Strata Strata

Hike · Old Man Point

Lochsa Down River

Distance
12.3 mi
Vertical
2,838 ft
Summit
2,664 ft
Difficulty
Very strenuous

The Lochsa River is one of two primary tributaries of the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River, draining the western slope of the Bitterroot Range in north-central Idaho. The river’s name comes from a Nez Perce word meaning rough water; the Salish name, Ep Smɫí, is glossed as “it…

Read the full route guide in Strata →

The Lochsa River runs hard through a steep forested canyon in the Clearwater National Forest, a designated Wild and Scenic stretch of the river.
Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA · CC BY 2.0
Late-summer wildflowers along the Lochsa River in the lower canyon, the route U.S. 12 follows from Lolo Pass to the Selway confluence.
Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA · Public domain
A calmer reach of the Lochsa River between drops, the cedar-and-fir wall of the canyon coming down to the gravel bar.
Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA · Public domain
A constricted whitewater run of the Lochsa River below a rock buttress, on the Nez Perce National Historic Trail corridor.
Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA · Public domain

Plan Lochsa Down River with Strata

Get today's avalanche, slope, aspect, and weather verdict for this route — plus offline maps and live crew tracking. Free on iPhone & iPad.

Get it on the App Store