St. Joe River

Northern Idaho’s St. Joe River has been described as the best cutthroat trout fishery on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains. Its upper reaches arise in the St. Joe National Forest and flow through privately owned forests and ranchland before emptying into Lake Coeur d’Alene. Fishermen, hunters, hikers, cross-country skiers, and campers all know and love the area. The timberlands of the St. Joe Basin have been the economic anchor for generations of North Idahoans.

Beginning in 2003, TPL worked with the Idaho Department of Lands and Trout Unlimited to acquire a conservation easement on more than 50,000 acres in the St. Joe, owned by the Potlatch Corporation, ensuring permanent protection for the Joe’s working forests, abundant wildlife habitat and unparalleled fishing opportunities.