Old Ranger

Old Ranger is a trail that has been around for years, and offers great views of the South Fork of the Snake River that is accessible very early in the year. It is a great trail for early spring to scratch your single-track itch while the snow melts in the upper elevations. With light snowfall, the trail is accessible as early as late April, early June. The trail is accessed in the spring before all the snow has melted by heading towards Kelly Canyon, but turning right at the last fork in the road prior to heading up to the resort. When the road is passable, you can take the fork down to the river from the Y-parking lot. The main trail is very easy and beginner riders can handle it. There is one major hill climb and an optional technical section past the river crossing. If the river crossing is passable, it offers beautiful views but is not for the faint of heart. The hill climb is rated as a 5, and the water crossing (Burns Creek) and after is not recommended unless you are ok with around a level 8. The trail is very windy and extremely narrow. If you want to skip the section, after coming out on Burns Creek road (Forest Road 210), head east on Forest Road 206 and meet back up with the trail when the road ends. The latter part of the trail is much more rocky and has switchbacks and a few climbs. This part of the trail is a 6-7 depending on what kind of rider you are, but provides awesome views. As a summary, the first part of the trail from Wolverine Creek (43.61520751288944, -111.5394561823702) to Burns creek road (43.603766430491376, -111.47139431338192) as a 4 and can be done by it's own. The portion between Burns Creek Road and the end of 206 (which can be bypassed) is an 8. The final portion of the trail I would rate as a 6-7.