Unit 16

Gedney Mountain and Orogrande Summit anchor the eastern ridgeline system and serve as major navigation reference points visible from multiple drainages. Rainbow Lake and Cove Lakes mark high meadow country above the timberline transitions. The Selway Falls and confluence points where Meadow Creek and Lochsa join the mainstem rivers create unmistakable canyon landmarks.

Locally-named bars along the Salmon River—Twentymile, Twentyfive Mile, and Goddard—mark traditional river access and camping zones. Ridge systems like Battle Ridge, China Point Ridge, and Tahoe Ridge provide glassing platforms for surveying the canyon country below, though visibility is often limited by dense forest cover and terrain complexity.

The unit spans extreme elevation change from river-bottom canyons barely above 1,200 feet to ridgelines exceeding 7,700 feet, with the bulk of terrain falling between 3,000 and 6,000 feet. Dense coniferous forest dominates throughout—fir, cedar, and hemlock cover the slopes in thick stands broken only by high meadows and saddles. Lower canyon bottoms support riparian vegetation along the river corridors, while mid-elevation slopes transition to open ridgelines above.

This vertical relief creates distinct seasonal patterns: summer accessible only at high elevations, fall pressure concentrates in mid-elevation canyons, and winter typically closes all but the lowest drainage bottoms.

Over 500 miles of roads exist in and near the unit, but most are Forest Service pack trails and rough mountain roads rather than modern highways. Primary vehicle access concentrates on FR 222 (Ranger Station to Mackay Bar Road) and FR 319, both following river corridors that quickly transition to trail-only access beyond parking areas. This connected-but-remote access pattern means initial staging is straightforward from nearby towns like Kooskia and Stites, but actual hunting country demands boat or pack stock to penetrate beyond the roads.

The steep terrain, dense forest, and trail-dependent access naturally limit pressure to those willing to invest time in foot or horseback travel, creating pockets of minimal pressure inland from the major drainages.

Unit 16 encompasses a complex drainage system in central Idaho County, bounded by major river confluences and ridge divides rather than straight lines. The western boundary follows the Salmon River and South Fork Clearwater drainages, while the eastern side is defined by the Selway River watershed divide and peaks like Orogrande Summit and Gedney Mountain. The unit encompasses roughly 40 miles of river canyon country with multiple tributary systems, including the Lochsa River confluence and Meadow Creek drainage.

Surrounding terrain transitions to adjacent units across similar steep, forested ridges, creating a continuous block of remote backcountry where river access becomes the logical staging point for penetrating inland.

The Salmon River forms the unit's western spine with reliable year-round flow suitable for float-in access; the Clearwater and its South Fork branches drain the northern section. The Selway River drains the eastern portion, and Meadow Creek provides critical high-country drainage. Numerous named creeks—Big Cedar, Rabbit, Hoodoo, and Solo Creek among them—offer perennial water in mid and lower elevations.

Springs are scattered throughout; Browns Spring and seasonal seeps provide water on higher ridges. Despite steep terrain and abundant precipitation, water accessibility varies dramatically by elevation and drainage—high ridges require careful planning, while canyon bottoms guarantee reliable flow but demand technical river travel to access the uplands.

Unit 16 offers hunting for elk, deer, and black bear across multiple elevation zones, with strategy varying dramatically by season and elevation. Lower canyon country in fall can be productive for elk that concentrate in river bottoms; rut hunting success depends on accessing mid-elevation saddles and ridges above the densest timber. High meadow systems above 6,000 feet offer different dynamics in early season and during Indian summer windows.

Deer occupy brushy mid-elevation transitions and south-facing slopes, particularly in spring and fall. Black bear track heavily-timbered drainage bottoms and fruit-bearing ridges in late summer and fall. The extreme terrain complexity and limited road access require hunters to commit to either pack-in camps or multi-day backcountry hunts; day hunting from vehicle access is possible but restrictive.