Willow Creek - Viola Mine

Trail Overview

Willow Creek to Viola mine is a rugged backcountry route blending old jeep roads, historic mining remnants, and sweeping mountain vistas. Ideal for high clearance 4WD vehicles, this trail weaves through varied terrain and a slice of Idaho's mining heritage. Best run as a loop, particularly in the counter-clockwise direction, you will start on Highway 28 with the entrance to the road behind a wire gate and the two historic signs across from the Charcoal Kilns road. It begins as an easy, dirt and gravel road to Willow Creek, where the trail turns narrow, rough, and deteriorated, and several creek crossings vary in depth, depending on the time of year. There is one especially steep section, where you climb from the canyon floor to cut across the face of the ridge to Smelter Gulch, and then on the Viola Gulch. The climb to Viola mine has numerous switchbacks cutting through wooded slopes and rocky benches, and the overall trail is rocky and rutted with some larger rocks placed strategically to grab your differentials. As you climb, enjoy the panoramic views of the Birch Creek Valley and the Lemhi Range to the west. The Viola Mine is at the top of the gulch, once a site of major lead and silver mining in the 1880s, and was among the most productive mines of its era. The remnants of the long-abandoned ghost town, mine tailings, dumps of used-up supplies, and other mining history can be seen throughout the area. Looping back around into Willow Creek to complete the loop, the trail is narrow, brushy, and rocky with more stream crossings. Be aware that some portions of this trail pass through private property, and can be gated or seasonally restricted. Use caution and respect any "road closure" signage you may encounter.

Photos of Willow Creek - Viola Mine

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

Rough, deteriorated, high clearance 4WD road is best in dry conditions. Narrow, steep, brushy sections that will give you some Idaho pinstriping. Stream crossings that can be ~1 ft or less in depth, minimal places to pass other vehicles, large rocks and small ledges that you must drive over or around.

Technical Rating

Willow Creek - Viola Mine can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike