Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Aberdeen, Idaho

Bear Trap Cave is one of many lave caves located in southeast Idaho. This trail begins from Coffee Point and winds southwest across the desert to the Bear Trap cave. It is a relatively easy-going trail, with a mostly dirt road that is only challenging in snow or mud. There are plenty of scenic oppor...
Learn more about Bear Trap Cave North

The route takes you from Springfield, Idaho to Big Southern Butte via part of Goodale's Cutoff. For a brief history of the cutoff see below. This trail is best ridden in the spring when the snow has melted until it gets hot and then in the late fall. There are awesome picturesque views of the entire...
Learn more about Springfield to Big Southern Butte

Houtz Canyon from the Rockland side is a great off-road adventure for all vehicles, but it can become narrow due to brush. The BLM provides plenty of parking at the start of the trail. The trail takes you from high desert sagebrush and junipers into the pine forest. The trail is dirt/rock gravel and...
Learn more about Houtz Canyon

This dirt road follows the route from Bear Trap Cave to Crystal Ice Caves and King's Bowl. The route can be traveled in either direction, as it is accessed by various BLM roads and trails. Watch for the deep chasm of King's Bowl Rift as you near the Wapi Lava Flow. In the 1970s, people often crowded...
Learn more about Bear Trap/Crystal Ice Cave Trail

This trail from Rockland, Idaho, via Green Canyon to Sheep Canyon, will take you from the high desert landscape and dry farms of southern Idaho up into the trees of the Sawtooth National Forest. The road from Rockland starts as a nice, well-maintained gravel road, and as you make your way up Green C...
Learn more about Green Canyon

This is a cutoff road from Cedar Butte to Big Southern Southside. You can access the old Goodale's Cutoff trail (Webb Springs trail), Big Southern Springfield Road headed south, or Atom Cox Well Road headed west. This is part of the easiest way to get to Frenchman's Cabin. It's an easily accessed, w...
Learn more about Cedar Butte Road to Big Southern Southside

This trail is just outside of Pocatello. It goes into the National Forest, so there is some free camping in this area. On this trail, you will gain 3,000 feet in elevation. You start down in the forest trees, working your way up an easy dirt road. You will get epic views as you climb the mountain. I...
Learn more about Scout Mountain

A very well-maintained gravel road leads right to the lake through the bird refuge. Although this is a short trip off the main road, it gives you access to the lake, which is very limited due to the wildlife refuge. You would not know this area was here unless you took this trail to a shallow reserv...
Learn more about Lake View

The road to Bear Trap Cave follows the Minidoka-Arco Road. The road changes conditions frequently depending on weather and the amount of traffic. It is an easy road but can be muddy and washboarded at times. The trail begins where farmland ends and leads you through a southern Idaho desert landscape...
Learn more about Bear Trap Cave

This route will take you from the main highway to Big Southern Butte. If you have not been to Big Southern Butte, it is worth the trip. The butte is one of the largest volcanic domes in the world and is the largest on the Snake River Plain. There are obsidian deposits that are easily seen in the spr...
Learn more about Atomic City to Frenchman's Cabin

From the old highway, you will start on an excellent gravel road lined with sagebrush and basalt rock, which will turn into a dirt two-track with some basalt rock. As you make your way along the fence line, you will get great views of the reservoir and the high desert. This trail runs right beside a...
Learn more about Ride to the Dam

Starting from the Raft River Side, you will pass by dry farms on a well-maintained gravel road as you make your way up the Sawtooth National Forest. It quickly transitions from sagebrush into Aspens and Pine trees as you leave the high desert. One small creek crossing is effortless to make it throug...
Learn more about South Heglar Canyon

This section of trail is one continuous, long hill climb/descent depending which direction you're going. (West to East is uphill). There are some loose rocky patches scattered throughout and a few small mud ruts here and there. The summit of the trail offers amazing views of the surrounding mountain...
Learn more about Sheep Canyon 1

Starting From the Raft River Side, you will pass by dry farms on a well-maintained gravel road as you make your way up the Sawtooth National Forest. As you make your way from the high desert and into more forest, full of aspens and pine trees, the elevation of the limestone mountains around you dras...
Learn more about North Heglar

Travel along the California Historical Trail and pass by the Parting of the Ways. Turning off Yale Road and onto the two-track dirt road with some basalt outcrops, you can't help but imagine a wagon making its way across this landscape. Although it may look desolate from the interstate, there is qui...
Learn more about Oregon/California Parting of the Ways

This curvy and windy section of Sheep's Canyon hugs alongside the slope of the mountainside, offering beautiful views of the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest. There are loose rocky patches, especially around some of the corners. Mud ruts exist here and there. Caution of standing water/mud holes,...
Learn more about Sheep Canyon 2

This is an amazing ride. It is intermittently covered with decomposing granite for traction and can be fairly rough. It is well maintained as it still has a working tower. Sheer drop-offs are not for the faint-hearted. It's like a one-way Pikes Peak, just not as many switchbacks. The ride is easy. T...
Learn more about Big Southern Butte

This section of trail connects to a handful of other trails in the area. The northern half is more mountainous terrain as it winds its way up/down. There are mud ruts, erosion spots, and rocky patches here and there. Caution in the early seasons. The southern half is a wide-open, easy dirt road that...
Learn more about Heglar Canyon

If you're looking for an easy, scenic drive through the Sawtooth National Forest, then this trail is for you. As you drive through the little valley, beautiful views of the hills and ridges surround you. Time to complete depends if you take any of the connecting trails from off this one or simply go...
Learn more about Lake Fork

This easy dirt road starts at Sublett Reservoir, taking you around the Northern section of the lake, and leads to Sublett Campground. Other trails continue past that point. Beautiful views overlooking the reservoir. There are primitive camp spots along the shore of the reservoir, as well as towards ...
Learn more about Sublett

Bear Trap Cave is one of many lave caves located in southeast Idaho. This trail begins from Coffee Point and winds southwest across the desert to the Bear Trap cave. It is a relatively easy-going trail, with a mostly dirt road that is only challenging in snow or mud. There are plenty of scenic oppor...
Learn more about Bear Trap Cave North

The route takes you from Springfield, Idaho to Big Southern Butte via part of Goodale's Cutoff. For a brief history of the cutoff see below. This trail is best ridden in the spring when the snow has melted until it gets hot and then in the late fall. There are awesome picturesque views of the entire...
Learn more about Springfield to Big Southern Butte

Houtz Canyon from the Rockland side is a great off-road adventure for all vehicles, but it can become narrow due to brush. The BLM provides plenty of parking at the start of the trail. The trail takes you from high desert sagebrush and junipers into the pine forest. The trail is dirt/rock gravel and...
Learn more about Houtz Canyon

This dirt road follows the route from Bear Trap Cave to Crystal Ice Caves and King's Bowl. The route can be traveled in either direction, as it is accessed by various BLM roads and trails. Watch for the deep chasm of King's Bowl Rift as you near the Wapi Lava Flow. In the 1970s, people often crowded...
Learn more about Bear Trap/Crystal Ice Cave Trail

Bear Trap Cave is one of many lave caves located in southeast Idaho. This trail begins from Coffee Point and winds southwest across the desert to the Bear Trap cave. It is a relatively easy-going trail, with a mostly dirt road that is only challenging in snow or mud. There are plenty of scenic oppor...
Learn more about Bear Trap Cave North

The route takes you from Springfield, Idaho to Big Southern Butte via part of Goodale's Cutoff. For a brief history of the cutoff see below. This trail is best ridden in the spring when the snow has melted until it gets hot and then in the late fall. There are awesome picturesque views of the entire...
Learn more about Springfield to Big Southern Butte

Houtz Canyon from the Rockland side is a great off-road adventure for all vehicles, but it can become narrow due to brush. The BLM provides plenty of parking at the start of the trail. The trail takes you from high desert sagebrush and junipers into the pine forest. The trail is dirt/rock gravel and...
Learn more about Houtz Canyon

This dirt road follows the route from Bear Trap Cave to Crystal Ice Caves and King's Bowl. The route can be traveled in either direction, as it is accessed by various BLM roads and trails. Watch for the deep chasm of King's Bowl Rift as you near the Wapi Lava Flow. In the 1970s, people often crowded...
Learn more about Bear Trap/Crystal Ice Cave Trail