History

Dagger Falls Archaeological Site

River mile ~0 — At/near Boundary Creek put-in; Dagger Falls Campground on south bank terraces above the falls

Mapped at 44.5290, -115.2850.

Dagger Falls is both a Class V rapid/falls and a major archaeological site (10VY76) in the Dagger Falls Campground on terraces about 40–50 feet above the river. Idaho State University excavated here in 1988 under Richard N. Holmer; the earliest occupation is radiocarbon-dated to about 4,500 years ago, after an earthquake fault diverted the river and left the terrace high and dry. Sockeye salmon concentrate at the falls during summer migration, making it a long-used Indigenous fishing and camping location.