History of Snow Peak WMA

History

Snow Peak WMA lands were owned by Plum Creek Timber Corporation prior to 1990. Idaho Fish and Game acquired the Snow Peak lands by trading 3,680 acres of St. Maries WMA with Plum Creek Timber Corporation. In 1990, the acres on St. Maries WMA to be traded, appraised at $6,000,000. The 12,055 acres on Snow Peak WMA were appraised at $5,800,000. Three public hearings were held in January 1990 regarding the land exchange proposal. 

In August of 1995, Idaho Fish and Game purchased a 130-acre easement from Crown Pacific to protect timber values on section 11 near Snow Peak WMA using Bonneville Power Administration funds. 

The single most important reason the department acquired the property in this location was to provide roadless elk hunting opportunity. 

In July 2007, the wildland fire use option agreement with USFS expanded onto Snow Peak WMA to allow wildland fire use as a management option for benefit of wildlife habitats. In October 2008, the Idaho roadless rule was published in the federal register. All of the U.S. Forest Service land surrounding and part of Snow Peak WMA is inventoried roadless. 

Snow Peak WMA is open to public travel use with the following restrictions: 

• Vehicles must remain on established, open roads. 
• Trails allow non-motorized access only.