WILDFLOWER UPDATE

Stanley area

Wildflowers are coming on slowly. You'll see shooting stars in the meadows. Look for sticky geraniums, wild lilies of the valley, phlox, larkspur, lupine, forget-me-nots and cinquefoil off the trails and roads.

Ketchum area

The wildflower bloom should be amazing by July 4. Everything is slow because of cooler weather and rain. It froze in some mountain areas. You'll see purple and a mix of purple and yellow lupine starting to bloom now on low-elevation trails. Indian paintbrush has appeared, but hasn't flowered yet. Arrowleaf balsamroot is up, but not blooming. Penstemon are just beginning to bloom. North of Ketchum you'll find white mule's ears blooming.

McCall area

Penstemon and lupine are out at lower elevations near McCall.

Indian paintbrush is not out yet.

It's a couple of weeks before the full bloom.

Garden Valley

There's a good variety of wildflowers blooming in the area, such as asters and daisies.

Try driving up the Middle Fork of the Payette River Road toward Terrace Lakes.

Lowman area

Wildflower blooms have started off slowly because of cool weather and rain. Shooting stars and white camas are just beginning to show in Bear Valley.

Fairfield area

Camas Prairie is loaded with a variety of wildflowers.

There are good areas of arrowleaf balsamroot.

The blue camas bloom was on time at the end of May but patchy. It's over now.

Sego lilies are everywhere.

Source: U.S. Forest Service offices

WEISER RIVER TRAIL RIDING TIPS

General

® Ride downhill.

® Use two cars. Leave one at the point you want to end your ride so you don't have to ride back up the trail.

® Get a copy of "Trails of Western Idaho," by Margaret Fuller. It has good tips and details on all the segments of the trail.

® Check out Friends of the Weiser River Trail Web site,

www.weiserrivertrail.org.

Evergreen to Council

® Length: 18 to 20 miles.

® The trip: Start at Evergreen Campground off U.S. 95 north of Council. This is a good place to camp. End your trip in Council

® Details: Forested at first, but open river valley towards the end.

Mesa Siding to Cambridge

® Length: About 20 miles.

® The trip: Start at the parking area at Mesa Siding, about 3.5 miles south of Council on U.S. 95. The trail leaves the highway there. End your trip in Cambridge.

® Details: You'll be riding along the riparian areas of the Weiser River in open country with some canyon slopes.