Points of Interest

Elk River Back Country Byway

See nature at it's best - uncut and natural. The Elk River Back Country Byway is an all natural, no frills pathway through North Central Idaho. It's 57 miles provide of adventure, fun and relaxation.  The road is a 2-lane county road that is paved to one mile beyond Dent Bridge. From Dent Bridge the road is gravel to Elk River. At Elk River the roadway is again a paved 2-lane road with slow vehicle turnouts. The route is well maintained year round but can be icy in winter. Allow 2 hours one way

Elk River was established as a remote hunting and recreation camp, developed as a mill town, and returned to a recreational community in the 21st century.

Attractions

• Dent Bridge and Dworshak Reservoir
• Scenic Viewpoint at the Confluence of Elk Creek & the North Fork of the Clearwater River on Dworshak Reservoir
• Loop Road to USFS Campground
• Mill Pond and Mill Site
• Historic Downtown Elk River
• Elk River Historical Museum
• Giant Western Red cedar & Morris Cedar Grove
• Elk Creek Falls

Services

Full services in Orofino and Elk River
Partial services in Bovill

Year-Round Activities and Attractions

Camping, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, hiking, and touring

• 3 RV Parks in Orofino
• camping along Dworshak Reservoir (Canyon Creek & Dent)
• Elk River has 64 camping sites along Elk Creek Pond
• 23 improved sites at the Forest Service campground
• RV Park with 24 sites
• RV park with 15 sites in Bovill
• Forest lands along the byway are open to off road unimproved camping so visitors can choose their own spot off the beaten path
• Winter provides snowmobiling on 300 miles of skiing on 20 miles of regularly maintained groomed trails
• bear, bobcats, cougar, deer, elk, osprey, songbirds, wild turkeys, possibly wolves