Birch Creek
Birch Creek Trail is an 11.4-mile trail in Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Salmon-Challis National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 45.2898° N, 114.3492° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 45.2592° N, 114.3246° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 11.4 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 6023 |
| Forest | Salmon-Challis National Forest (unit 0413) |
| States | Idaho |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/15 to 11/15 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Frank Church-River of No Return WildernessFS · about 19% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Clear Creek Trailhead No season published | 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
20 mi from the trail midpoint · 605 acres
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
43 mi from the trail midpoint · 2,210 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Birch Creek Trail?
The Forest Service records 11.4 miles under this name in Salmon-Challis National Forest, the sum of 2 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Birch Creek Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Birch Creek Trail start?
The line begins at 45.2898° N, 114.3492° W and ends at 45.2592° N, 114.3246° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Clear Creek Trailhead, 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Birch Creek Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Where can I camp near the Birch Creek Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. The camping section covers dispersed camping, which most National Forest land allows.
How developed is the Birch Creek Trail?
Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed to developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Birch Creek Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Birch Creek Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Birch Creek Trail?
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Forest Service unit 0413. The trail is in Idaho.
Is there a fire near the Birch Creek Trail?
The interagency feed shows 2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Scf Nz Pile Burn Rx at 20 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named Birch Creek in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0413. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.