North Fork of the Clearwater

Bryant and I just got back from three days on the North Fork of the Clearwater and Kelly Creek here in Idaho. It is some nice country, great rivers and lots of Cutthroat trout. We drove over to Superior Montana and up over HooDoo Pass, we took a couple of wrong turns here and there and added several hours to a four hour drive, we went left when we shoulda hung right, we zigged when we shoulda zagged. We ended up there later than we planned and needed to find a campsite, the canyons are steep and narrow and the river and road take up all the space. We were worried we would have to stay at one the few campgrounds in the area but finally lucked into the finest campsite we saw the whole trip. Right on Kelly Creek, grass and sand, and next to a bridge that was built for horses and mules because there was a fire lookout that was supplied via the ten mile trail. We never did hike to it though I was tempted since I am a newly isnpired lookout freak (this lookout is also out of commission and is not on the website) We spent the time fishing, hiking and swimming. Bry talked me into swimming with him and the water was so cold it never did stop hurting. We fished the Clearwater and it was much better fishing. I caught ten cutthroats at the first spot we stopped in about ten minutes. Bry stayed with the dogs while I fished upriver and watched a herd of 16 elk cross the river right below him. It was a fun trip and I am glad I saw the area although to tell you the truth my homewaters of the Couer d'Alene and the St. Joe are just as good, most days anyway.