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Kamiah

Kamiah

Kamiah, Idaho (pronounced kam-EE-eye)
Region: Clearwater Region in North Central Idaho
County: Lewis
Location: 65 miles East of Lewiston on Hwy 12 - Northwest Passage Scenic Byway

Kamiah, one of the most unique areas of north central Idaho is nestled on the banks of the beautiful Clearwater River in a valley surrounded by scenic foothills. Here the heritage of the past meets the challenge of tomorrow, and the gateway opens to the multitude of recreational opportunities.

Older than the recorded history of the West, Kamiah was the winter home of the Nez Perce Tribe. It was here they came to fish for steelhead, a staple in their diet, and to manufacture "Kamia" ropes, hence the name Kamiah, meaning the place of "many rope litters". Just outside of town is the site of, The Heart of the Monster. As legend is told this is the location where the creation of the Nez Perce Tribe originated, when Coyote outwitted The Monster.

Lewis and Clark camped for several weeks during the early spring of 1806 in the Kamiah Valley waiting for the snow to melt before they could continue their journey back east. The valley is rich in the heritage and legends of the Nez Perce and it was here, among the ancestors of the present day Nez Perce, that the Appaloosa Horse was first bred, primarily for use as a war animal. Kamiah lies not far from the great primitive wilderness areas of Idaho where big game hunting is at its best.

Fishing begins in Kamiah, Idaho! The magnificent steelhead trout, measuring up to 45 inches in length, and the chinook salmon travel up the Clearwater River to spawn. There are both fall and spring seasons for these beauties, whitefishing in the winter, and trout and bass fishing during the summer, giving anglers plenty of variety. With well-stocked creeks and mountain lakes an hour or two hike away, the Clearwater River and its tributaries are considered some of the finest fishing streams in the country.

Kamiah lies along the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway-All American Road, which is the shortest route from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast. It is also the longest highway within a national forest in the nation and opens the opportunity to enjoy sightseeing along the beautiful Lochsa and Clearwater Rivers where mountain goats, elk, deer and other wild animals can frequently be spotted.

Community Links:

• Kamiah Chamber of Commerce
• Lewis Clark Historical Trail
• Nez Perce Historical Trail
• Clearwater National Forest
• Nez Perce National Forest

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