salmon river

Did the Etna to Forks to Cecilville drive. Hot, steep, narrow shelf roads with many blind corners. Can't believe they bus school kids on the road to Cecilville. Passed by disppointing campsites (Idlywild was one). Camped at deserted Trail Creek and judging by some of the characters we saw in the area over a few day of driving and camping I should have taken the gun. No phone, no cell. Never saw a ranger in any campground we drove through/camped at. Spent the night listening for vehicles that may drive down into camp (tweakers). Surprised to hear a number of cars on road between 1-4:00am. Read the local paper and a couple was shot by a motorcyclist pulled over on 299 12mi east of Redding taking a pee. It does happen!Stopped at forks and pulled into what looked like some bizzare gas station. A fire truck was parked there and we just wanted a drink. A woman comes running out of a trailer and says this is private property and you need to leave now. Deliverance scenes started playing in my head and we moved on.

My husband was raised there and it is the most wildly beautiful place on earth. There are no hotels and only a tiny store. You will need to take what you need and go camping. You cannot be scared of steep narrow roads though!