Hughes Creek
Total Miles
3.7
Elevation
2,185.14 ft
Duration
0.5 Hours
Technical Rating
Best Time
Spring, Summer, Fall
Trail Overview
Hughes Creek is almost a 4-mile-long single track through the Salmon National Forest that connects a Forest Service road to Ax Park single track. It's a fast and narrow single track through a grassy forest full of pine trees. It's fun and flowy and slightly easier than Ax Park, although it is narrow in spots with exposure on the side hills. There's a spot in the beginning (on the southern end) where part of the trail gave way down the slope of the hill that you need to look out for. There are boulders on the side of the hill encroaching over the trail that make it narrow and shelfy. There is a longer creek crossing that is a bit rocky but pretty easy. The trail is pretty smooth with not a ton of rock, but there is one larger root obstacle that has been notched out to make it easier. There are several sudden switchbacks, but they aren't too difficult, and lots of straight sections that are fast and flowy. There can be lots of downfall in this forest, so logs may still need to be cut in the early season.
Photos of Hughes Creek
Difficulty
This is an intermediate difficulty due to lots of narrow shelfy sections with exposure, one easier root obstacle, a creek crossing, and potential for downed logs.