Gospel Hump Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Idaho County, US
The Gospel Hump Wilderness extends across 205,796 acres of varied terrain, from low-lying river valleys at 1,970 feet to mountain peaks reaching 8,940 feet.
The 1861 gold discovery near Florence brought miners to the region, leading to peak mining activities at Buffalo Hump in 1898 before operations ended in 1903.
The Nez Perce people inhabited this land since 6000 BCE, using the diverse landscapes for hunting elk, deer, and other wildlife essential to their way of life.
Visitors need to bring maps and navigation tools as there are no roads within the wilderness, and access is limited to foot or horseback travel.
The wilderness connects with Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, forming a vast protected area of 3,300,000 acres without motorized access.
Location: Idaho
Inception: 1978
GPS coordinates: 45.56580,-115.77600
Latest update: March 27, 2025 07:58
Idaho's remote locations offer access to diverse landscapes ranging from alpine lakes nestled in mountain ranges to volcanic formations and high desert terrain. The state contains geological features formed over thousands of years, including lava tubes that preserve ice year-round, sand dunes rising hundreds of feet, and one of North America's deepest river canyons. Historic mining towns preserve architecture from the silver boom era, while natural hot springs dot the landscape alongside waterfalls that cascade through forested valleys. These destinations span from the granite spires of City of Rocks National Reserve, where climbers tackle routes on 600-foot rock formations, to Priest Lake in the northern forests, stretching 19 miles through conifer-covered wilderness. Visitors can explore the black lava fields of Craters of the Moon, spanning over 1,100 square miles, or descend into caves where ice formations persist despite surface temperatures. The Snake River carves through Hell's Canyon at depths reaching 7,900 feet, creating opportunities for rafting and fishing. Whether hiking to Sawtooth Lake at 8,800 feet elevation, observing stars from an observatory at Bruneau Dunes State Park, or walking through the Victorian streets of Wallace, these locations provide experiences across Idaho's varied terrain.
Hells Canyon
70.7 km
Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness
85.1 km
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
56.5 km
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
78.5 km
Hells Canyon Wilderness
56.5 km
Hells Canyon Dam
80.6 km
Ponderosa State Park
74.2 km
Weippe Prairie
90 km
Polly Bemis House
16.9 km
White Bird Grade
46.4 km
Blue Fox Theatre
48.1 km
Sheep Rock
81.4 km
First Presbyterian Church
73.3 km
College Creek Ranger Station
80 km
Gold Point Mill
38.3 km
Arctic Point Fire Lookout
58.4 km
Col. E. M. Heigho House
76.9 km
Deep Creek Ranger Station
83.8 km
Elo School
78.9 km
James V. and Sophia Baker House
69.7 km
Cooper's Ferry
63 km
James F. Bridwell House
76.2 km
Matt Ruatsale Homestead
84.8 km
Sue McBeth Cabin
73.4 km
Gust Laituri Homestead
81.9 km
Nickolai Wargelin Homestead
79.3 km
Hat Point Fire Lookout Tower
70.6 km
North Beach
67.6 kmReviews
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