Goff Trail and Ferry

—Salmon River Heritage Waking Tour —

Before the wagon road from White Bird to Meadows was completed in 1903, travelers endured a trecherous (sic) and roundabout overland journey. Seeing the need for a faster and more direct route, the enterprising J.J. Goff offered ferry service across the Salmon River at Race Creek and built a one-mile trail from Race Creek to Gouge-Eye Flat. Parts of the primitive trail are still visible today.

Goff's Exclusive Rights

In 1866, Idaho County Commissioners granted J.J. Goff the exclusive right to establish toll charges for his trail and ferry on Race Creek. Goff Toll Trail Toll Charges
$1.00 ... Man and horse
1.00 ... Loaded pack animal
.50 ... Pack animal, light
.25 ... Per head of loose cattle, horse, or mules
.10 ... Per head of sheep or swine
Salmon River Ferry Tool Charges

$1.00 ... Man and horse
1.00 ... Loaded pack animal
.50 ... Pack animal, light
.50 ... Per head of loose horses, or mules or neat cattle
.15 ... Per head of sheep or swine
.50 ... Footman





Goff — Salmon River Stage Stop
By the late 1870s, the area at the mouth of Race Creek was known as "Goff." Ever the entrepreneur, Goff bought the Race Creek property,



including a stone house and race. The race, or water ditch, was used for irrigation and nearby placer mining. In 1894, John Levander purchased the property, built the Goff Hotel and Store, and established a post office and stage stop. Levander's sons, Homer and Edgar, also operated the nearby Goff Ferry.

(Side-bar on right:)

Goff Bridges

The first automobile bridge spanning the Salmon River at Goff was built in 1911 and 1912 at the then astronomical cost of $15,000. Construction of this bridge completed the first auto road between north and south Idaho.
The original bridge was replaced in 1934 with a $34,000 bridge that lasted 65 years.
In 1999, the bridge was replaced with the present modern design at today's thrifty sum of 12.4 million dollars.

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Show me all markers in:  Riggins, ID  |  Idaho County  |  83549  |  Idaho  |  United States of America

From The Beginning
Manning Crevice Bridge
The Scow
Riggins Area Honor Roll, a War Memorial
Keeping the Faith
Educating Riggins' Children
Early Businesses
Riggins in the 1940s
The Evolution of a River Terrace
Riggins' Early Hotels

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