Yankee fork dredge
![yankee fork dredge yankee fork dredge](http://yankeeforkdredge.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-responsive-photo-gallery/L_dredge_aerial_420_640.jpg)
Active between 18, the towns rose and fell with the mines.Ĭuster was built along a single main street spanning more than a mile. Tour Custer, Bonanza and the Yankee Fork Gold DredgeĬuster and Bonanza were the biggest towns in the Yankee Fork. The road weaves through mountains, along the river, and past the remains of numerous stage stops and horse barns built to service the toll road. Photo credit: Sara Sheehy.Īfter climbing above Challis, the road drops into the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River drainage.
![yankee fork dredge yankee fork dredge](http://hawcreekoutdoors.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2010-07-28-076cropped.jpg)
Yankee Fork of the Salmon River drainage.
![yankee fork dredge yankee fork dredge](https://westernmininghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Yankee_Fork_Gold_Dredge_2018_002.jpg)
The dirt and gravel road is open after the snowmelt has cleared (call the Land of the Yankee Fork Visitor Center for current status), and is not recommended for low clearance vehicles or trailers. With few exceptions, the existing 46-mile Custer Motorway follows the same toll road. Wildflowers at a historic site along the Custer Motorway. The toll road was used to carry equipment and supplies, and also offered a passenger service. The road from Challis to Custer and Bonanza (called the “Custer Motorway”), completed in 1879, was built to service the mining boom towns of the Yankee Fork. On the grounds is a ¼ mile trail detailing the archeological finds of a nearby buffalo kill site.Īrmed with knowledge and maps, it’s time to hit the road and begin your journey through the Land of the Yankee Fork.Įxplore Stage Stops Along the Custer Motorway The Visitor Center houses an interpretive center with artifacts chronicling the area’s mining history ($2 per person or $5 per family). Park rangers are on hand to provide guidance and maps of the driving route. From start to finish the loop drive is 98 miles (46 miles of dirt/gravel road with no services, 52 miles of paved highway).īegin Your Journey at the Land of the Yankee Fork Visitor CenterĪ day exploring the Yankee Fork begins at the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park Visitor Center in Challis.
YANKEE FORK DREDGE FULL
Plan to spend a full day on this adventure. Enjoy scenic vistas and spot wildlife while weaving through mountains and along rivers. Hop in the car for a day-long journey to explore stage stops along an old toll road, mining ghost towns and a 988-ton dredge. SARA SHEEHY WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT IDAHO TO CREATE THIS TRAVEL TIP.Ī trip to the Land of the Yankee Fork, the historic mining region nestled between Stanley and Challis, is unforgettable.