Idaho Centennial Trail: Section 16

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Hot Spring · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The trail climbs up North Fork of Lime Creek, to a high saddle above 7,400 feet. This saddle provides trail users with amazing views of the surrounding Soldier Mountains and the numerous canyons all around. The trail follows a ridgeline, heading northwest and then north, hovering between 6,800 and 7,000 feet for about two miles. The trail then drops precipitously into Virginia Gulch, losing 2,000 feet over 2.5 miles.

The trail throughout is difficult to find at times, and there are numerous trails and roads that cross this route. Make sure you know your route beforehand and have a map and orienteering equipment to aid you in this area. It can be really easy to take the wrong trail and drop down the wrong drainage.

Once you arrive at the South Fork of the Boise River, you are about 4 miles from Baumgartner Hot Springs (lies to the east of the trail), which is a nice National Forest site with a pool of hot water to relax in. Pretty spectacular. If you arrive on a weekday -- you may even have the place to yourself. That's unlikely, though.

Featherville is about 7 or 8 miles to west. There is a resort and trading post there. Thru-hikers frequently use this spot as a resupply.

Elk, deer, moose, beaver, hawks, eagles, songbirds, grouse, sage, pines, Aspen.