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The Julie Creek trail is a loop trip which starts at the Deadwood campground, climbs to 7000 feet on the Deadwood Ridge, descends rapidly into Julie Creek and then back down the Deadwood River to the Deadwood campground along the South Fork of the Payette River near Lowman Idaho. The narrow, steep trail is open to motorcycles, horses, mountain bikes, and hikers. The entire loop is 24 miles, with 4500 feet of climbing.
Zimmer Creek to Packer John Lookout. This mountain bike trail starts out as an abandoned logging road on highway 55, about 5 miles north of Banks Junction, and climbs spectacularly above highway 55 and the North Fork of the Payette River until Howell Creek. After crossing Howell Creek, which is a good shady spot to cool off, the trail to the top of Packer John Mountain climbs steeply to the North. Very difficult. (In summer, start at sunrise.)
Terrace Lakes Golf Course. Terrace Lakes Golf Course has associated themselves with a cross country ski club and grooms trails in the winter. Buy a ski and soak pass to use their excellent hot springs pool after skiing, and then use the restaurant afterwards. This is a beautiful location, especially with the nearby high mountains. And the folks are really friendly here. Snowmobilers can find an excellent trail network that begins here.
This springtime automobile tour or mountain bike ride takes you from Gardena to Banks along the high plateau above the west bank of the Payette river. On my mountain bike ride here in mid spring, I saw a small herd of mule deer and mountain bluebirds. All of the peaks around were snow-covered, and my side trip up the ATV trail to a viewpoint above banks ended in a snowdrift.
You'll see sweeping vistas of Garden Mountain, Squaw Butte, Hawley Mountain, Shafer Butte, and the Payette River Valley near Horseshoe Bend. This is one of the best dirt roads in Idaho. (Not recommended in winter or for drivers or passengers who don't like exposed steep dropoffs.)