Owyhee Trails

by Mike Hanley, Ellis Lucia

History and folklore of the little known and sparsely populated high desert region of the Owyhee Mountains. The Owyhees are sharp and ragged peaks rising from the high desert of Oregon and Idaho. Mike Hanley and Ellis Lucia recount the boisterous past and present of this wild and rugged corner of the West.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Westerns

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Erick Mertz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading Oregon/PNW history for a writing project. This book is part of that novel writing research.

While I liked the first chapter for it's descriptions of the landscapes of SE Oregon/SW Idaho/NW Nevada/NE California, the historical narrative was lacking. Hanley really carves out an interesting language for the region that's defined by topography. The book's subtitle: The West's Forgotten Corner really fits the story -- there wasn't much in the way of names, recorded events or definitive historical figures. Instead, the book wraps a lot of "two guys got lost on this corner" and "a man named so-and-so bought the rights to mine here" but it's all folksy and vague. I'm OK with that, but it really lost me after a while.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In studying history I have discovered that the more obscure places and people and stories are quite often the most interesting and memorable. This book offers many good examples. Few people know much about this region today. Fewer still know anything about it's history. But, the stories and history found in this book are a real treasure. For me, growing up in nearby Boise and having visited the Owyhee region on a few occasions made this book more appealing than it would for most others. But I believe anyone who has an interest in Western U.S. history will enjoy this book.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since moving to southwest Idaho in 2011 I have become fascinated by local history, which from a Euro-American standpoint really started only in 1862. One area that has remained a bit mysterious is the Owyhee mountains to the south, near the intersection of the borders of Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon--and which is, as a result, called the ION area. This book helps dispel a lot of that mystery, being an amazing history of, particularly, the area between Silver City (a mining ghost town) in the middle of the Owyhees and the town of Jordan Valley, west of the mountains on the plain which stretches seemingly forever to the west and south.

Hanley starts at the beginning, with the discovery of silver and other metals in the Owyhees, sparking a rush and drawing off many of the miners from the Boise Basin strike. He tells how the towns of Silver City, Ruby City, Dewey, Delamar, Wagontown, and Jordan Valley got started and, eventually, declined (or disappeared). He describes many of the prominent people of that era, including the road builders, mine owners, gunfighters, and others. He also discusses the major industries of ranching and sheepherding, as well as Indian uprisings and the coming of the Basques. Towards the end he devotes some miscellaneous chapters to the outlaw Bigfoot, to Doc Jones, to moonshining, to wild horses, and more. Since many of his stories came from old timers who had lived through the early period (he wrote this book in about 1970), this is the real deal.

A talented artist in his own right, Mike included a number of maps in this book which, while perhaps crude by modern standards, make an excellent complement to the text and allow the reader to understand where all the events described in the book took place.

No bookshelf of an historian of southwest Idaho, eastern Oregon, or northern Nevada would be complete without this most excellent history that is almost a loving memoir.

[Kevin Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iv road my motorcycle on Hwy 95 and love the country

As iv road thru the ION country i thought of what it must have been like for the old timers my God I'm glad I read this book . This country has a soul KRC

[John Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its many anecdotal accounts of events conveyed the Owyhee history in a "hard to put down" read. Although I've been through some of this country on several occasions, I intend to go back now that I have a newfound perspective of it.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the stories and local history, but many typos. The book needed better editing and the writing style was awkward.

[Marv Lee Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written history of a time in south eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and some northern Nevada. Much fine detail of research of people in these areas. A good read.

[Nick Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like sitting with grandpa while he tells stories of the old days. Not politically correct and not perfectly worded but interesting and thoughtful.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Hanley compiled an excellent history of a unique area: southwest corner of Idaho and southeast corner of Oregon, and the adjoining part of Nevada north of the Humboldt River. The area is well-loved by those who have lived there and those who have visited. Resident rancher Hanley collected many historical facts, anecdotes and tall tales, and with Northwest author Ellis Lucia compiled a grand picture of the lives and times of the Owyhees. I had only read bits and pieces of it over many years until now.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the history of Eastern Oregon's indiginous populations and settlers. Ranching and farming are the main economic activities today but the book explores the extensive mining history as well as political and territorial fights between prominent businessmen of the past that helped shape the infrastructure and communities that exist now.

[Odetta]

Historical non-fiction.