Down to the Snake River

After four fantastic days exploring in the Bitterroot and Clearwater National Forests, we continued our journey on down from the Lolo Trail to the conjunction of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers at the twin cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington (around 700 feet above sea level).   

We found a campground right on the Snake River in Clarkston. The Snake River has been dammed and is wide and slow at this point. It was very beautiful overlooking the river, but also very hot.  The night breezes off the river helped, but the 98 degree days were not much fun. So we explored Lewiston and Clarkston and took driving tours in the area to stay out of the heat.  We made a day trip to Moscow, ID and Pullman, WA to explore these cities and their respective universities (University of Idaho and Washington State University).

All 4 cities are small with well preserved downtown areas and many red and brown brick buildings. The whole area is very agricultural, with fertile rolling hills broken up by little valleys of trees.  Wheat, barley, chickpeas and lentils are major crops here. This region is called the ‘Palouse’ after a tribe of Nez Perce Indians that inhabited the area.  The name of the famous Nez Perce horses, the Appalousa is a derivative of the term Palouse.  Moscow is the home of the Appalousa Horse Museum, an interesting little museum with a “hall of fame” of famous Appalousa horses.

View of Clarkston & Snake River with 'Palouse' in foreground