Day 2: Lowman to Crouch / Garden Valley
BASICS:
DATE: MONDAY JULY 15th
DISTANCE: 53 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: + 2,509 ft
ELEVATION: 3,048 ft
POPULATION: 1,468
Average High Temperature in July: 90° F
Average Low Temperature in July: 47° F
Average Rainfall in August: 0.59”
ABOUT:
Day Two will take you along Banks-Lowman Road also known as the “Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway“. It hosts exceptional wildlife viewing and breathtaking mountain scenery.
Our destination is Crouch/Garden Valley, a town that developed from the gold rush and a 19th century wave of immigration that brought diverse communities and families from Ireland, Scotland, Bavaria, Denmark, England, Prussia, Norway, and Switzerland.
Mid-westerners came from Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio and were skilled farmers and merchants. Crouch/ Garden Valley quickly developed into a close-knit community. Today, the descendants of many of these old families still live in the area. The mining industry evolved into logging when portable sawmills were installed in the Payette River in the early 1900s.
Nowadays, Garden Valley, as the area is known as, boasts world class recreation with visitors coming from around the world to camp, hike, snowmobile, kayak, and horseback ride. Rafting is also a huge attraction for the area, with the Payette River showcasing rapids that suit rafters of all skills levels. There are also numerous hot springs and geothermal pools including Kirkham, Pine Flats, and Hot Springs Campground, all of which you will have the opportunity to visit along your ride!
CAMPING:
Starlight Mountain Theatre is kindly hosting us on their grounds for the night. The outdoor amphitheater is the perfect setting for the theatrical performances and musicals that Starlight puts on in the summer months. You will experience a great dinner and a production of Newsies, a Tony award-winning Broadway hit. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to participate! We are very excited to be a part of the fun that Starlight is known for! Check out their website for more information: www.starlightmt.com.
HOTELS / LODGING:
Starlight Mountain Theatre RV Park
850 S Middlefork Road
Garden Valley, Idaho 83622
(208) 462-5523
Garden Valley Motel
1111 Banks Lowman Road
Garden Valley, Idaho 83622
(208) 462-2911
Wander Inn Motel and Cabins
486 S Middlefork Road
Garden Valley, ID 83622
(208) 462-2305
Terrace Lakes Resort (furthest away from camp)
101 Holiday Drive
Garden Valley, ID 83622
(208) 462-3250