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Camp, Canoe, Dive, Swim
Added on 2 Jul 2020
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Camp, Hike, Horseback
Added on 2 Jul 2020
4.8 mi
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Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Aldous Lake and Hancock Lake
Kilgore, Idaho
7.7 miles N of Kilgore, IdahoAldous Lake and Hancock Lake are a pair of pretty alpine lakes tucked into the Centennial Mountains north of Kilgore, in the remote high country along the Idaho-Montana line in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Reached by a short, family-friendly trail that follows a piece of the Continental Divide Trail, they make one of eastern Idaho's best introductions to backpacking: close enough and easy enough for kids and first-timers, wild enough to feel like a real adventure, and stocked with trout for anyone who brings a rod.
Aldous Lake is the easy, popular destination. It sits just 1.3 miles up the trail from the Ching Creek trailhead, a gentle grade along the CDT through timber and meadow, which is exactly why it's such a beloved first overnight. The lake itself, about 4.3 acres and also known as Mickeys Lake, holds cutthroat trout and has been cared for over the years by local Boy Scout groups, who installed the excellent camp tables and metal fire rings that make the shoreline sites so comfortable. It's the rare backcountry lake where a family with young kids can walk in, catch fish, and camp in genuine comfort.
Hancock Lake rewards those willing to work harder. The trail beyond Aldous climbs noticeably steeper on its way to the second lake, turning a stroll into a real hike and thinning the crowds considerably. Done as a full out-and-back to Hancock and back, the trip runs roughly 5.1 to 5.4 miles with around 1,040 feet of elevation gain, a moderate half-day for most hikers.
The lakes suit a range of visitors. Backpackers, day hikers, anglers, horseback riders and dog owners all use the trail, which is open to stock and pets alike. Swimming is possible but tempered by nature: Aldous has warmed and grown weedy along much of its edge over the years, so it reads more as a wade-and-cool-off than a clear swimming lake. The fishing, by contrast, stays a genuine draw.
The season runs roughly June through November, governed by snow at this elevation rather than the calendar; early summer can still hold snowpack on the higher stretch to Hancock. Access is via graveled but well-maintained forest roads: from Kilgore, head north past the general store, follow the route toward Forest Road 027, and continue to the Ching Creek trailhead. This is remote country with no services and little to no cell coverage.
Come prepared for the mountains: layers for cold nights even in midsummer, insect repellent for the early-season mosquitoes, an Idaho fishing license, and plenty of water or a way to treat it. Pack out everything, and treat the Scout-built tables and fire rings with the care that has kept them there for others. For a first backpack, a quiet family fishing trip, or a short escape into the Centennials, Aldous and Hancock Lakes are hard to beat.
4.5 mi
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Hike, Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Aspen Trail
Alta, Wyoming
2.3 miles S of Alta, WyomingAspen Trail (tr 034) is single track trail for 4.35 miles along 6,800 ft contour to Darby Canyon (tr 012). Spring Creek Trail (tr 032) is double track trail for 3.68 miles to end.
The trail starts up a doubletrack heading east out of the parking lot. 1/4 mile in, take the fork to the right. It's singletrack from here to the other end at Darby Canyon. Some sections are smooth and fast, others are rocky and boulder strewn. Probably not a trail for a first timer, but any intermediate can do it. It can be done as an out and back to Darby Canyon, or you can go west out of the Canyon to Stateline road, and take the road back to where you started. Courtesy of Singletracks.com
29.6 mi
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Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Ashton to Tetonia Trail
Ashton, Idaho
0.7 miles NE of Ashton, IdahoThe Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation undertook the project to transform the old Teton Valley Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad from Ashton to Tetonia into a trail for bikes, ATVs, and snowmobiles, runners, cross-country skiers, and horses. The trail goes from Ashton to Tetonia and can be accessed via Ashton, Marysville, Bitch Creek, Felt, or Tetonia. Information can be found at kiosks in Marysville and at Bitch Creek.
Elevation Gain (Southbound): 787 ft
Length: 29.6 mi
2.9 mi
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Hike, Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Box Canyon Trail
Island Park, Idaho
1.2 miles SW of Island Park, IdahoVarious species of tress and wildflowers can be seen on the trail, as well as songbirds, waterfowl and occasional wildlife. The trail is open for the following uses: Motorcycle Trail Riding, Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) less than or equal to 50 inches wide. source: fs.usda.gov Courtesy of Singletracks.com
This is a very scenic singletrack that can be ridden in either direction. There is not a lot of climbing but you get to enjoy beautiful views of the river as you follow it for the majority of the trail. The first part of the trail has a few spots that are rocky and can be a little harder to navigate through but this ends after about the first mile or so.Courtesy of MTBProject.com
This trail is a fly-fisherman’s dream, providing access to the trout-filled waters of Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Beginning at the campground, the trail wanders south along Box Canyon’s rim for 3 miles, bringing hikers to the river after passing through a colorful wildflower landscape. Best months for hiking are June through September.Courtesy of ultimateidaho.com
6.6-6.8 mi
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Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Hot Springs, Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Bear Creek Hot Springs
Irwin, Idaho
9.8 miles S of Irwin, IdahoBear Creek Hot Springs is one of eastern Idaho's most rewarding backcountry soaks — a natural rock pool hidden deep in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, reached only on foot, by bike, or on horseback up a long and beautiful canyon. It sits near Irwin, just south of Palisades Reservoir on the Idaho–Wyoming line, and it's the kind of place you have to earn: roughly 13 miles round trip, which is exactly why the people who make it tend to have the pool to themselves.
The good news is that most of that distance is gentle. From the trailhead the route follows Bear Creek up a green, forested canyon under lodgepole and aspen, rolling along at an easy grade with the water always close by. Wildflowers fill the meadows in early summer, and thanks to newer bridges and dry bench paths you can now keep your feet out of the water and skip the old creek crossings (in spring runoff those fords ran high, so the dry routes are a welcome upgrade). It's pretty, low-effort walking for miles.
Then comes the part everyone remembers. The final stretch climbs hard — close to a thousand feet in the last mile — so save your energy for that last push and fill your water bottles before you start up. The reward is immediate: a clear natural pool, roughly 10 by 20 feet, sitting at just about the perfect soaking temperature after all that trail. Tucked this far back in the wilderness, it's quiet, private, and worth every step. One honest heads-up before you bring the family: the soak is frequently clothing-optional.
This is true backcountry, and it's a favorite across the board — hikers and backpackers come for the soak, mountain bikers ride the intermediate singletrack with its fun, branching loop options, and horseback riders share the same trail. Many turn the trip into an overnight, camping in the backcountry to enjoy a quiet, starlit soak before hiking out in the morning.
Come prepared for a remote mountain trip: pack plenty of water and plan to filter from the creek, bring bug repellent in early summer, and carry bear spray, since this is bear country and sightings are common. The trailhead has a parking area and a restroom, but no services beyond that, and there's no cell coverage once you're in the canyon — so let someone know your plan and give yourself plenty of daylight for the round trip. The trail is at its best from late spring through fall, roughly March into October, when the canyon is green and the water is just right. Few places in the region pay you back like Bear Creek does.
Horseshoe Lake
Ashton, Idaho
18.3 miles E of Ashton, IdahoHorseshoe Lake is a tranquil, tucked-away gem hidden in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest near Ashton, in the Island Park country of eastern Idaho. Ringed by pines and dotted with lily pads, this peaceful little lake is a favorite for those who like their water quiet, clear, and free of the roar of motorboats — in fact, motorized boats aren't allowed, which keeps the whole place serene.
Getting there is easy: a well-maintained forest road leads to the lake, with plenty of pull-outs and parking once you arrive. The shoreline slopes in gradually, making it great for wading and easy for kids to splash around, while the middle deepens into water plenty deep enough for swimming, paddling, and a refreshing dip on a hot summer day. A youth camp maintains a floating dock out toward the center that's often open for anyone to use — a perfect launch pad for jumping into the cool water.
It's an ideal spot for paddling. Bring a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and you can glide across the glassy surface, weave among the lily pads, and explore the quiet coves at your own pace. Anglers do well here too, casting for trout in the calm water, and the surrounding forest offers dispersed camping for those who want to linger overnight under the stars.
Summer is the sweet spot, when the water warms up and the lily pads are in bloom. Pack a picnic, your paddle, and your swimsuit, and remember to pack out everything you bring in to keep this little lake as pristine as you found it.
Peaceful, scenic, and refreshingly uncrowded, Horseshoe Lake is the kind of hidden Idaho water that makes the search worthwhile.
1.1 mi
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Hike, Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Hidden Vista / Pine Loop
Ririe, Idaho
9.0 miles E of Ririe, IdahoYou'll find the Hidden Vista trailhead on the South End of the Buckskin Morgan parking lot about a mile past Y Junction. This is a short trail with a little up and a little down for just under a 1/2 mile to the Hidden Vista where the trail opens up to the canyon and all the way out to the Snake River. The view isn't what you'd have at the top of a peak but is nonetheless and beautiful view. From there, you can go back the way you came or take a detour off to the right (East) on your way back and get a little downhill action. There's pretty good little climbs, turns, rocks, and even some fun jumps at the bottom. When you're done playing on the jumps, it's just a short climb back up to the parking lot or to the trailhead so you can do it again. The trail is primary singletrack, is fairly well maintained, and is shared by hikers and mountain bikers.
Pine Butte / The Caldera
St. Anthony, Idaho
21.7 miles N of St. Anthony, IdahoThis is about as close to an oasis as you can get in the deserts of Idaho. It's an old volcano in the middle of the sagebrush desert. As soon as you start down the path, you can feel the air change and the vegetation becomes that of a mountain forest. There are a ton of pine trees on the hillsides and a beautfiul meadow at the bottom surrounded by thick aspen trees. The bottom part of the sides nearly all the way around is covered with large boulders great for a little rock hiking if you care to explore. The path in is about as easy a hike as it gets. Maybe a little steep at points but it's only about a quarter mile down in. It's pretty small and there's a pretty established place for fires with plenty of dead wood scattered around.
1.7 mi
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Hike, Mountain Bike
Added on 2 Jul 2020
Buckskin Morgan Ridge
Ririe, Idaho
9.0 miles E of Ririe, IdahoGoing up is a little tough because of the rocks, but once you clear the top it is a twisty down hill portion [until] you get to a fenced road. From there you can turn around or keep going strait and follow the snowshoe trail back to an unkempt road [which] will lead back down to the main Kelly canyon road. If that is the case hang a right when you get to the main road and pedal up hill till you get to the parking area. I recommend gong back down the hill to get some really bumpy DH though ***watch for roots and rocks if you go back to the parking area via the morgan trail**** Courtesy of Singletracks.com
Climb from the Hawley/Buckskin parking area to the top of Buckskin Morgan Ridge. The trail has several steep climbs before getting to a rolling hill section that leads you to a dirt road. The trail starts from Road 218, heads into the trees and then up the hill. There is a sign on your right as you start your first climb. You'll encounter plenty of roots on the first climb. Shortly after that, the trail will again have another climb as you head north and west. The second climb is marked by plenty of loose rocks. Once on top of this section, you'll weave your way through the trees and down the hill to an intersection with the road. Courtesy of MTBProject.com
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