North Fork Big Creek

Trail Overview

North Fork Big Creek is a demanding 9-mile-long dirt bike trail in the Salmon National Forest, climbing over 3,000 feet from south to north, with a constant mix of embedded and loose rock of all sizes. The trail is narrow, with long, slow-moving sections where riders must pick their way over chunky rock gardens that offer little flow. There are scenic meadows and brief fast-flowing stretches, but also technical forest sections full of roots, ruts, logs, or mud. Riders will encounter about ten technical creek crossings, ranging from long and shallow to deep and rocky with swift currents, some that you may be dunking a boot in. The trail traverses several scree fields or packed talus, where large embedded boulders line the trail or create obstacles. The difficulty and exposure ramps up significantly on the northern half of the trail above the intersection with Park Fork, with narrow side-hilling above a fast-flowing river and steep climbs full of rock, and also passes a scenic waterfall. It has tricky sections with big embedded boulders and roots that are rutted with holes in between, and rock ledges a couple of feet high. Near the top, the trail cuts through multiple switchbacks in high alpine terrain, including a particularly challenging one with big boulders on the inside of the turn, forcing a tight, technical maneuver. The last bit of trail on the north end is extremely rocky, going through talus fields again, before ending at an intersection with an ATV trail.

Photos of North Fork Big Creek

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Difficulty

This is an advanced trail due to constant rocks throughout the entire route, technical river crossings, and difficult rocky climbs. The portion below Park Fork is a bit easier and less steep, while the northern section of the trail is more advanced with rock ledges and technical switchbacks.

Technical Rating

North Fork Big Creek can be accessed by the following ride types:

• Dirt Bike