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Trail Info and Conditions in Lemhi County, Idaho
Your Guide to some of the best riding in Idaho…
This page is a starting point for exploration, or a quick glance of local trail conditions, and we will update it as conditions change. Please be aware that with about 1600 miles of trail in Lemhi County, we are not able to provide up-to-date trail conditions for every trail. Our goal is to provide general condition reports for the more popular riding areas around Salmon. For more specific trail information, follow the links below to Trailforks, and keep in mind that the more people that contribute to Trailforks, the more useful it becomes for all of us!
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DISCOVERY HILL
DESCRIPTION: Low elevation sagebrush singletrack network offers great cross country riding in the fall or spring, but can be hot and dusty in the summer.
MUST DO: Endless possibilities for after-work loops.
WATCH OUTS: Ticks in the spring, cows in the summer. Rattlesnakes too. Expect to meet dog walkers and runners on the first mile or two – slow down for them on these multi-use trails.
STATUS: 3/20/2024 – Good-to-go. The Discovery Hill trails are dry, with a few damp/firm spots in the shady parts, and it’s even getting dusty. Go ride!!
12/15/23 – Winter conditions. Great singletrack fat biking on user-packed trails! You haven’t lived until you’ve ridden buffed out Disco snow trails under the full moon in January. Please stay off the trails during periods of muddy conditions.
5/23/2023 – Good-to-go. It’s summer season now at Disco Hill, which means dusty trails and cows. You’ll find good trail and bad trail, depending on where the cows are. And as always, don’t get stuck out there in a rain storm!
4/25/2023 – Good to go. Nice to get a little rain yesterday to help tame the dust! Trails are dry and fast. As always, conditions can change quickly with weather. If you find yourself leaving more than just an imprint of your tread (ie., ruts), please turn back.
4/11/2023 – Good-to-go. Nearly all trails at Discovery Hill are now snow-free and dry or damp/firm, and the riding is good.
Photo: Gambler Trail under the Beaverheads (BillMac 5/1/22)
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BARRACKS
DESCRIPTION: Singletrack network in sagebrush, kind of like Discovery Hill, but steeper with more elevation and more primitive trails, or drop in to the wilds of Mulkey Creek. Route finding can be challenging, but that’s part of the adventure.
MUST DO: Rip down Rippey Canyon after a grueling climb.
WATCH OUTS: Trail conditions can vary depending on which type of ungulate(s) recently passed through. In the summer, it’s cows.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Expect snow, ice, and various kinds of human and animal tracks on the trails.
5/12/2023 – Good-to-go. Most everything below 6,000 feet elevation is dry.
4/25/2023 – Mostly good-to-go. Snow line is around 6,000 feet on open and south facing slopes, but there are patches of snow down to about 4,800 feet in the shady spots. There may be some soft/muddy sections to avoid.
4/11/2023 – Not Yet. This is the shady side of the valley, so patches of snow still remain down to about 4500 feet, and trails are still wet in places.
Photo: Baker Creek Climb (BillMac 4/30/22)
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WAGONHAMMER
DESCRIPTION: Steep climbs and ripping descents on wide open slopes and cool, shady forests. Ideal in May, when the arrowleaf balsam root and lupine are in bloom.
MUST DO: Elk Loop during flower season.
WATCH OUTS: Check your speed – horsemen use these trails too! Not recommended during hunting season (October).
STATUS:12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. The Wagonhammer trailhead is generally accessible, but riding will be challenging.
6/10/2023 – Good-to-go. Summer season at Wagonhammer can be hot. This area is grazed June 1 through August 31. Cows are currently in the lower pasture and will be moving up progressively over the course of the summer. Please close the gates during this time.
5/12/2023 – Good-to-go. Everything below 6,000 feet in elevation is dry and riding well. The 63 Road system is now snow-free.
4/28/2023 – Good-to-go. Snow line is somewhere around 6,000 feet. Burns Basin and Elk Loop are dry, with a few damp spots in the shade and just a couple of very small snow patches remaining here and there. If you’re hoping to go big, the 63 Road system will still have snow in the shady spots for a week or 2.
4/4/2023 – Not Yet. Our friends in North Fork tell us that patches of snow remain on north aspects, and trails are still wet/soft in places.
Photo: Little Thompson Gulch, going dooown (BillMac 4/24/22)
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TWELVEMILE
DESCRIPTION: A great network of singletrack trails, many of which are on old logging roads, in a cool, shady, forested setting only 12 miles south of Salmon.
MUST DO: Shuttle Twelvemile to Lime Creek. By the way, it’s not all downhill, so pack a lunch!
WATCH OUTS: It’s a long, bumpy road to the upper trailhead and it’s seen its share of flat tires.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. The bottom remains fairly accessible in winter, but riding will be challenging.
6/24/2023 – Primo. Twelvemile to Lime is all clear of deadfall, and many adventures await!
6/10/2023 – Good-to-go. All trails at Twelvemile are snow-free, and many have been cleared of deadfall. The riding is great, but beware, the road is in rough shape after all of the recent rain.
5/23/2023 – Getting there. Snow-free below about 7,000 feet, which means Crevice.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by late May or early June.
Photo: Cool forests of Twelvemile await (BillMac 6/21/22).
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WILLIAMS CREEK
DESCRIPTION: Generally steep singletrack trails with a little bit of everything – forests, meadows, and sagebrush.
MUST DO: Shuttle Powderhouse to Perreau (about 4,000 vertical feet), or better yet, Lake Mountain to Henry Creek (5,000+ vertical feet).
WATCH OUTS: The Williams Creek Road can be busy depending on mine traffic, log trucks, and wood cutters. And many trails shown on Trailforks are not well maintained.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Williams Creek Road is open all winter over Williams Summit, but you might opt for skis out on the trails.
7/3/2023 – Good-to-go. Powderhouse, Henry Creek, Double R, Thunder Mountain, and Lake Mountain are all clear of deadfall.
6/10/2023 – Almost There. You’ll probably run into snow somewhere between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, so all but the highest trails are good-to-go.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by late May or early June.
Photo: Williams Creek from Lake Mountain (BillMac 10/20/22)
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CDT – NORTH BEAVERHEADS
DESCRIPTION: Rugged and remote high elevation backcountry singletrack riding on the CDT and connector trails, with road access options. Bring your Silky saw.
MUST DO: Drop into Sheep Creek from Big Hole Pass or Fourth of July Creek for a remote backcountry experience on some quality singletrack.
WATCH OUTS: Deadfall happens. A lot. If the trails are clear, you have people to thank.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Mostly inaccessible in winter with deep snowpack. Get out your skis!
7/3/2023 – Good-to-go. Sheep Creek and Threemile Ridge are all clear of deadfall and riding great.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by some time in June.
Photo: CDT deadfall (BillMac 7/30/22)
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CDT – BANNOCK PASS
DESCRIPTION: Visit the MTB mecca of Leadore, Idaho for high elevation singletrack alpine cruising at its finest, with solid, but rideable climbs topping out at 10,100 feet.
MUST DO: Ride Elk Mountain, the highest point on the CDT along the Idaho/Montana border. Don’t forget your lungs.
WATCH OUTS: High elevation and exposure to the elements. These trails are not for everybody…
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Accessible all year via Bannock Pass, but expect snow and big drifts.
7/3/2023 – Good-to-go. Ready for some high elevation adventures.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by about mid-June.
Photo: the approach to Elk Mountain (BillMac 7/24/22)
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LEMHI MOUNTAINS
DESCRIPTION: Chunky motorized singletrack offering great loop options and incredible alpine scenery. It ain’t easy, but it’s awesome!
MUST DO: Yellow Mountain Loop, either direction is good.
WATCH OUTS: Plan to hike-a-bike up the steep, chunky stuff.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Mostly inaccessible in winter with deep snowpack.
7/3/2023 – Good-to-go. The snow has receded, but trail status is still unknown.
6/10/2023 – Almost There. There is still quite a bit of snow above 9,000 feet, so you’ll probably want to hold off on doing Yellow Peak loop until July.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by mid-June.
Photo: Yellow Mountain on a blue day. It’s not all like this. (BillMac 7/9/21)
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STATE LINE – DIVIDE
DESCRIPTION: Steep, demanding trails along and descending from the Idaho-Montana Divide. Bring your Silky saw. And your legs.
MUST DO: Butcherknife Ridge to Hughes Creek.
WATCH OUTS: Plan on a big day unless you are shuttling, then it still might be a big day.
STATUS: 12/15/2023 – Winter conditions. Mostly inaccessible in winter with deep snowpack.
7/3/2023 – Good-to-go. Butcherknife is clear, Hughes Creek is mostly clear.
4/11/2023 – Snow Covered. Abundant snow cover. Generally melts out by some time in June.
Photo: Butcherknife Ridge fire break (BillMac 6/30/19)
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