different national forests, in addition to a small amount of BLM land. The forests included in this massive region include Payette National Forest, Challis National Forest, Salmon National Forest, Boise National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest, and Nez Perce National Forest.
You'll also find several mountain ranges within the wilderness area, including parts of the Salmon River Mountains, Clearwater Mountains, and the Bighorn Crags. Splitting them are towering canyons of both the Middle and Main forks of the Salmon River.
Of course, the area provides a secluded habitat for a wide variety of animal species. Mountain lions, grey wolves, and black bears are all known to have populations within the wilderness area. Bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer, coyote, and lynx are just some of the other animals that call this breathtaking region home.
These photos are just a small glimpse of the beauty that awaits you in this epic region of the Gem State. Showcasing the best of the best of Idaho's wilderness, we definitely don't take the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness for granted!
When was the last time you had an adventure in Frank Church Wilderness? This wilderness area is truly one of Idaho’s greatest treasures. Share your thoughts on this beautiful place with us in the comments below.
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