Idaho Off-Road Trails

Yellow Dog #513 can be accessed by either Steamboat Flat Creek #400 or via Coeur d Alene River Rd #208 and a short section of Beetle Creek #2367.

In the higher altitudes, you will traverse brushy slopes of bear grass, huckleberries and wind-worn and winter-hardened timber. In the lower elevations along Yellow Dog Creek, you will wind through cedars along the creek on a road lined with common tansy and yarrow while occasionally crossing sections of concrete ramp planks placed to help prevent erosion during the spring runoff.

There are a couple of fairly-large camp sites off the main road once you get into the higher elevations. These do tend to be popular spots, however. If you do find that those are occupied, there are numerous large, flat turnouts along the road that can be utilized as well.

Road 409 begins as a well-maintained gravel road as it winds along the West Fork Steamboat Creek. It offers a wide variety of landscapes from beginning to end.

In the lower elevations, dispersed campsites dot the sides of the road, shaded by cedars, cottonwoods, and lush greenery along the shores of the creek.

As your altitude increases, the road becomes more rugged. After crossing road 335, it narrows into a one-vehicle-wide shelf road. At this point, camping is no longer an option. You maintain elevation as you wind along the mountainsides through a powerline corridor, alternating between sunny, exposed, south-facing slopes and the welcoming shade of north-facing slopes as you enjoy this lightly-traveled portion of the Coeur d'alene National Forest.

This road can easily be driven in a 2WD vehicle and the lower section near the creek can accommodate trailers. However, towing may not be advisable on the narrower, more rugged upper section.

St. Joe River Road, FS 218, winds along the edges of the river that shares its name. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all types; anglers, equestrians, and hikers flock to the area to revel in the beauty of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Sections of the road are gravel, while other sections are broken, rough pavement littered with potholes. Be aware of blind corners and oncoming traffic as you take in the views of fantastic rock formations and steep river canyon walls.

Developed campgrounds are abundant along this route. Fly Flat and Spruce Tree Campgrounds are popular options. Dispersed riverside camp spots can also be found, but are sparse and tend to be spoken for.

Simmons Ridge Road, FS 346, is a short, 3-mile out-and-back spur off of Red Ives Creek Road in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

The entire length of the road remains above 6,000' elevation, treating you to expansive views of the surrounding Bitterroot Mountains. The road is lined with low underbrush consisting of beargrass and huckleberry bushes, commonly laden with berries through July and August.

There is a large, flat campsite at the northernmost point of the trail where several trailheads for hiking and dirt biking branch off to the North. At this point, the road makes a sharp, hairpin turn to the South and makes the final slow, rocky ascent to the site of the former Simmons Peak Lookout, which was struck by lightning and burned in 1984. From here, you can see singletrack trails zigzagging across neighboring ridgelines, as well as high distant high peaks like Sherlock Peak and Simmons Peak.

East Fork Gold Creek is a short, well-maintained dirt road in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Upon turning off of Gold Creek Road 388, you will cross the bridge over Gold Creek and begin a steady climb through a setting of lush ferns and cedars, thimbleberries and goldenrod. The beginning of the road is only one-vehicle-wide but that changes within the first mile or so. Passing any oncoming traffic will pose no issue past that point.

Camping is limited to a few wide turnouts, none of which have fire rings.

Please also note that while it appears open and continues on maps, road 1222 is overgrown, blocked, and impassable at the junction with Berge Peak Road 1219, and no longer connects to road 391.

Berge Peak, FS 1219, is a short, easy dirt road that winds along the south-western side of the Idaho-Montana border. The road is well-maintained, passing over marble and golf ball-sized gravel. It is one vehicle wide and offers sufficient passing opportunities.

It passes between thriving conifers and dense alder bushes with the occasional interesting rock formation. Depending on the time of year you go, you may be treated to bright red Indian paintbrushes lining the sides of the road. Views of the surrounding mountains are sparse, due to the healthy foliage.

Camping is limited to wide, grassy turnouts on the sides of the road. None of these turnouts have fire rings.

Little Weiser Road (FSR 206) is a scenic drive through the West Mountain Range and the Boise National Forest. Located west of Lake Cascade, this well-maintained dirt road is easy to traverse; any medium-to-high-clearance vehicle can handle it. Most of the trail is tree-lined with some openings offering amazing views of the surrounding mountains.  The southern part of the trail runs along Anderson Creek

The only designated campground on this trail, Big Flat Campground, was destroyed in a large fire a few years ago and is off-limits.  Lots of pullouts and side roads offer plenty of opportunities for dispersed camping.