Magruder Corridor

[Occidental]

We got out to the proverbial backyard and enjoyed a few days exploring the Magruder Corridor in October. Also known as the Southern Nez Perce trail, the road, built by the CCC's, connects Elk City, ID to Darby MT. The route itself is about 101 miles and there's lots of opportunities for side trips, hikes, and a bit of fishing in a couple spots. Lucky for us it starts right up the road, I'm sure we'll be back in this country many times in the future to explore the side roads we didn't drive and take a few of the many hikes.

The story is posted to our website: https://www.occidentalist.org/a-trip-through-the-magruder-corridor/
or you can find the video directly here: https://youtu.be/MdTn3s_yVCA

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Ed, that’s beautiful country! Thanks for sharing!


I wonder if the Magruder Ranger Station is the same one that Peter Fromm mentioned in Indian Creek Chronicles. BTW, if folks haven’t read that book, it’s an interesting coming of age story.

 

[Occidental]

It very well could be. I haven't read the book (but will be putting it on the list), but a bit of searching around for Indian Creek reveals that we stayed just upriver from it on night three of this trip. It's the closest FS station to Indian Creek so I'd guess it is the same one. There are multiple buildings at the site, including a house that is available to rent during parts of the year apparently. Looks like some parts of the year it hosts work crews, seasonally. It looks to me that it is still well maintained.

 

[ski3pin]

Another great adventure! We love the larch. Good job on racking up the camper nights!

The Magruder killing was another incident that led to the Montana vigilantes -

A Decent, Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

That was a fun ride along.
Thanks for sharing.
Frank

 

[Ted]

High campsites with great views. Campsites on the river. That is a darn nice area to have as a backyard. Good for you. That should help keeping up on hitting 100 nights next year, too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Taku]

yes the Magruder Ranger Station (was a district years ago now under the West Fork District of the Bitterroot Forest) is upriver of where Pete Fromm spent the winter for Indian Creek Chronicles. One other thing to look at is the stone bridge over the river there which is a great example of stone work (https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/deep-creek-bridge-kooskia-id/)
Spent a few weeks at various times at Magruder during fires, setting up sprinklers and burning out around the buildings and cleaning up afterwards. Definitely worth a visit!

 

[dennis 221]

We ran it a few years ago ..your picture #4 would of been sold red/ purple with fireweed on ever square foot.

 

[goinoregon]

thx for the trip report !!