Silver Peak - Hobson Horn Trail #1166

An Emergency Relief Aid crew completed the Hobson Horn to Silver Peak Trail in 1940 and built a fire lookout on Silver Peak that same year. Until the mid-1980s the #1166 was reportedly maintained every other year. Since it wasn't in a designated wilderness area, it was also identified by the Forest Service as a high quality motorized route, offering experienced motorcyclists a near wilderness experience. In 1987 the area traversed by the trail was swept by the Silver Complex Fire and then, in 2002, by the even bigger Biscuit Fire. By 2015 the Forest Service had concluded that only the four-mile long segment from the Illinois River Trail to Silver Peak could be maintained for motorized use (but only during the deer and elk hunting seasons (September to May)). Almost the entire trail was burned (again) by the 2018 Klondike Fire. This trail is no longer maintained and maybe very difficult to follow in several places due to heavy brush if you start at its upper end. Others have reported that the trail can also be difficult to find and follow starting from its intersection with the Illinois River Trail #1161. The only water source along the #1166 is a spring (that may be seasonal) that is 3 miles from the eastern trailhead - the remainder of the trail is waterless. While you may find this trail mapped on USFS maps, it is not a recommended hike due to it current unmaintained state. You should definitely check with the USFS as to current conditions before attempting this hike.