White Bird Hill Summit

White Bird Hill Summit
Elevation	4,245 ft (1,294 m)
Traversed by	US-95
Location
Location	Idaho County, Idaho, United States
Range	Clearwater Mountains
Coordinates	45°50′40″N 116°14′14″W

White
Bird Hill

location of White Bird Hill in Idaho

White Bird Hill Summit is a mountain pass in northern Idaho on U.S. Highway 95. Located in Idaho County, it is midway between White Bird and Grangeville. The summit elevation of the highway is 4,245 feet (1,294 m) above sea level, through a substantial cut.

The modern multi-lane highway was completed in June 1975, following ten years of construction. The treeless northbound grade climbs 2700 vertical feet (823 m) in 7 miles (11 km), an average gradient of over 7%. The original road was completed in 1921 and first paved in 1938, it rose slightly higher to 4,429 feet (1,350 m), due to the absence of a summit cut. Located to the east, the old road was twice the length and had a multitude of switchbacks ascending a treeless slope. On the present highway, the descent north of the summit is less dramatic as the grade drops less than 900 feet (270 m) in the forest with few curves onto the Camas Prairie towards Grangeville.

White Bird Hill Summit marks the divide between the Salmon River and the Camas Prairie. The Battle of White Bird Canyon of the Nez Perce War occurred in the valley south of the summit in 1877. Chief White Bird was a respected leader of the Nez Perce tribe.

Video

• You Tube video - motorcycle POV - White Bird Hill - northbound US-95 - June 2011
• You Tube video - motorcycle trailer POV - White Bird Hill - southbound US-95 - June 2011
• Idaho Transportation Dept. - roadcam - U.S. 95 - White Bird Hill - north of summit

External links

• Visit Idaho.org - official state tourism site
• Idaho Transportation Dept. - White Bird Bridge - at base of grade - photo
• White Bird Bridge - construction photo gallery from early 1970s