A bit of history is just a trail away in the Inland Northwest

Numerous trails in the Inland Northwest lead to some sort of historical attraction. Among them:

•Kirkwood Ranch in Hells Canyon on the Idaho side of the Snake River, including a house built in 1925. An extension was added during the Depression years by Leonard and Grace Jordan, who left the place in 1943 as Len went on to become Idaho’s governor and later, a U.S. Senator. The extension he built to the house included the first real bathtub in Hells Canyon.

The place was purchased by the Forest Service in 1973 and is occupied year-round as a museum by Historic Ranch hosts and volunteers.

Info: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center in Enterprise, Ore., (541) 426-5546 or Riggins, Idaho, office at (208) 628-3916.

•Folsom Farm, a turn-of-the-century Greek revival homestead west of Spokane near Fishtrap Lake. Although the farmhouse, chicken coop and portions of the corral were lost to a wildfire in 1998, the barn and some equipment continues to represent historical farming development dating back from the early 1900s.

Bring binoculars. The wetlands that were drained for agricultural purposes have been restored and even in this drought period, there’s still some water left. A waterfowl viewing platform has been built and hikers can walk cross-country to Hog Lake.

Info: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Spokane office, 536-1200.