Arco Pass to Horsethief Spur #6

Trail Overview

This 1.6-mile track takes you a little further into Horsethief Canyon and then down into Spur #6, deep in the Challis National Forest. Elk and deer are plentiful at different times of the year. The views are spectacular, and the scenery is beautiful. You can hike or ride all over this part of the National Forest.

Difficulty

Easy riding unless it's early spring or after a heavy rain. Snow may be present, and erosion happens in places with run-off.

History

The Shoshone Indians first called this area home, as did the Blackfoot Indians. Fur trappers working for the North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company led trappers and explorers here in the early 1800s. Hudson Bay Company's last expedition between 1830 and 1832 found the beaver population so eradicated by earlier trappers that they abandoned trapping in this area. The Lost River Valley from Arco to Mackay is rich in mining history, and there is a wonderful museum in Mackay.

Technical Rating