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ATTRACTIONS
Art and Art Galleries
Farmers Market
Historic Sites
National Forests
Parks
Rivers
Scenic Byway
State Parks

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VISITOR INFORMATION

Looking for a Bed & Breakfast? Try the Bonanza House B&B!

Nearby Cities and Towns
Hailey, 91 miles
Ketchum, 79 miles
Salmon, 59 miles
Stanley, 58 miles
Sun Valley, 80 miles

Cities and Towns of Central Idaho

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Idaho Whitewater Rafting

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Challis, Idaho
Attractions

Rich in history, Challis has many attractions to offer. Explore the Custer Motorway which once provided wagon and stage access for delivering supplies to the mining camps and towns along the Yankee Fork or drive the Salmon River Scenic Byway. See the old mines, mining camps, ghost towns and relics at the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park or enjoy a picnic at the city park. Read this page for more information on what to see in Challis.

Art and Art Galleries

Challis Arts Council at the MadDog Gallery on Main. PO Box 1131, Challis, ID 83226. Phone: 208-879-6841.

Farmers Market

Challis Community Farmers Market. Located at the Challis City Park Pavillion.

Historic Sites

Custer Motorway
This 40-mile section of road once provided wagon and stage access for delivering supplies to the mining camps and towns that sprung up along the Yankee Fork. Opened in 1879 as a toll road, it remained the only access to the area for ten years. In 1933 the road was reconstructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and designated as "The Custer Motorway." Today, the Motorway follows much of the route of the original toll road and takes the traveler past numerous historic sites and scenic vistas between Custer and Challis. This is a narrow, dirt road suitable for pickups and other high-clearance vehicles. Not recommended for low-clearance autos, large motor-homes and travel trailers. Explore the interpretive sites between Challis and Sunbeam plus the natural hot spring pools near Sunbeam Dam. Camping is permitted along the way, but be sure to bring plenty of water and food as there are no services. Usually closed from late October through May due to winter snow conditions.

National Forests

Salmon-Challis National Forest. Yankee Fork Ranger District: HC 63 Box 1669, Highway 93, Challis, ID 83226. Phone: 208-879-4100.

Expanding over 4.3 million acres, the Salmon-Challis is home to Borah Peak, Idaho's tallest peak, the Wild & Scenic Salmon River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the largest contiguous wilderness area in the United States, the Frank Church-River of no Return Wilderness Area.

Sawtooth National Forest. Ketchum Ranger District: 206 Sun Valley Road, PO Box 2356, K, Challis, ID 83340. Phone: 208-622-5371; Fax: 208-622-3923.

Parks

Centennial Park
Located a mile north of Main Street, just off Highway 93. Centennial has playgrounds, picnic pavilions, barbeque stations, horseshoe pits, basketball court, baseball field and a skate park. Every Labor Day weekend a skateboard competition is held.

Rivers

Salmon River
Known as the The River of No Return, the Salmon River offers whitewater rapids near Yankee Fork on the upper river while the lower river provides fishing, swimming and floating opportunities. The river is accessed from Highways 93 and 75 from the Salmon River Scenic Byway.

Scenic Byway

Salmon River Scenic Byway
This byway starts at the Montana border at the Lost Trail Pass south on Highway 93 and follows the Salmon River in the Salmon-Challis National Forest through the historic town of Challis then turns west on Highway 75 to Stanley. Observe wildlife, take in the scenic views including the Sawtooth Mountains. Allow 3-1/2 hours to drive the 162 miles.

State Parks

Land of the Yankee Fork State Park. 24424 Highway 75, Mail: HC 67 Box 2004, Challis, ID 83226. Phone: 208-879-5244; Fax: 208-879-5243.

The Land of the Yankee Fork depicts the frontier mining history. An area of old mines, mining camps, ghost towns and relics of an earlier age lying west of US Highway 93 and north of Highway 75. The area, which is a federally designated Historic Area, is jointly managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Stop in the Visitor Center to see the museum exhibits, a gold panning station plus audiovisual programs, mining artifacts and publications describing the frontier mining history of the region. Learn about the ghost towns including Bonanza, Custer and Bayhorse, the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, the Custer Motorway and the Challis Bison Jump.

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