Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association (SIHA)

10/11/2026

This week kicks off our Oral History Project Winter Series! In partnership with the Stanley Community library, these recorded histories will be shared in person and by zoom. You can find the link in the library events page on the listed dates.

Our first Oral History showing will be on Wednesday, Oct 14th at 5:30 pm. We'll be watching a 2010 interview with Marie Osborn, the first registered nurse practitioner in the country and founder of the Salmon River Clinic here in Stanley.

As the keeper and teller of stories of the Sawtooth Salmon River Country, SIHA maintains an archive of oral histories and continues to acquire more. These interviews teach us about the colorful and influential individuals who shaped our community and the landscape. There are vivid characters who tell about the old Ace of Diamonds Dance Hall, the first sheriff in Stanley, and life with the U.S. Forest Service when the Sawtooth National Recreation Area was first established.

If you have knowledge of the Sawtooth-Salmon River Country in the early days or know of someone who does, please send us a message.

See you Wednesday!

10/03/2026

Rising 4,000 feet above the valley beneath it, the Hemingway Boulder Wilderness is one of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area’s three wilderness areas. Established in 2015 along with the White Clouds and Jim McClure Jerry Peak Wildernesses, this 67,993-acre Wilderness is smallest and has the fewest access points in the NRA.

The Boulders are composed of sedimentary limestone, sandstone, and shale & igneous granite and quartz. While the range was covered in ice during Idaho’s last period of glaciation, the composition of the rock didn’t allow it to become jagged like the Sawtooths. The range is home to the headwaters of the Big Wood River, whose path was carved by water, not ice.

The Boulders were a hub for mining in the 19th century. Boulder City existed from 1883 until 1893 with a peak population of 700 people. The main ore mined was galena, a lead/silver composed ore. A few structures, including the old stamp mill, still stand today.

While not as iconic as the Sawtooths, the Hemingway Boulder Wilderness is another part of what makes the Sawtooth NRA so special.

Photo Cred: SIHA Staff

10/01/2026

It takes a village, and a lot of volunteers, to keep our Sawtooths wild. Thank you to everyone who joined in the SNRA End-Of-Season Clean-up last week. Dog waste bags, illegal campfire rings, micro-trash - you hiked and cleaned across the most heavily impacted areas in the SNRA and you made a difference! 🥰

Photo Cred: SIHA Staff

10/01/2026

A new blog post is up! Wolverines are one of the most elusive carnivores in the Sawtooths, but they need our help. Although these scavengers can be pretty tenacious (and brave enough to challenge grizzly bears) they face habitat loss from climate change and increased outdoor recreation. Read all about it in Naturalist Christina's interview with USFS Wildlife Technician, Chris Klingler. https://discoversawtooth.org/the-plight-of-the-wolverine

09/29/2026

Shelves are cleared, floors are swept, and our awesome summer staff are preparing to head for home, school, and winter work. It’s bittersweet for sure!

Thank you to all our visitors for your support through purchases in our shops and joining in on our educational programs and events throughout the summer. We love hearing your stories, helping you have a fun and safe visit, and sharing about this special place with you. Thank you to all of our partners, the USFS, our board members, donors, and SIHA members, for your support throughout the summer and after.

The doors may be closing on these two facilities for the winter, but SIHA’s work to protect and preserve the natural and cultural history of the SNRA and Salmon River Country continues. Find us at discoversawtooth.com and join our newsletter to keep up with what we’re doing all year long.

Happy fall!

09/26/2026

Today is National Public Lands Day! It's an opportunity to give back to those wild, special, beautiful places we love across our nation and here in the SNRA.

A reminder that you can join us today from 10 AM - 12 PM at the Smiley Creek Dump Station to grab gear and head out for a couple of hours to help keep the SNRA clean and pristine!

About National Public Lands Day: "Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. National Public Lands Day is led by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help preserve their public lands together through volunteer projects. This year’s theme is “Caring for Our Shared America” in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary." - www.nps.gov

Photo Credit: SIHA wildlife camera captures a coyote on the move.

09/26/2026

The September full moon, also known as the Harvest or Corn Moon, is rising tomorrow night! Known for illuminating farmers’ fields during the fall harvest, the Harvest Moon rises low on the horizon, making it appear larger than other full moons. With the SNRA as part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, you'll get a great view of the moon and stars any time, but peak viewing time for this bright orange orb will be just after sunset on September 26th.

Source: The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Photo Credit: "Full Harvest Moon in WA 9/24/18" by Landscapes in The West is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

09/24/2026

Fall is here, which means near winter conditions here in Sawtooth-Salmon country. Historically, Stanley was known for harsh winters, deep snow and freezing temperatures. These days, our winters can be a little less predictable. So always pack layers when day hiking and camping, you never know what mountain weather will do!

Photo Credit: Lower Stanley c. 1900, courtesy of the Stanley Museum archives

09/24/2026

Autumn is here! Get ready for cooler temperatures, changing aspen leaves, and (hopefully) some snow on the peaks!

It's that time of year for variable weather, precipitation, and changing road conditions if your headed into the backcountry, so plan ahead. Also be prepared for fewer visitor resources. The Redfish Visitor Center is still open, but we’re closing for the season on September 27th.

Come on in and ask those last minutes questions about trails, campgrounds, wildlife, or anything else about the SNRA that you’ve been thinking about!
Thanks so much for a great summer!

Photo Credit: Julie Conrad, SIHA archives

09/22/2026