THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF IDAHO 31 



CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST 



North of the Sawtooth National Forest lies the Challis National 

 Forest, drained by various tributaries of the Salmon River. As 

 the eastern edge of this forest is bounded by no lofty mountain 

 range such as the Sawtooth Peaks, there is no very sudden change 

 between the general character of the Challis National Forest and 

 that of the Payette and Idaho National Forests to the west of it. 

 There is, however, a general decrease in the luxuriance of the timber, 

 and lodgepole pine tends to constitute a greater portion of the 

 forest. 



Large sections of the Challis are out of the way and difficult 

 to reach, although roads, most of them cheaply constructed, have 

 been built from time to time to various scattered mining camps. 

 A road known as the Morgan Creek Road, now under construction, 

 will eventually link the back country of this forest with the town 

 of Challis. 



Fig. 12. — At the mouth of many canyons on the Sawtooth National Forest are lakes 



of glacial origin 



As there is relatively little livestock owned in the neighborhood, 

 this forest is not used for grazing to any great extent. The west- 

 ern portion of the forest contain interesting stretches of little-known 

 wild country in whcih big game is still to be found. 



SALMON NATIONAL FOREST 



The Salmon National Forest, lying for the most part between -the 

 Challis and the Nezperce Forests, is very similar to them in many 

 respects. A good deal of it is lower country than the Challis, how- 

 ever, and that along the main Salmon River seems to be better 

 watered. Consequently the timber is again more thrifty, and west- 

 ern yellow pine assumes a position of considerable importance in the 

 stands. The adjacent agricultural valleys are also more productive 

 and support a larger population, so that the forest is more heavily 

 used, both as a source of timber and forage. 



