Owyhee River Wilderness

The Owyhee River Wilderness is centered on the Owyhee River and its tributaries, in the southwest part of Idaho near the Oregon border. It is a land defined by rivers cutting steep canyons out of high desert, and by sagebrush plateaus that range from about 4,200 to 5,600 feet in elevation. It is also a landscape lacking trails, with only rough, non-wilderness roads for access. Hiking cross-country requires a focus on landmarks, a compass or GPS-assisted sense of direction, a good map, and an interest in scrambling. The attractions are many: fields of lupine, stark bitterroot flowers, cougars, bighorn lambs, prairie falcons, and pronghorn antelope. River enthusiasts come from around the country to challenge the famous white water rapids. The area receives 4.25 inches of precipitation annually. Summer temperatures typically range from 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, spring and fall from 25 to 60, and winters can become quite cold, averaging 15 to 35 degrees. The Wilderness is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and was designated in 2009.