Upper Pahsimeroi River and Lost River Range

Having lived in Idaho the majority of my life, I've always thought I knew a good amount about the state I call home. However, as time goes by, I realize I have seen very little of this beautiful state. This week my brother and I were able to go on an overnight camping trip together, something we have not done in quite a few years, and saw parts of Idaho neither one of us had seen before. My brother has an interesting book entitled Backcountry Roads-Idaho by Lynna and Leland Howard. Here is a link to the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-Roads-Idaho-Roads/dp/0870044591/ref=pd_sim_b_2
One of the trips outlined in the book takes travelers into the Lost River Range, along the upper parts of the Pahsimeroi River. The Lost River Range contains peaks that, for me anyways, reminded me of the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado. Borah Peak, which at 12,688 feet is the highest peak in Idaho, sits within this range. We would travel just below the eastern slopes (what some may consider the backside, as most people see Borah from the west side, along Highway 93) of this mountain to reach our initial destination.

Day 1
The starting point of this trip is the small farming community of Howe. There are several ways of reaching Howe. We chose to head north out of Idaho Falls, exit I-15 at Sage Junction, and make our way through Mud Lake, Terreton, and part of the INL. For many years there has been a gas station and general store open in Howe. However, it is currently closed and the building is up for rent. For the time being, then, there is no gas available in Howe. However, the trip would be short enough the way we were heading that we had plenty of gas in my brother's Cherokee. From Howe it is about 50 miles to the Doublespring Pass Road, which we drive on for a few miles before making our way to FR 118, which would lead us to our camp spot for the night. For anyone interested in this trip, I would suggest getting the Howards' book, as they give turn by turn directions that made it much easier to find the roads we needed.



Just a few miles further from the cabin is where we camped for the night. The road goes on a little ways further from our campsite and ends. There is a trail (#199) that takes off from near the end of the road.

Day 2
Our goal for day two was to make our way back to the Doublespring Pass Road, then take it out to Highway 93 and make our way back to Idaho Falls. The book suggests backtracking the entire way out, but it also gave an option for a shortcut, which we decided to take. This requires backtracking a bit on 118, then taking FR 117, which leads directly over to the Doublespring Pass Road. The book says it is 4WD required, but it was a very mild road, and not nearly as rocky and rough as FR 118 was. Perhaps the authors drove it while wet, but 4WD was certainly not required. There are all kinds of roads shooting off into the mountains off 117, it would be fun to go back and explore them some more.

Near the end of the Doublespring road is an interpretive center for the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake. Three text panels tell the geologic history of the area as well as the events and aftermath of the quake. Visitors can also see the 7 foot fault scarp left from the quake.

After the interpretive center, it was back on pavement and the road home. We stopped in Arco and ate at Pickles, which is recommended if eating in Arco. Pretty good stuff. It was a fun trip and was good to see new areas of this great state.