Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route - 2014 info thread

[VermontGal]

1. Starting in Crouch would be a good option. It has a small grocery store. There are 2 RV storage lots where you could leave your car or maybe even at the 2 RV parks in town.

Thanks, Idahospud, for this info.  We were thinking of starting in Crouch anyhow so we will follow-up on this!

[idahospud]

ATVs and Idaho go hand in hand. That said, you will see most ATV traffic on weekends and near campgrounds. They will NOT be on Forest Service designated motorized singletrack. If you want to know what is official singletrack, look at the Sawtooth, Boise and Payette National Forest Motor Vehicle User Maps which are pdfs online on the forest websites. There are several maps for Sawtooth and Boise NFs (one for each ranger district) but only one for Payette NF. The Secesh and Eagle's Nests trails are official singletrack and open to motorcycles.

Be aware that several of the most popular dirt bike clubs in Idaho are having their annual ride/gathering the week of July 21 at Chemeketan Campground below Galena Summit (south of Stanley near Smiley Creek Lodge) and the riders will be using the Boulder and White Clouds trails. It won't be a problem sharing the trails, but that campground and Smiley Creek Lodge's RV park will be busy and probably full.

[Gabriel Amadeus]

Not sure where I even got this track from, but does anyone have any beta on this singletrack shortcut between Idaho City and the N Fork of the Boise R?

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5264447

[idahospud]

As far as I can tell from the Idaho City MVUM and BNF maps, from Idaho City it appears to be going up the "main fork" of Bannock Creek. But, there is no trail shown on those maps or listed on the BNF website along that creek except for a short section of 305 shown on the West Fork of that creek. The RidewithGPS route somehow connects to road 304D to 203 (and maybe 663, not sure) to 203K at Bald Mtn then singletrack 130 to the Boise River.

The land around Idaho City is a mix of timber company land, State Land, old mining claims, dredge ponds and National Forest. It's possible that this is an old unofficial "user" trail. Also, if a trail becomes washed out and too much bother to repair it is sometimes abandoned.

I have been on 304D and 203 and would describe those as mostly narrow, dirt two-track roads instead of graded gravel two-lane roads. You could call the Idaho City ranger station. Hope this helps.

[niknak]

My wife and I will be leaving from Boise on Monday, July 14. We plan to ride the entire main route counterclockwise. We'll be posting our experiences as we ride: http://www.gonesouthblog.com

[Inertiaman]

I saw several inquiries higher in the thread about fishing, but no responses.  I'm in a similar situation (tenkara rod and very much a mountain biker more than a fisherman) so would REALLY benefit from any fishing-fluent people highlighting some of the better fishing opportunities on the loop.

This might influence my planned overnight locations.  Of course, we all know those evolve as the trip progresses . . .

[Soft Pedal]

Boise to Featherville...
The wife and I rode the Boise Spur to Featherville last week (100 miles, 1 night) , what a great ride!   Just a couple items of note.  The firdst half of the Boise spur is  decent road climb with a narrow shoulder and lots of boat traffic.  Twin springs resort is more of a bar than a convience store.  Not sure of their hours but they were not open when we went by in the morning.

The people of Featherville are awesome!  The motel is $60 a night and really very nice for only $60.  The convenience store has very limited supplies and they are closed on Wednesdays as this is the day they run to Boise for supplies.  The restaurant is open from 8Am to 8 pm and the food is really good.  The Saloon is open until at least 10 pm and has a fine assortment of $3 cans of beer.  There are no fancy double IPA's but fine selection of domestic lagers (Bud light).  Overall an awesome little town with super nice people.

[idahospud]

I saw several inquiries higher in the thread about fishing, but no responses.

I'm no fisherperson but I do know that the streams and rivers are stocked occasionally by Idaho Fish and Game. The local paper publishes when and where they are stocking. You could probably go online or contact F&G to get that info. There are some officially designated endangered trout in the streams so be sure to know what you're allow to keep if you don't catch and release.

[caseygreene]

07/16/2014 - 3 lightning caused wildfire which are being managed as the "Whiskey Complex" have closed the Main Route between Placerville and Garden Valley. It has also closed the Hot Springs Campground on the Lowman Cutoff. It is advised riders stay off the Lowman Cutoff west of Lowman as well.

Current updated info here: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3955/
Closure area map as of 07/15/2014 here: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/IDBOF/2014-07-15-1055-Whiskey-Complex/picts/2014_07_15-20.49.54.620-CDT.pdf
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EDIT: The Main Route is not closed, but all areas to the immediate east of the road are. This could change at any moment. So, please use caution on Alder Creek Rd.

[VermontGal]

Usually I love a good Whiskey - even complex.  This one I am not a fan of as the 4,000 fire is near where we are planning our first day on our loop including the Lowman Cutoff.  Thanks for the report, Casey, and I am following on the fire website.  For everyone's reminder, that is  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/13/

Blue Jay (east of Lowman) is not good, either, although reported as 50% contained. 

The NWS point I'm following even for north on Steamboat Ridge (on singletrack south of Burgdorf HS) is showing "Areas of Smoke" in the forecast.   

Looks like we have an "early" fire season.

We are likely to take N95 masks, which many in SLC have due to urban smog / inversions.

[caseygreene]

Usually I love a good Whiskey - even complex.

For what its worth and as far as I can tell, the Lowman Cutoff (Banks-Lowman Rd & SR 21) is still open right now.

[Aslan]

We just rode from Alder Creek to Idaho City today Thursday July 17 and the road is still open. Lots of fire personnel around and it is very smokey. We hope it is better once we cross over to the Bosie River.

[VermontGal]

Hey I am wondering about some off-route options, partly depending how much that whiskey fire burns, and would love any info on whether there's an off-route way to get from Silver Creek area (north of Crouch) to the Deadwood Reservoir or other points east without too much hike-a-bike?   

For a place to park, we talked to http://www.gardenvalleyrv.com/ and they would charge a whopping $1 a day for car parking.  This could be a good option if it is not on fire, probably a little better than leaving the car by the side of the road.  Thanks, IdahoSpud, for the suggestion! 

[idahospud]

Vermont Gal,

There are no roads or ATV trails from the Silver Creek area to Deadwood. The only eastward options are all DIFFICULT singletrack, even on a motorcycle, such as Peace Creek (026), Long Fork Silver Creek (028 which requires crossing the Deadwood River, no bridge!) or Silver Creek Summit (044) to Bull Creek (102) to Stratton/Porter (010). I advise against ALL of those.

If you want to start in Crouch, I suggest going clockwise (northwest) to Cascade, or even starting in Cascade.

We're 10 miles from the fires up the Middle Fork Payette and the smoke is uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to be pedaling in it.

If you're willing to provide your email or phone number I can discuss specifics today. After that, I am unavailable for a week.

[sirtirithon]

A buddy and I just completed the main route starting in McCall and riding clockwise. We left McCall in the afternoon on July 11th and finished July 17th.  Ran into the fire outside of Idaho City so we had some smoke to contend with but otherwise nothing major to report. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. We had a great time!

[biker_eric]

A buddy and I just completed the main route starting in McCall and riding clockwise. We left McCall in the afternoon on July 11th and finished July 17th.  Ran into the fire outside of Idaho City so we had some smoke to contend with but otherwise nothing major to report. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. We had a great time!

Pictures?


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[VermontGal]

Thanks for the fire report, IdahoSpud.  We have decided to start in Cascade; thanks for the suggestion.  Sorry I missed you as I was off bikepacking in the Uintas.  Perhaps you are off to that moto event you mentioned - have fun!   

[sirtirithon]

Here are some pictures from the trip...






















Hope I didn't over do the pictures...

[JRA]

thanks for the great photos!

[biker_eric]

Great pictures! Everyone should post some from their trips.


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