Webster's Dam
Ririe, Idaho
| Address: | ~Browns Rd, Ririe, ID 83443, USA |
| GPS: |
43°41'48.9"N 111°35'54.1"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
| Trail Length: | 1.20 miles |
| MTB Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| MTB Trail Type: | Singletrack |
| Hike Difficulty: | Beginner |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.5-3.5 mi |
Rivers Waterfalls Trails Rocks Wildflowers Pet Friendly Bicycles Fishing Motorized Use Restrooms Picnic Tables Ponds
Camp, Hike, and Mountain Bike
Also known as Manmade Falls or the Woodmansee Dam, Webster Dam is an abandoned dam located deep in Moody Creek canyon, the dam was abandoned when sediment built up behind the dam which then caused the stream to split and flow around both sides of the dam, creating two beautiful waterfalls each about 15 feet in height. This makes a fun evening trip and is good for almost any time of the year as well. It's beautiful in the spring with powerful falls from the spring runoff and in the fall, there are plenty of fall colors along the pole line trail and around the waterfalls. At the falls, you'll find two waterfalls coming over each end of the dam. On the south end of the dam there is a bridge that spans the creek on that side. There is a little island in the middle where you can sit on the rock wall and take in the whole scene.
There are two trails which weave back and forth a couple of times so you can really choose your route a little bit. The main parking area is at the top of the hill by pole line and that's also the most common trailhead. The pole line trail follows the ATV road with several ups and downs. For the most part its a fairly rounded out and bermed double track awesome for mountain bikes and ATVs. For much of it, there's a hiking trail that follows along the side of it. However you travel this trail, be very aware of other riders and hikers which can seem to appear out of nowhere. The trail continues along the power pole lines for just over 3/4 miles, then turns left just as the balls on the power lines come into view. After a couple hundred feet, you'll see the other trail merge into this one from the left and then take off again to the right about 150 yards later. Keep left on the "pole line trail" for a more gradual decent or go right on the "wooded trail" for a more adventurous and much steeper route. The pole line trail go out and hook back taking you straight to the falls.
The wooded trail trailhead is Northwest of the pole line trail. It's a less used ATV track that goes back and forth between the woods and the pole line until it merges with the pole line trail about 3/4 miles in, only to split to the right 150 yards later. In another 100 yards, you'll come across another junction; keep left. In another 150 yards it will come back together with the pole line trail and continue all the way to the falls. On the upper portions, this trail is has a lot fewer ups and downs making it a more gradual hike. After merging with the pole line trail though, this trail becomes the much steeper option.
Whichever of these 2 paths you choose, the last 1/3 mile descent is more like a chunky forest road than the double track above. It has some pretty steep parts, some chunky rock sections, and some rollers that make great mountain bike jumps. While it's a little steep and chunky, most intermediate riders should be able to handle it just fine. At the bottom just before the falls are some very large dirt jumps off to the side. The last 30 yards to the falls after the dirt jumps is much more janky, probably more like a black diamond on a bike but not too tricky to get down on foot.
The third option is much longer, starting at the warming cabin on Brown's Road. It's an intermediate trail to the creek and then a green (easy) trail along the creek to the dam.
A very popular route to do this on a mountain bike is to loop it starting either at the warming cabin or the top of the pole line and riding down the pole line to the waterfall and then out Mad Cow and up Cabin Climb to complete the loop.
This can be a great family hike. Plan on 2-4 hours to hike it with little ones, depending on how fast and tough they are.
More Information
Manmade Falls
Manmade Falls is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Rexburg, Idaho. View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of Manmade Falls bike trail in Rexburg.
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/manmade-falls/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.
Read MoreBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Ririe, Idaho
- Head east on Smith St toward 1st E St (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto Archer Rd (5.8 mi)
- Slight right onto S 600 E (453 ft)
- Turn right at the 1st cross street onto E 7800 S (1.1 mi)
- Continue onto S 1600 E (0.2 mi)
- Keep left to continue on E 8000 S (2.6 mi)
- Continue onto Lyons Creek Rd (2.2 mi)
- Turn right onto S 6200 E (3.0 mi)
- Slight left (1.0 mi)
- Turn left (1.0 mi)
- Turn right (0.1 mi)
Google will give you the option of coming in on Lyon's Creek Road. DO NOT TAKE THIS OPTION as it will have you on pretty rough ATV roads to get here.
Follow Brown's Road until you get to the power lines, which a small dirt road turns off and follows the powerlines toward moody creek. There is a large parking area here.
If you have an offroad vehicle, you can turn left (North) onto this ATV road and continue on this road all the way to the bike jumps.
Danielle
8/5/18 5:46 pmJon
7/28/18 9:25 amfyretango
6/29/17 4:40 pm
Websters Dam by Bryce Hendrickson
Websters Dam Falls by Bryce Hendrickson
The Falls added by fyretango
Climbing out of the Canyon added by fyretango
Cameron Webster's Bridge Eagle Project 2017 courtesy of endovereric↗
The island above the dam courtesy of endovereric↗
The falls from below courtesy of endovereric↗
The main junction courtesy of endovereric↗
Starting down pole line trail courtesy of endovereric↗
Dirt Jumps courtesy of endovereric↗
Other Mountain Bike Trails and Hiking Trails Nearby
Cranky Cowboy
Herbert, Idaho
1.6 miles SWMountain Bike near Herbert, Idaho
Mountain Bike
Kelly Canyon Loops
Ririe, Idaho
2.5 miles SA mountain bike network near Kelly Canyon Ski Area in Ririe, Idaho with panoramic summit views and multiple trail options including the Waterfall Loop, Fish Creek Loop, and alpine cow-path routes.
Mountain Bike 0.6-2.2 mi
Fish Creek Area
Ririe, Idaho
3.0 miles SEThe Big Hole Mountains' Fish Creek trail network serves up singletrack climbs, floater jumps, rock gardens, and fast Fishbone descents accessed from Ririe or Rexburg.
Hike, Mountain Bike 11.9 mi
Waterfall Loop
Ririe, Idaho
3.1 miles SA mix of singletrack, forest road, and doubletrack near Kelly Canyon Ski Area in Idaho with about 1,400 feet of elevation change — GPS or a printed map is essential since signage is sparse.
Mountain Bike
Herbert Idaho Ghost Town
Ririe, Idaho
3.1 miles WCLOSED. Private property marked NO TRESPASSING. The quiet ghost of a farming and mining community that once housed 150 people — Herbert, Idaho faded with the automobile, and the old house was lost to vandals around 2017.
Hike 2.1 mi
Batman
Ririe, Idaho
3.2 miles SWA rolling, short-and-steep singletrack fence-line trail with cow encounters and easy road-based connections to other rides near Ririe, Idaho.
Mountain Bike 1.7 mi
Randy's Cow Trail / Ken's Corner
Ririe, Idaho
3.3 miles SWA gradual, canopy-covered singletrack with tight corners and incredible forest smells — perfect for a leisurely ride up or a thrilling run down from Batman and Buckskin Morgan.
Mountain Bike 5.7-8.1 mi
Space Cruz
Ririe, Idaho
3.7 miles SFlowy singletrack connecting to ATV trails with great berms, small jumps, and a thistle patch best attacked at speed — just watch out for cows at the junctions.
Cross-country Ski, Mountain Bike 1.7 mi
Buckskin Morgan Ridge
Ririe, Idaho
3.7 miles SA punchy climb to Buckskin Morgan Ridge pays off with twisty singletrack descents through roots, loose rock, and rolling hills above the Snake River Plain.
Hike, Mountain Bike 1.1 miHidden Vista / Pine Loop
Ririe, Idaho
3.7 miles SA short singletrack trail to a canyon overlook with Snake River views — then a detour east for fun climbs, turns, rocks, and jumps on the way back to the Buckskin Morgan parking lot.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Kelly Canyon
Ririe, Idaho
3.9 miles SWA switchback climb up Kelly Mountain with two brief red-line efforts, the infamous Shale Chute descent, and possible company from motorcycles or cows — a short, decent ride.
Mountain Bike 3.8 mi
Kelly Mountain Trail
Ririe, Idaho
4.1 miles SA moderate uphill trail open to hikers, mountain bikers, and ATVs, winding through hills with wildflower and mountain views — dogs welcome on leash.
Cross-country Ski, Hike, Mountain Bike, Snowshoe 3.0 mi
Biting Goat Trail
Ririe, Idaho
4.3 miles SWA revived 2022 trail with a bit of everything — doubletrack bombing, aspen-grove weaving, clifftop rock features, and some fun rock rolls — with cows still sharing the path.
Mountain Bike
Poison Flats
Ririe, Idaho
4.4 miles SHike near Ririe, Idaho
Hike
Lower Hawley Gulch Trail
Ririe, Idaho
4.5 miles SA mostly flat intermediate singletrack through forest and fields in Ririe, Idaho — expect fallen logs, small ponds, rocky stretches, and creek crossings before connecting to a shared ATV doubletrack.
Mountain Bike
Kelly Canyon/Table Rock
Ririe, Idaho
4.7 miles STwisty, root-and-rock singletrack near Ririe with enough challenge on the climb and enough air on the descent to keep things interesting.
Mountain Bike 1.8 mi
Crystal Cruise
Ririe, Idaho
4.8 miles SA climb along the Crystal Cruise Nordic Trail to Kelly Canyon ski resort — best used as a connector from Sidewinder into the Kelly Canyon trail system.
Mountain Bike 1.6 mi
Skyline
Ririe, Idaho
5.5 miles SWA punchy singletrack climb out of Little Kelly Canyon with great ridge vistas, narrow traverse, and a fast, loose downhill — a mix of singletrack and old motorized trail near Ririe, Idaho.
Mountain Bike 4.3 mi
Leaning Fir #169
Ririe, Idaho
5.6 miles SMountain Bike near Ririe, Idaho
Mountain Bike
Wolverine Creek Trail
Ririe, Idaho
6.4 miles SEWolverine Creek Trail is an easygoing doubletrack ride in the Kelly Canyon network above the South Fork of the Snake near Ririe, Idaho.
Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Big Hole Dispersed Campsites
Ririe, Idaho
1.7 miles SA network of dispersed campsites with fire rings in the Big Hole mountains above Kelly Canyon — first come, first served, no reservations, and Leave No Trace principles are essential.
Camp
Table Rock Campground
Ririe, Idaho
4.6 miles SA campground in Caribou-Targhee National Forest — part of a 3-million-acre stretch from Montana to the Utah and Wyoming borders — with access to the Curlew National Grassland.
Camp
Paramount Wall / Blanche Rock
Ririe, Idaho
4.9 miles SWA sport climbing wall above the road near Ririe with great exposure, afternoon shade, and well-loved 5.9–5.10 lines — most routes work with a 50-meter rope, established by Chuck Oddette and crew.
Camp, Horseback, Rock Climb
Kelly Island Campground
Ririe, Idaho
6.0 miles SWA BLM campground with 14 family sites and 1 group site for RVs or tents, open May through September — vault toilets, pets welcome, and rates from $5–$20 per night.
Camp
Moody Meadows
Driggs, Idaho
6.8 miles EGood place for kids, they can ride bikes in the meadow, play in the stream, and camping is off of the road. Hiking, motorbiking, and horseback riding trails are abundant in the area.
Camp
Wolf Flats Recreation Area
Ririe, Idaho
6.8 miles SWolf Flats is a completely free, dispersed, undeveloped camping area with 25 locations to camp. Some areas are large enough to accommodate groups of 50 people.
Camp
Twin Bridges Park
Rexburg, Idaho
8.5 miles WA 27-acre Snake River park between two bridges near Rexburg with shaded campsites, fire pits, pavilions, a playground, and BLM ground for hiking and hunting on three sides.
Camp, Canoe 0.2-0.5 mi
Eagle Park
Rexburg, Idaho
13.8 miles NWA cottonwood forest park inside Rexburg city limits with campsites, fishing, a dog park, mountain biking on easy and moderate loops, and rock-throwing by the river.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike, Sled
Jefferson County Lake (AKA Rigby Lake)
Rigby, Idaho
15.2 miles WSandy beaches, two floating docks with a slide, volleyball, playgrounds, and a safe swim zone — Jefferson County Lake is eastern Idaho's go-to summer swimming spot.
Camp, Canoe, Dive, Kayak, Sled, Swim
Beaver Dick Park
Rexburg, Idaho
17.7 miles NWA 9.5-acre Snake River park near Rexburg with fire pits, pavilions, fishing, boating, swimming, and a rich history tied to legendary frontiersman Beaver Dick Leigh.
Camp, Canoe, Disc Golf, Swim 0.8-1.3 mi
Warm Slough Campground
Rexburg, Idaho
18.0 miles NWA popular river campground with two boat ramps and an easy, slow-moving inner tube float — the take-out is 1,000 feet from the put-in, making multiple runs a breeze.
Airsoft, Camp, Canoe 0.6-2.0 mi
North Menan Butte ('R' Mountain)
Menan, Idaho
20.5 miles WA volcanic butte locals call R Mountain, with a paved trailhead, chain handrails near the top, informational signs at the rim, and views of Rexburg and the Snake River.
Camp, Cave, Hike
Fall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
20.9 miles SEA shaded Snake River campground near Swan Valley with abundant wildlife, great trout fishing, and Fall Creek Falls a quarter-mile away.
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Pine Creek Campground
Victor, Idaho
21.4 miles SEThe Pine Creek Campground has 10 single units and has restrooms.
Camp
Falls Campground
Victor, Idaho
21.8 miles SEA Snake River campground near Swan Valley with cottonwood shade, abundant wildlife — eagles, osprey, moose, and deer — and Fall Creek Falls just a quarter mile away; Palisades Reservoir is 20 miles out.
Camp
Mike Harris Campground
Victor, Idaho
28.2 miles EA scenic mountain campground at 6,200 feet along Teton Pass just 5 miles from Victor, Idaho — a peaceful base for fishing, trail exploring, and sightseeing in the Teton region.
Camp 2.8-4.1 mi
Palisades Creek Trail / Lakes and Waterfall Canyon
Irwin, Idaho
28.3 miles SESpectacular mountain views, two landslide-formed alpine lakes, and mountain goat sightings — all within a 4-to-6-mile hike in the Swan Valley wilderness.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Darby Canyon Camping
Alta, Wyoming
28.9 miles EDispersed campsites with fire lays in scenic Darby Canyon — no official campground, just established spots in Wyoming wilderness. Leave No Trace and use existing rings only.
Camp
Calamity Campground
Irwin, Idaho
32.0 miles SEA wooded Palisades Reservoir campground 55 miles east of Idaho Falls with clean blue water for swimming, boating, water skiing, and fishing — plus miles of ATV routes.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Reunion Flat Campground
Alta, Wyoming
32.6 miles ECamp near Alta, Wyoming
Camp