High Valley

This trail starts in the small town of Ola, Idaho. Right after Muley's, the only restaurant in town, turn right on NF 644, High Valley Road. High Valley is a beautiful drive up and over the mountains. Gaining and then losing just over 2,600 feet in under 20 miles makes the trip seem to cover more distance than it actually does. This trail starts and ends with a bar/restaurant at either end (Muleys in Ola and Cougar Mountain Lodge in Smith's Ferry), making for the perfect trail to run over the mountain to eat lunch or dinner from either direction. This trail leaves the sagebrush of lower Idaho and winds up through the trees. There are multiple mountain springs, ponds, and green meadows along the way. The road is mostly a graded gravel road. But there are plenty of potholes, so be ready to slow down. There are steep switchbacks and blind corners, so the driver needs to pay attention. There are many old barns, lodgepole cattle chutes, and even some old Broncos and Jeep pickups rusting away in long-forgotten farmer's fields to entertain the people on the drive. If you are looking for an easy, sightseeing trail with plenty of along-the-road dispersed camping by burbling creeks, this is the trail for you. This trail connects to Idaho Highway 55, making this an overlander's dream of staying off the pavement while covering a lot of ground.