The Friends of the Elk City Wagon Road is a volunteer history preservation group whose main purpose is to assist in permanently preserving the historic old wagon road for the education and enjoyment of our future generations. The wagon road served as the main route to the gold fields in the Clearwater Mountains of the Nez Perce National Forest from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The Elk City Wagon Road was built in 1894-1895 mostly by public subscription and donations. The road was officially declared completed July 15, 1895. Prior to 1895 all passenger and freight traffic destined for the gold fields in the late 1800s was over the South Nez Perce Trail. Today the Elk City Wagon Road is maintained for safe travel although portions of the road are rutted. Narrative signs located at the old way station sites along the road provide a history narrative of the particular site.
Each year in July the Friends of the Elk City Wagon Road volunteer group conducts two days of events honoring the old Elk City Wagon Road and the rich and colorful history surrounding it. This year's events, July 19 & 20, 2008, will include a parade of early day transportation, food service, quilt show, the Old Time Gospel Hour, oral history presentation and the Wagon Road Variety Show in the historic Clearwater Baptist Church on Saturday. Sunday's events will include a breakfast in the Clearwater Grange Hall (6:30 - 10:30 AM) followed by the one-day self-guided adventure trip over the old Elk City Wagon Road beginning at 8:15 AM from Clearwater's Main Street. The trip will end in Elk City approximately 4:30 PM. There is no cost for the trip. Participants should travel in vehicles with sufficiently high clearance, and bring a picnic lunch, drinking water, and cameras. Travel is at the participants own risk. The Friends of the Elk City Wagon Road assume NO liability on the adventure trip. Additional information may be obtained by calling (208) 983-0345, (208) 791-4548.
Anyone who is genuinely interested in helping to preserve the historic old Elk City Wagon Road is cordially invited to join the volunteer group. There is no membership fee, and meetings are typically the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 A.M. in the Clearwater Grange Hall, Clearwater, ID, with a potluck lunch following each meeting. The meeting agenda usually includes a history presentation. During the winter months the group meets every other month.