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This web page is a GPS annotation for Margaret Fuller's book, Trails of Western Idaho, third edition, published by Trail Guide Books, Weiser, Idaho. (The book is very popular and is widely available at bookstores around Western Idaho.).
Because the author of this web page is not affiliated with Margaret Fuller or with Trail Guide Books you will find very little of that books's content replicated here -- this site is simply provides additional mapping detail, printable maps, and GPS coordinates and trail data. Before you read further, go out and buy the book! My copy of the second edition has literally been my guide for many days of hiking enjoyment.The hike numbers and page numbers below refer to the hike numbers and page numbers in Trails of Western Idaho.
Warren Wagon Road Twenty-Mile Trailhead and Upper Payette Lake, tweny miles north of McCall, Idaho. Upper Payette Lake is good for family camping, canoeing, fishing, and bird watching. A handicapped accessible trail goes from the main Payette River inlet to the Twenty Mile Creek inlet. Use this area as a base for a strenuous hike to twenty mile lakes, or an easy day hike along the flat meadow portion of the twenty mile creek before the fork to the high lakes trail.
Josephine Lake is a small but beautiful lake, and one of the easiest alpine lakes to hike to, provided that you have a vehicle with high ground clearance.
The Loon Lake area map includes three trails; a difficult, all-day mountain bike ride from Burgdorf junction through Ruby Meadows to Willow Basket Creek and to Loon Lake, a moderately difficult trail down Loon Creek and then up the Secesh River to the Chinnook Campground, and an easy day hike directly from the Chinook campground to Loon Lake. (Mountain bikers can make a long loop out of these trails by including the section of Warren Wagon Road from Secesh Meadows to Burgdorf junction.) To reach Burgdorf junction turn on Warren Wagon road along the West side of Payette lake and travel about 25 miles north of McCall, Idaho. An easy, half-day loop trail starts and ends at Chinook Campground. Don't forget to soak in the Burgdorf hot springs. Burgdorf hot springs has been open since the mining days around 1870.
Just north of Bogus Basin the More's Mountain Nature Trail starts from the Shafer Butte Picnic Area, ascends More's Mountain and loops around the twin summit, and then descends through old growth trees. (Foot Traffic Only) back to the picnic area.
This map shows several hikes and mountain bike rides in the area of Lucky Peak Reservoir. One hike, Lydle Gulch, starts and Barclay bay at the east end of the dam. A mountain bike ride to Bonneville point on the Oregron Trail starts at the same point. A sagebrush hike along the Diversion Dam pool starts across the river at Foote Park.
The Hull's Gulch Nature trail follows a riparian oasis notable for the abundance of birds in a dry desert environment. Six newly placed steel bridges placed at great expense and difficulty make this an easy hike, especially when traveled in the downhill direction. (Foot Traffic Only)
Celebration Park is the northwestern end of a roadless section of the Snake River Birds of Prey area. This Canyon County, Idaho, Park has been improved with a small interpretive center, campgrounds, and signed trails. The park includes petroglyphs and large melon gravel (many huge boulders) as well as a desert lake and other archeological and historical sites.
Swan Falls is about 20 miles south of Boise in a steep gorge of the Snake River. There is a small grassy park at the Idaho Power Plant. You will find boat ramps both above and below the dam. Swan Falls is an excellent place for winter hiking and bicycling, because of the mild weather. Young children will enjoy exploring the boulder fields. You can cross the dam's catwalk to hike or bike to the Wees Bar Petroglyphs, to Sinker Creek, or up to Sinker Butte, which is an inactive volcano. You can launch a raft or jet boat to float the river down to Celebration Park. Swan falls is also a great place to watch the nesting birds of pray and waterfowl and for photography. You will also find informal, unimproved camp sites here. Because of the heat, Swan Falls is best visited in spring or fall.
This trail is a short desert hike of about three miles, one way, in Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. You won't see any fossils on this hike.