Magruder Rangers House

Magruder Rangers House is one of seven buildings still used by Forest Service trail crews and wilderness rangers, and is available as a rental from early June to mid-October. It provides access to two designated wilderness areas, plenty of opportunity for sightseeing and exploration, and a comfortably equipped place to stay. The Ranger Station is open to the general public and the main entrance road runs by the cabin; several trails leave from the station area, so you can choose your destination and come back to relax in a cozy cabin. The two-story, five-room log cabin has two bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen and an indoor bathroom, with beds and futons to sleep up to 10. A wood stove in the basement provides heat, and firewood is supplied. The kitchen has a table and chairs, a propane refrigerator, stove and propane lights, along with cooking and eating utensils and various cleaning equipment. Water is turned on from June through September 30, giving hot and cold running water to the kitchen and to the bathroom, which has a flush toilet and a shower; the system is turned off for fall and winter. An outdoor vault toilet is also provided. Guests bring their own bedding, towels, food, matches, garbage bags and toilet paper, and are asked to replenish the cut kindling supply and clean the cabin before leaving. The cabin is accessible by four-wheel-drive and high-clearance vehicles; be aware that the access runs through forest where trees may fall across roads and trails at any time, and there is no cell phone coverage. Livestock are not permitted at the Magruder Cabin compound. Hunting, fishing and hiking are the popular activities here. The adjacent Wild and Scenic Selway River and a variety of nearby mountain streams are well known for trout fishing — anglers might see bullhead, rainbow, steelhead and cutthroat trout, as well as mountain whitefish. A variety of trails traverse the area, open to hiking and horseback riding; bicycles and motorized travel are not allowed within wilderness boundaries but are allowed on roads. The house sits on the Selway River at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, between the 1.2-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and the 2.3-million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and was once the residence of the district ranger and his family. Most of the area is covered by coniferous forest, with open meadows near the river. Because of its size, the wilderness provides secluded habitat for a wide variety of wildlife: populations of mountain lions and grey wolves live here, as well as coyote, fox, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, deer and black bears. The adjacent Magruder Road offers a unique experience in the back country of Idaho — built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it remains much the same now as it did then. The Selway River Road leads to Indian Creek, where you will find interpretive information and the remains of the Indian Creek Hatching Channel, and on to Paradise Campground and White Cap Creek at the end of the road. The Selway River put-in is the start of the trip for whitewater permit holders from May 15 through July 31.