Frank Church Wilderness
Frank Church Wilderness is a vast, rugged landscape in Idaho featuring high peaks, alpine lakes, deep river canyons and dense forests. It supports remote hiking, rafting routes and abundant wildlife.
Learn More
Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Northwest United States |
| Subregion | Northern Rockies |
| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Idaho County |
| District | Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness |
| Timezone | AmericaBoise |
| Latitude | 45.5 |
| Longitude | -115 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Frank Church Wilderness — officially the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness — is a remote and expansive tract of rugged terrain across northern Idaho. Covering roughly 21,000 km², it is defined by stark contrasts: high alpine summits over 3400 meters, glacial-fed lakes, sandstone canyons carved by the Salmon, Jewett and Selway rivers and thick conifer forests at lower elevations. The wilderness is a true backcountry arena where few roads penetrate and travel demands route-finding and wilderness skills. Popular activities include multi-day backpacking on established trail corridors, multi-river wilderness boating and rafting, and wildlife viewing — expect to see Ursus arctos (grizzly bear), Canis lupus (gray wolf), Castor canadensis (beaver) and migratory waterfowl. Because of the remoteness and variable weather, prepare for long days, limited services and leave-no-trace camping; logistical planning and route flexibility are key to safe trips.
All content was written by our AI and may contain a few mistakes. We may earn commissions on some links. Last updated: Sun Dec 14, 2025, 2:55 AM