Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Challis, Idaho

Select a location:

Pennal Gulch River Access

This trail is part of the Pennal Gulch Sportsmen's Access Area on the Salmon River. Public access at Pennal Gulch is provided through an easement across private property. The road is closed to access from…
Learn more about Pennal Gulch River Access
Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Dugway Trail

If you're looking to hop off the highway for a pretty view and find some river access, this trail has. The old iron bridge to drive across is a fun start or end to the…
Learn more about Dugway Trail
Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Spar Canyon

Spar Canyon provides access to a large number of trails in this area and serves as a graded smooth road to the area. While it's not paved, this trail is quite smooth and comfortable, especially…
Learn more about Spar Canyon
Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Slate Creek To Robinsons Bar

A nice scenic shelf drive along the Salmon River. There are many spots for fishing, a few numbered dispersed camping spots around. Be sure to watch for the metal fire rings that mark where they…
Learn more about Slate Creek To Robinsons Bar
Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Upper Slate Creek

An easy out and back trail that leads up a canyon along Slate Creek to a nice hiking trail. Graded and no cell service. There are amazing views of the White Cloud Peaks as you…
Learn more about Upper Slate Creek
Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Custer Ghost Town

Easy scenic trail with a mix of pavement at the beginning and turns into a wide dirt road for the last few miles. The drive runs along the river beginning in a more treed area.…
Learn more about Custer Ghost Town
Total Miles
9.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Deer Creek Dugouts

This is a neat and quick little out and back trail across the Salmon River for those looking for some quirky Idaho History. Two of "Dugout Dick's" Cave Cabins have been preserved with a parking…
Learn more about Deer Creek Dugouts
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

O'Brien Camping on the Salmon River

Quick and beautiful little area right on the Salmon River just off hwy 75. This is an out and back. The journey begins driving across a neat metal bridge crossing over the Salmon. Upper O'Brien…
Learn more about O'Brien Camping on the Salmon River
Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lake Mountain

The road to Lake Mountain in Idaho is well traveled and in good condition. It can be accessed by any 4WD vehicle. It starts on Williams Creek Road, a few miles south of Salmon, ID.…
Learn more about Lake Mountain
Total Miles
15.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Into The Salmon Forest

Beautiful and scenic, this easy dirt road winds its way up into the Salmon National Forest. Once you begin gaining elevation, the road is generously one vehicle wide with plenty of pull-out places to pass.…
Learn more about Into The Salmon Forest
Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rough Creek

A nice out and back drive up the hill to a campground at the Rough Creek hiking trailhead. The easy graded road may be impassable in winter. Watch for downed trees and boulders that have…
Learn more about Rough Creek
Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Basin Creek

This is an easy trail up Basin Creek that ends at an ATV 50" max-width trailhead to continue up Basin Creek. There are camping spots right at the Trailhead. The forest is burned and offers…
Learn more about Basin Creek
Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Noho Creek

Noho Creek starts at the intersection of Kelly Creek Road and Kelly Creek ATV Trail (FSR #4323). It begins as a 2 lane road and turns into a 1 lane dirt road with a forest…
Learn more about Noho Creek
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Kelly Creek

This is a 2-lane, maintained forest service road intersecting at Stanley Creek Road. This road brings you past extensive Stanley Basin mining encampment ruins. There are many opportunities for dispersed camping. Kelly Creek Road ends…
Learn more about Kelly Creek
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Joe's Gulch

Joe's Gulch can be accessed from Highway 75 and ends at the intersection of Noho Creek (FSR #328). It is a 1 lane, scenic maintained forest service road that winds along the mountainside and an…
Learn more about Joe's Gulch
Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Sawtooth Mountain Views Loop

An easy dirt loop trail that picks up from Lower Stanley, gains slight elevation and has a stunning view of the Sawtooth Mountain Range, and looks down over the town of Upper Stanley. There are…
Learn more about Sawtooth Mountain Views Loop
Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Boulder Creek Left Trail

Bumpy rocky trail with beautiful views that take you up to the base of 3 mountains. The trail is not difficult, but 4x4 high clearance and air down recommended for comfort. At the very beginning…
Learn more about Boulder Creek Left Trail
Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Redfish and Little Redfish Lakes

At the end of a well-maintained paved road, you will find access to beautiful Redfish Lake. This lake is set up against the mountains and is large enough to support boat access. There are at…
Learn more about Redfish and Little Redfish Lakes
Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Valley Creek Bridge and Stanley Historic Museum

This is a little dirt road just on the outskirts of the town of Stanley that grants access to a wooden bridge over the Valley Creek River and has stunning views of the town and…
Learn more about Valley Creek Bridge and Stanley Historic Museum
Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Basin Butte Lookout Tower

Fun switchback style dirt trail with steeper climbs towards the end to reach the Basin Butte Lookout Tower. Stunning views of the mountain ranges from the top where the tower is. The trail begins crossing…
Learn more about Basin Butte Lookout Tower
Total Miles
7.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Hell Roaring Trail

The Hell Roaring Trail is an out and back trail in Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho. This trail has many campsites throughout. At the west end of the trail is the Upper Hell Roaring Trailhead,…
Learn more about Hell Roaring Trail
Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Big Wood River - Harriman Trail Access

Short out and back dirt trail with dispersed camping at the end along the river and stunning mountain views. Some of the dispersed spots are larger campsites that can accommodate multiple vehicles or trailers and…
Learn more about Big Wood River - Harriman Trail Access
Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Easley Warm Springs

A Short dirt road leading to the Easley Hot Springs and Pool. These are open seasonally and require a fee. Before you get to the hot springs is a seasonal campground with fire rings, picnic…
Learn more about Easley Warm Springs
Total Miles
0.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp

Spruce Summer Cabins Loop

Fun little scenic loop dotted with lots of unique summertime cabins. No designated day-use spots or camping spots, the trail appears to primarily be used to access the summer homes. The cabins are neat to…
Learn more about Spruce Summer Cabins Loop
Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

21 To Nip & Tuck

This trail is accessible from the town of Upper Stanley to the popular Nip & Tuck trail with excellent views of the sawtooth mountain range and dispersed wild camping. Several other off-road trails can also…
Learn more about 21 To Nip & Tuck
Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Blaze Canyon to Windy Devil

This 9 mile track goes up to over 8000 feet in the Lost River Mountains. This area is rich in mining history. You can explore mine facilities, mining communities, and ghost towns, see elk and…
Learn more about Blaze Canyon to Windy Devil
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Pettit Lake and Dreamy Day Use Area

Beautiful clear blue lake with mountains rising up behind. The best view is from the official Day Use area. It has a little beach with picnic tables and some fire pits, as well as some…
Learn more about Pettit Lake and Dreamy Day Use Area
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Iron Creek

This is an easily graded trail with lots of room to pass oncoming traffic. It leads to the very popular iron creek hiking trailhead, and there are plenty of camping along the way in established…
Learn more about Iron Creek
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taylor Canyon

Just under six miles RT, this track takes you a little higher up into the Lost River Mountains and deeper into the forest. The elevation at the top is 7619 feet. Wildlife sightings are possible,…
Learn more about Taylor Canyon
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Yellow Belly Lake and Hiking Trails

This is an out and back 4x4 trail that runs along Yellow Belly Lake through the trees. There are no views of the lake from the trail, views of the lake can only be seen…
Learn more about Yellow Belly Lake and Hiking Trails
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa