Central Idaho Penstemons! APS 2007 Resource Page

Note: you must be a current APS member to participate in this meeting. If you aren't, please join us! Registrants will be mailed a small packet with map and travel helps. be sure to visit Idaho Preview Pictures, Page One and Page Two here!

Suggested Reading and Browsing  Transportation   Lodging: Stanley  Lodging: Ketchum and Hailey Mackay Facilities   Basic Schedule  Links

The bare area in the center of this picture shows vertical displacement of an earthquake fault north of Mackay, Idaho. Fortunately, such events are rare. Photo taken from the Earthquake Fault Interpretative Area --not penstemons, but this is a worthwhile stop on your way to Doublesprings Pass. A couple of miles further along this road, you can find such delights as Penstemon eriantherus.

Note: page is under construction: be sure to check back!

Suggested Reading and Browsing:

Idaho Mountain Wildflowers A goldmine of resources, including a bibliography, this is the page of author and wildflower photographer Dr. Scott Earle. Idaho Mountain Wildflowers: A Photographic Compendium is available from Larkspur Books 2001, 224 pages, 9" x 9", hardcover, index. This is the book on which the above web-site is based. It includes over 300 color images of wildflowers native to the mountains of Idaho. The illustrations are accompanied by a description of each flower, its family, growth habits, history, the derivation of common and scientific names, and notes on economic and medicinal uses. A final, "how to do it," chapter is devoted to wildflower photography. This is not a formal flora or field guide, but it is very lovely and very handy! There is a link to instructions for ordering this book on the above page.

Northwest Penstemons by Dee Strickler. 1997 ISBN 1-56044-572-6 The Flower Press 192 Larch Lane, Columbia Falls MT 59912 or Falcon, P.O. Box 1718 Helena, MT 59624 With helpful details, this is THE penstemon specialty book for the area. You can search for copies on the web too.

Idaho Transportation Department maintains a wildflower page here. It emphasizes roadside flowers, but is quite useful, with plentiful thumbnail pictures.

University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium has a searchable data base. It is not arranged for browsing, but is useful for specific queries

The American Penstemon Society thanks theIdaho Native Plant Society! We are very appreciative of help from the Wood River Chapter.

Idaho Digital Atlas on line. The works: geology, bioregions, climate, etc.

Transportation

Penstemon palmeri is found as a highway planting. This one is a very determined grower: note the interesting crook in its stem.

Flying into Boise? Boise Airport Page has information about airlines serving KBOI, parking, car rental, ground transportation, etc.

Though geared towards pilots, Airnav KBOI has additional information. Go to the bottom of the Boise page for a good list of nearby services.

If you are on a tight schedule, Hailey's Friedman Memorial Airport KSUN is also served by local, regional, and charter airlines. Rental cars are available, but reservations are the only way to be sure you have a car waiting.

Lodging: Stanley/Lower Stanley

Note: Only those facilities in the immediate Stanley/Lower Stanley Area are listed here. For a more complete listing, visit the Stanley Chamber of Commerce page. There may also be others, such as small bed-and-breakfasts, that are not listed. If you are finding "no vacancies", try asking those of whom you make telehpone or e-mail inquiries if they know of other rooms.

MOUNTAIN VILLAGE Resort 60 units, all with in-room coffee, phones and satellite television. Private natural hot springs on site. Airport transportation. Restaurant, mercantile & gas station. Pets OK. 800-843-5475 or 208-774-3661

REDFISH LAKE LODGE Lakeside lodge a few miles south of Stanley w/ full-service restaurant and bar. 21 cabins sleeping from four to ten. 20 motel/suite style units. General store with groceries, clothing, and gear. Horseback riding, gas, propane, and public showers. 208-774-3536 (Summer) or 208-644-9096 (Winter)

REDWOOD CABINS - Riverfront cottages on the Salmon River in Lower Stanley. See photos, rates, additional info, and the cottages on our web site. Open mid-May to mid-October. 208-774-3531

SAWTOOTH HOTEL - Room rentals in the historic old hotel in the heart of Stanley. Rooms for rent June to October. Phone messages: 208-774-6573.

STANLEY HIGH COUNTRY INN 15-room hotel/lodging facility conveniently located in Stanley. 208-774-7000

LOWER Stanley Is located right next to (just north of) Stanley SALMON RIVER CABINS & MOTEL - Log cabins and motel on the banks of the Salmon River in Lower Stanley. Some units have ktichenettes. Open year round. Pets OK. Lower Stanley (Hwy 75). HC 67 Box 300, Stanley, ID 83728. 800-972-4627 or 208-774-3566. Email: JanetATruralnetwork.net Fax: 208 774-3518

SUNBEAM VILLAGE RESORT - Located 11 miles east of Stanley on Hwy 75 at Sunbeam Dam Historic Site and Hot Springs. Lodge and cabins available for rent, some with kitchenettes, TV's, phones, general store, and restaurant. (208) 838-2211 10 rooms with 30 beds which sleep 55 guests, along with RV and tent site campground. Located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, at the confluence of the Yankee Fork River and Salmon River at Sunbeam Dam historical site, 10 miles east of downtown Stanley.

TORREY'S CABINS AND RV PARK - Located on the Salmon River in the SNRA (Sawtooth National Recreation Area)20 miles east of Stanley. Eight fully equipped private log cabins with kitchenettes, bathrooms, dish TV and phones.Sundry, RV Park, men/women's restrooms, showers, and laundromat are located on the premises. Pets and horses welcome. 888-838-2313.

TRIANGLE C RANCH LOG CABINS - Deluxe log cabins...Scenic views of Sawtooth Mountains, queen size beds, spacious rooms with full baths. West end of Stanley. 800-303-6258 or (208) 774-2266.

VALLEY CREEK MOTEL & RV PARK - Spectacular Sawtooth Mountain views. Kitchenettes, queen beds, color TV (HBO), phones, deck front & back. Free hi-speed wireless Internet access. Gas powered BBQ. All non-smoking, no pets. Open January - October. 208-774-3606

Camping. Note: many sites are "primitive" i.e., lack water, electricity, etc.

Stanley is the gateway to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), the Sawtooth Wilderness, and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Most campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis, with length of stay limited to 10-15 days. USFS campgrounds are designed for self-sufficient camping; USFS campgrounds do not offer trailer hookups for water, sewer, or power. Because of heavy winter snows, most area campgrounds are open only from mid-May through Labor Day.

Information about the Sawtooth area recreation, camping, and picnic sites is available from the Sawtooth National Forest/Sawtooth National Recreation Area offices. For more detailed information or questions about facilities and locations, contact one of the sources below. (See also Links listed below)
* Sawtooth National Recreation Area - 208-727-5013 or 208-727-5000
* Stanley Ranger Station - 208-774-3000
* Redfish Lake Visitor Center - 208-774-3376. (Summer only, June 1 - Labor Day)
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS: Eleven USFS fee campgrounds and five picnic sites in the SNRA may be reserved in advance. The sites that may be reserved (generally the most popular) include several on Redfish Lake, Stanley Lake, and the Salmon River, as well as a few along Idaho Highway 21 west of Stanley. Campsite reservations are made by contacting the U.S. Forest Service by phone at (1-877-444-6777)

Lodging: Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley
For a more complete, area-wide listing visit the Ketchum/Sun Valley Visitors Page

The Airport Inn, close to the Hailey airport. Kitchenette rooms, large double rooms, and suites are available. Suites have an adjoining sitting room with wet bar or a fireplace and king sized bed.

Best Western Kentwood Lodge Address: 180 S Main Street, Ketchum, Idaho, 83340, US Phone: 208-726-4114 Fax: 208-726-2417 Toll Free Reservations: 800-805-1001 Email: bwkentwoodlodgATcox.net

Best Western Tyrolean Lodge address: 260 Cottonwood Ln, Ketchum, Idaho, 83340, US Phone: 208-726-5336 Fax: 208-726-2081 Toll Free Reservations: 800-333-7912

Clarion Inn of Sun Valley Highway 75 & Sixth Street; Ketchum, ID 83340 Toll-Free: (800) 262-4833 | Phone: (208) 726-5900 | Fax: (208) 726-3761 Located in downtown Ketchum, just minutes from Sun Valley.

Tamarack Lodge 291 Walnut Ave Ketchum, ID 83340 Toll-Free: (800) 521-5379 Phone: (208) 726-3344 Fax: (208) 726-3347

Facilities: Mackay

Visit the Mackay Page for a listing of lodging and loads of information.

Basic Schedule:
Note: Schedule is subject to factors that effect bloom times such as winter snow and spring weather. We have lots of choices for wildflower viewing and penstemon-stalking. Schedule will be "fine-tuned" according to bloom reports and pre-meeting scouting results. All prospective areas take us away from food or fuel stops. Be sure to gas-up and provision (lunch-munchies, water, and gear) before departing for the wilds! Any changes will be announced on Friday and Saturday.

LINKS

Sawtooth Botanical Garden Gimlet Road at Highway 75Ketchum, Idaho 208.726.9358 The site for our Sunday evening annual meeting!

Virtual Guidebook to The Mountains of Idaho...preview the area with pages of photos

Wood River Land TrustWood River Land Trust is a non-profit conservation organization that helps landowners and communities protect and restore the wildlife habitat, clean water, farmland, and scenic vistas that make the Wood River Valley and its surrounding areas unforgettable.

Though we will be a bit early for wild carnivorous plants, central Idaho bogs and fens hold many surprises. If we have an early spring, some fascinating finds, such as sundews in warm spots, are possible. In any case, Idaho Fen-Hopping is a wonderful page by CP expert and author (a new book!) Dr. Barry Rice

Central Idaho BLM Webpage has information about campsites, roads, trailheads, and lots of other good stuff.

Salmon-Challis National Forest Page has lots of information, especially covering Borah Peak and other areas around Mackay

Idaho Fish and Game Page has all of the info about fishing, licenses, locales, etc. You can even sign up for e-mail updates here.

Places to Visit Along the way. For those planning an extended trip

Time in Boise? Visit the Idaho Botanical Garden 2355 N. Penitentiary Rd. Boise, ID 83712 - phone: 208.343.8649 - fax: 208.343.3601 - email: idbotgrdATidahobotanicalgarden.org

Passing through Salt Lake City? visit Red Butte Garden (University of Utah botanical garden) 300 Wakara Way Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

Hells Canyon NRA Site has good overview of this spectacular area, downloadable maps, camping information, etc.

If you are heading to North Idaho before or after, check out Paradise Gardens Rare Plant Nursery

Page Updated April 5, 2007