Author Topic: Three Forks (Read 1478 times)

Brother dan · « **on:** October 18, 2009, 10:42:28 PM »

This was just a quick day trip...Don't have time to hunt much this year, but always find time to hike a bit..

We drove down into the canyon and hiked into the nearby hotsprings...great day and great weather.

Crossing the river...a bit chilly!

kids soaking up the warm water...

Pretty warm day...the water was nice though, as it's just about 95 degrees...perfect for the day.

JollyRoger · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2009, 07:16:58 AM »

Sweet trip, thanks for sharing! I was actually just reading about Three Forks Hot Springs in my springs guide book tonight...might have to go check it out!

Brother dan · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:47:17 AM »

You can drive right up to it just about, as long as you have high clearance. The water is just luke warm at the pools
(think the internet said 95) but a hunter was saying it was pretty hot at the source, 1000m upstream in the creek.
First time I've actually made it over to the HS. Friends of mine have been going there for the past 20 years. It's definately a pretty area, and there is lots of rock scrambling to do as well.

Dan

agunforeachhand · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2009, 09:59:06 AM »

Thanks for sharing the pics Dan. Looks like you all had fun. Amazing how pretty Idaho is

MarkinIdaho · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2009, 10:51:46 AM »

Looks like a pretty area. Is that in the Owyhees?

Brother dan · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2009, 12:45:04 PM »

Mark, yes it is...just across the border on the Oregon side...(barely) That is on the southern side of the Owyhee's, south west of Juniper mountain (if you know where that is?)

Dan

MarkinIdaho · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:01:34 PM »

Yes, I know where Junier Mtn is... looks like this is another spot to visit.

DarkHelmet · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2009, 04:32:46 PM »

Posts about three forks from another forum I am on.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33472

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23925

- DH

Brother dan · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2009, 05:02:00 PM »

Oh great...another forum for me to join and spend way to many hours on.....Thanks!

Sooner or later I'll dig out my pix from Indian Hot springs...talk about an epic 4x4 trip to the middle of no where.
I was looking at the road on the other, and I"m pretty sure I could climb it fairly easy in my Scout.(that the guy references) I think I may go back there next year on my bike instead though. The road to get to the ford is pretty
bad now though, and I don't think that guy could his VW back in there again without getting high centered.

Thanks for the links.

Dan

Beamncoke · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2009, 12:17:44 AM »

Beautiful country and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

broncovan · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2009, 06:59:03 PM »

That old road that cuts across the warm springs has quite a story to it. A guy built it with Chinese labor and was trying to get the contract for a new stagecoach route. He ended up getting the contract and the road was basically never used.

I guess there was pork in them there barrels way back then too.

Really good bass fishing just below the waterfalls.

Brother dan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2009, 07:12:24 PM »

Wow, didn't know that story. I'm familiar with some Owyhee county history, but not to much on that area (other then the cavalry fort) Where did you find out about that at bronco? thanks for sharing that by the way.

Dan

JollyRoger · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2009, 04:26:32 PM »

Quote from: Brother dan on October 22, 2009, 07:12:24 PM

Wow, didn't know that story. I'm familiar with some Owyhee county history, but not to much on that area (other then the cavalry fort) Where did you find out about that at bronco? thanks for sharing that by the way.

Dan

Cavalry fort?? Where was this at... is there anything still there to check out??

broncovan · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2009, 05:07:37 PM »

Years ago when I was just a wee lad, the folks belonged to the Owyhee County Historical Society. We went all over the Owyhees one weekend a month every summer stopping at places and learning about the history of each spot we stopped at.

Brother dan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2009, 08:31:57 PM »

JR, no, not that I'm aware of. Just the history of it. Several good books about the owyhees that document that stuff. "Tales of the Owyhee trails", "Post offices of the Owyhee's"(if you can find it and print) and the most recent one I read called "The deadliest Indian War" I still have that one if you want to borrow it and read it...little dry, but tons of history.

There is a good story about the Three Forks Post....They lost their cannon in the river there..ok, it's more involved then that, but I just got home from drill and my brain is fried.

Dan

Kcboats · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2009, 09:03:47 PM »

Did the cabin get rebuilt there, Three Forks that is? When I was working as a Deputy, a group of kids stayed the night in the old cabin, got drunk, started a fire and "accidentally" dropped a box of 12 gauge shells in the fire. No injuries but the cabin burned down. Had to track down the people to Seattle, a good samaritian got there plate and we tracked em down. Big deal because of the cabin being a Historical Marker, so all kinds of fun involved.

gbraach · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2009, 11:45:30 PM »

Quote from: JollyRoger on October 23, 2009, 04:26:32 PM

Cavalry fort?? Where was this at... is there anything still there to check out??

I visited the fort in 2006 with the OCHS. The only things remaining are the stones that formed the foundations of the hearth and entry ways into the barracks.
There is an interesting story regarding the location of the fort. Contrary to what many believe, the actual fort was not located at Three Forks. Instead it is located 14 miles to the northeast (N42 42.387 W117 00.396) on the slopes of South Mtn. The original commander of the post was instructed to build a fort at the Three Forks of the Owyhee. However when he arrived at the river, it was very obvious the proposed location was a very poor defensive choice. Located deep in a river canyon, he immediately realized it would be very easy for just a handful of Indians to trap any soldiers in the canyon. So the commander instead built the fort on the slopes of South Mtn and named it Camp Winthrop. When the commander notified his superiors of what he had done, the pencil pushers in D.C. were not happy. They informed him that he had been instructed to build a fort at Three Forks and that was what he better do! Well the local commander was no dummy. He realized nobody from D.C. would ever visit the fort and know any different, so he simply changed the name of his newly built fort to Camp Three Forks. Nobody from Washington D.C. was ever the wiser.

Brother dan · « **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2009, 11:28:36 AM »

Wow, thanks! I had heard that there were remains somewhere...I'm going to have to go check that out.

MtGoat · « **Reply #18 on:** August 05, 2011, 08:54:52 PM »

What is the best way to get to Three Forks?
Can you get there by driving to Jordan Valley then turning back towards Juniper Mountain or do you have to go all the way down to Rome?

Thanks
Pat

Brother dan · « **Reply #19 on:** August 05, 2011, 10:17:53 PM »

You hang a "left" right there in town (Jordan Valley)

Dan

MtGoat · « **Reply #20 on:** August 05, 2011, 10:20:44 PM »

Thanks
Pat