Trail Overview
This 10.3-mile trail in the Big Hole Mountains near Ririe, Idaho is for offroaders seeking a moderate, highly varied ride of historic exploration and beautiful forest scenery. The route begins at the Poison Flats Trailhead, climbing steadily up to Poison Flats before following the trail towards Long Canyon Road. Navigating through the pine-blanketed ridges of Madison County, drivers will find tight 50-inch trail sections with limited passing room. Along the way, a spur leads to a weather station, leading to a short hike to the historic Morning Glory Mine, an abandoned 1980s operation surrounded by old machinery.
Continuing past the mine, the trail drops down a cutoff path to the Wolverine Creek Trail before climbing back up to Long Canyon Road. This segment transitions into rocky sections with slight off-camber turns, though they remain highly manageable for most high-clearance vehicles. Offroaders can then explore a shortcut to the Windy Ridge Loop, eventually returning to Long Canyon Road for a smooth, leisurely descent toward the Kelly Canyon Ski Hill. Rising from 5,667 feet to a peak elevation of 6,757 feet, this route offers stunning vistas of the surrounding valleys and the nearby Snake River.
History
The Morning Glory Mine, located along this route, is the only registered mine in Madison County, Idaho. Originally filed in 1985 by Cavenaugh Minerals and abandoned in 1993, the operation targeted local quartz and a vein of vermiculite, which was historically used as insulation for early electronic tubes.
