Black Canyon Ridge Road

Total Miles
11.5

Technical Rating

3

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Type

High-Clearance 4x4 Trail

Accessible By

Trail Overview

This 12-mile adventure is suitable for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles. Most typically, people access this road from the Continental Divide (CD), where it serves as an extension of the Frying Pan road that dead ends on the CD at an elevation of 9,300 feet. Starting from the CD, the road traverses through some beautiful stands of white bark pine alternating with open mountain meadows and ridges. The road passes through several burned areas. This is a very beautiful segment of the single-lane dirt and rock road with few obstacles to negotiate. After about 6.5 miles, the road intersects with the BLM Everson Creek Rd. Most of the traffic turns onto the Everson Creek Roadwhich eventually leads to the Lemi Pass Road. However, BLM and Forest Service markers continue to encourage travel on the Black Canyon Ridge Rd that transitions through open sagebrush terrain and becomes more difficult with rutting, water crossings, and a series of gates. A persistent adventurer can, eventually, find a passage to the Bannock Pass Road. This road is signed as FS 5932 on the ground.

Photos of Black Canyon Ridge Road

Black Canyon Ridge Road
Black Canyon Ridge Road

Difficulty

The first 6.5 miles of this road contain a few moderately steep ascents and descents that are rocky and are best used in 4WD. Some rutting is also present but easily straddled. The second lower 6 miles is narrower and more rutted, with several water crossings. It may be necessary to travel on trails through flat sagebrushy primitive tracks.

Technical Rating

3

Black Canyon Ridge Road can be accessed by the following ride types:

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

Access Description

The most used route by high clearance 4x4 vehicles starts from Lemhi Pass, along the Continental Divide on the Frying Pan Road, turning onto the Black Canyon Ridge Road, descending down the east side of the Beaverhead Mountains to the Everson Creek Road, and back to Lemhi Pass.

Black Canyon Ridge Road Map

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