Asotin Cr., S. Pinkham, N. Pinkham Loop

From the parking area, (Discovery Pass required) the trail starts behind the steel gate and immediately crosses Lick Creek. The first half mile is dual track along the side of a field then you enter a fine dual and singletrack that takes you along Asotin Creek for ten miles. Take the time to enjoy the creek views and look closely for the mountain sheep on the cliffs above. The trail climbs higher above the creek and narrows in spots. At about mile nine you'll find a pretty spring emerging from the wall right on the trail. Water will be running in the spring but it may not be in July and August.On most maps North Fork Asotin Creek Trail #3125 continues uphill at ten miles but there is a sign that reads South Pinkham Trail, so that's the name I have used here. This trail includes about a 1000 ft. climb in just over one mile. The top end can be dry and hot in the summer, but with great views of the north Blue Mountain area. At the top you'll intersect with the Pinkham Ridge Trail. Save it for another time and cut straight down a short distance to NF Rd. 163. Turn right and follow it through the trees and it will come out on Bracken Ridge above the North Pinkham Trail. This is the one turn that is easy to miss. You'll be on the ridge with a forested ravine below on your right. There is a small trail sign high up on a tree to your right. On the north side of the ravine is a bare hill. The North Pinkham Trail switchbacks down this hill bringing you back around and into the trees. You'll be on a good singletrack all the way down to where you'll eventually meet back up with the North Fork Asotin Creek Trail #3125. Turn left and it is an easy down hill back to the trailhead.

As you move along Asotin Creek the high ridge opposite the creek is named Bracken Ridge. Named after Bob Bracken the first permanent white settler of Asotin County. Bracken arrived from California in 1861 bound for the gold mines in Idaho. He lived various locations on or near the upper reaches of Asotin Creek from 1861 until his death in 1906. Bracken took a Nez Perce wife and was said to be quite popular with the Native Americans in the area. He always went armed with a .45 Colt and died by his own hand a sick, eccentric, and forgotten old man at the age of 65. Rumors of buried gold near his old homestead persist. No gold has ever been found.