Palisades Creek Trail / Lakes and Waterfall Canyon - Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, and Mountain Bike near Irwin, Idaho
173 Palisades Creek Rd, Irwin, ID 83428, USA,Irwin,Idaho
43.39804164013605, -111.21245585381985
4.4 miles E of Irwin, Idaho
Address: 173 Palisades Creek Rd, Irwin, ID 83428, USA
GPS: 43°23'52.9"N 111°12'44.8"W
Maps | Directions
State: Idaho
MTB Difficulty: Advanced
Trail Type: Out & Back
MTB Trail Type: Singletrack
Trails/Routes: 5.6-8.3 mi

Lakes Rivers Waterfalls Fall Colors

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, and Mountain Bike

Palisades Creek Trail is located about 50 miles southeast of Idaho Falls and about 60 miles west of Jackson Hole WY in Swan Valley Idaho. The four mile hike up to lower Palisades Lake or the 6.2 mile hike to Upper Palisades Lake (elevation 6800 feet) provide some of the best mountain views in the Swan Valley region. Palisades Creek Trail is well maintained and can be used only by hikers, backpackers or horses as it is in the Palisades Wilderness Study area. If you choose to hike up to Upper Palisades Lake, two miles above Lower Palisades Lake you have to leave Palisades Creek trail and turn up Waterfall Canyon Trail and it is just a short distance up Waterfall Canyon. The upper lake typically has better camping because sites at the lower lake fill up sooner.

Both lakes were formed ages ago when giant landslides came down the canyon and blocked the creek. If you scan the mountain walls you may see mountain goats. It is 4 miles to the lower end of the lower lake.

Trail Map courtesy of SnakeRiverMountainBikeClub.com

Never modify trail features. Ride trails when they're dry enough that you won't leave ruts. Speak up when you see others on the trail and always yield to hikers, horses, and others coming uphill. Always ride on the established trail.

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Irwin, Idaho

  1. Head southeast toward Old Irwin Rd (161 ft)
  2. Turn left onto Old Irwin Rd (0.1 mi)
  3. Turn right onto US-26 E (3.4 mi)
  4. Turn left onto Old Irwin Rd (0.1 mi)
  5. Continue straight onto Palisades Cr Rd (0.2 mi)
  6. Continue onto Pausades Rd (0.3 mi)
  7. Continue straight onto Palisades Creek Rd (1.5 mi)
or

The old trail used to go from the campground. The new trail is further down the road with its own bathrooms. The parking area is a hundred feet from the trailhead.

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Guest Review/Comments

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jamadeus

7/15/17 7:43 pm 6/3/17
Gorgeous area! The lake was kinda muddy though and big parts of the trail were flowing with excess snowmelt. I bet it's fantastic later in the season!
Reply

endovereric

4/11/17 10:42 am 7/14/16
It was a pretty easy hike into the lower lake with some great views. The trail was well maintained. We didn't see a ton of wildlife on the trail but there was a bull moose hanging out in the lake having lunch. There were several kinds of waterfowl hanging out with him as well. The lake itself was beautiful.
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Upper Palisades Lake in May courtesy of Zakk Eckman‎ Upper Palisades Lake in May courtesy of Zakk Eckman‎↗
Upper Palisades Lake by Chadnamy1 Upper Palisades Lake by Chadnamy1 Moose in Lower Palisades - July 14, 2016 courtesy of endovereric Moose in Lower Palisades - July 14, 2016 courtesy of endovereric↗

Trails

Distance ?

8.3 miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain ?

574 feet

Real Ascent ?

1,445 feet

Real Descent ?

871 feet

Avg Grade (2°)

3%

Grade (-26° to 35°)

-49% to 71%

Distance ?

5.6 miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain ?

486 feet

Real Ascent ?

981 feet

Real Descent ?

495 feet

Avg Grade (2°)

3%

Grade (-25° to 23°)

-46% to 42%

Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.

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