Kamiah, ID

Kamiah sits where Lawyer Creek meets the Clearwater River, in a valley that has been central to Nez Perce history for centuries. The name comes from Kamia ropes made for fishing steelhead, and the valley was a winter home for Nez Perce communities. Lewis and Clark spent several weeks here in early 1806 while waiting for snow to clear the Bitterroot route. Kamiah also carries a working timber history through the Three Rivers mill, but the river junction is the clearest local marker: Clearwater water, Lawyer Creek, and the valley routes that connect Lewis and Idaho counties.