"[8] The Lochsa (pronounced "lock-saw") was included by the U.S. Congress in 1968 as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Running parallel to U.S. Route 12 for its entire length, the river winds through the Clearwater National Forest in the Bitterroot Mountains.

[12] At its point of formation just west of Elk Summit Road 360, the Lochsa receives a small tributary, Walton Creek, from the left.

[12] Long before the arrival of European Americans in the 19th century, the Nez Perce people in Idaho used the trail along the Lochsa River to travel to the plains of Montana to hunt buffalo.

During mid-September 1805, the explorers Lewis and Clark traveled westward along the Lolo Trail, descending into and out of the Lochsa Gorge, then above its north rim.

They described the region near the modern-day ranger station at Powell as follows: ... the grass entirely eaten out by the horses, we proceeded on 2 miles & Encamped opposite a Small Island at the mouth of a branch on the right side of the river which is at this place 80 yards wide.

The Mountains which we passed to day much worst than yesterday the last excessively bad & thickly Strowed with falling timber & Pine Spruce fur Hackmatak & Tamerack, Steep and Stoney our men and horses much fatigued ...[14]They experienced significant early season snowfall and suffered near starvation before exiting the mountains onto the Weippe Prairie, where they first encountered the Nez Perce tribe.

[15] The United States Forest Service has sometimes leased public lands in the Lochsa watershed for timber extraction.

[17] Other issues related to the proposed exchange have involved its effects on the Idaho County tax base, how to calculate the value of the lands being traded, and other economic concerns.

[19] In the 21st century, shippers have proposed sending loads as wide as both lanes of Route 12 and up to three stories high from the river port at Lewiston to inland destinations, including the Kearl Oil Sands Project in Alberta, Canada.

[20] In June 2012, after several groups had filed lawsuits to prevent the shipments, Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil withdrew their application to use the highway for such large loads.

[21] Common among the animals using the Lochsa River watershed are deer, elk, black bear, on the hillsides and moose in meadows and wet places.

The "Lochsa River Floating Guide" lists more than 60 rapids between Powell and Lowell, most of which are rated Class III-IV (medium to difficult).

[22]Commercial outfitters offer pre-arranged trips, and people with sufficient technical expertise run the rapids on their own.