Kamiah (cam-e-eye), Idaho is along the Clearwater River and Highway 12 in the northwest part of the state. The locals say the area is know for river rafting, fishing and hunting. From Missoula it was about a 3.5 hour scenic drive.
Kamiah, Idaho
Compared to the nearby towns of Kooskia, Stites and Grangeville, the downtown of Kamiah is somewhat fresh and being revitalized into a Western/Victorian theme. Less than 2,000 people live here.
The Nez Perce Indians inhabited the area for centuries. Kamia means “many rope litters”. The Nez Perce made the ropes to fish steelhead trout.
In 1806, Lewis and Clark waited here 6 weeks for snow to melt in the Bitterroot Mountains along the Lolo trail. They called it “Long Camp”.
There are murals around the town.
We had a beer at Beer:30. The owner is the retired sheriff, was fun and had a great selection of craft beers. He named the place after remembering his construction work days and waiting for beer thirty to come around. We enjoyed talking to the locals at his pub about life in Kamiah.
The Nez Perce National Historic Park is part of the National Park Service. The “Heart of the Monster” is the Place of Beginning for the Nez Perce people. It was here that the trickster and teacher of Nez Perce legend, Coyote, slew a terrible Monster who was eating all the animals, and whose death resulted in the creation of the Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce.
Long Camp RV Park, Kamiah
We had a back in site against the Clearwater River.
Our electric was only 30-amp, but we were under the shade of some large trees and next to us was a huge grass area to walk Jake. We could have moved to a 50-amp site, but it had full sun and little privacy. Despite daytime temperatures to 98F, we did fine with one AC unit, even though it ran nonstop.
The owners were very friendly. She has a farmers market and a food truck that seemed to do well primarily with the locals. We got burgers one day and they were very good.
Across the river was a fire. It was extinguished quickly, and fun to watch the firefighters helicopter scoop up water from the river in front of us and drop it on the fire.
They have a huge garden of Black-eyed Susans that wrap around their house. At the end of the year they collect the flower heads and reseed each year.
Wineries
Clearwater Canyon Cellars is in Lewiston, Idaho which lies at the Washington State border. The drive to Lewiston was along the clearwater river and absolutely stunning. Their wines were very good and reasonably priced. We took home a bottle of their Carmenere and Albarino.
Colters Creek Winery.
Grangeville, Idaho
Murals on a wall in Grangeville.
We would take long drives exploring the nearby communities including Stites, Grangeville, Orofino and Kooskia. They are all small communities that are have cattle or grow wheat or hay.
On the weekend, people leisurely float down the Clearwater River all day long. Great way to beat the heat.
