With a population of just over 1,000 people, it’s amazing that Joseph maintains such a vibrant, beautiful downtown. The little town boasts interesting galleries, fabulous bigger-than-life bronze sculptures on every street corner, a microbrewery, a fine little Saturday farmer’s market, a couple of great coffee shops and cafés, and the best chocolate shop we’ve encountered anywhere. All this, plus gorgeous hikes just a few miles from town.
A Perfect In-Town Location
Having heard not-so-great reviews of the state park campground (it’s true, they were packed in like sardines) we made reservations at Five Peaks RV Park. It’s a pretty little in-town park with only five sites. The RV Park was a perfect choice—spacious, quiet, and convenient.
Tucked into our site at Five Peaks RV Park
The owners even provided us with fresh eggs from their backyard chickens. We walked or biked every day from the park and could cruise the entire downtown and back in about 45 minutes. In mid-June, Joseph can conjure up a snowstorm, but we lucked out with a heat wave. We enjoyed 75-degree days and brilliant sunshine (except for the last day, when it rained for 30 hours straight).
Downtown Joseph
Cowboy bronze
Hiking And Other Pleasures In Joseph
Tourist season doesn’t happen in Joseph until July and August, so we basically had the town to ourselves, along with our hometown friends Peter and Rosie, who happened to be camping just outside of town for a couple of days. We hiked beautiful trails in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and on the moraine above the lake, bought asparagus and raspberries at the farmer’s market, wandered the town and galleries, and made a daily visit to Arrowhead Chocolates (to support the local economy, of course).
We’ll be back.
Chief Joseph Trail
Tiny farmers’ market
Fun times with Peter & Rosie
Lovely town and stunning backdrop to small town living…glad you found it for a much deserved R & R. love the magpies, swallowtails, and that river crossing! Love and laughter!
It was the perfect place to recover! A little bit of everything and not too much of anything.
Laurel and Eric: I am so thrilled to be receiving your new blogs portraying a journey of beauty, joy in our wonderful nation, and just being able to share this with you as you experience it. Right now it brings me special pleasure, as I am visiting Tom in a nursing home every day as he enters the final stages of his Alzheimer’s disease. These beautiful photos and your commentary add a great measure of joy to my day. Thanks, you two.
Dear Barbara, We are so happy to have you accompany us on this journey and feel honored that our blog brings you joy. We would love to visit you when we return to Florida this winter. Be well, and take good care.
I love that country too. One of my favorite hikes was up the Imnaha river starting at Russel mountain lookout.
Love Steve
We want to come back here with you and Linda — and you can take us on that hike! xo
Looks like you are off to a great start! You are missing a lovely cool and rainy couple of days here. Should be hot by Friday.
It does feel like we’re off to a great start and we’re finally feeling pretty much back to our normal selves! Glad to hear you’re having a bit of coolness in Ashland–the heat wave a couple of weeks ago while we were deep in our storage unit almost cooked us alive.