Elkhorn Loop
Elkhorn Loop is a 12.2-mile trail in Boise National Forest, Idaho. The Forest Service rates it trail class 4, highly developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Boise 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 | 44.0242° N, 115.6064° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 44.0265° N, 115.6034° 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 6 segments.
The trail
| Length | 12.2 miles |
| Trail class | 4, highly developed |
| Type | snow trail, land trail |
| Surface | native material, snow |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Recreation Trail or other national designation |
| Trail numbers | 700003, SNO-700003 |
| Forest | Boise National Forest (unit 0402) |
| 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 11/16 to 05/14 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 05/15 to 11/15 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
| Snowshoeing | Allowed year-round |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed 12/01 to 03/30 (month/day) |
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.
Trailheads
Banner Ridge Trailhead No season published | under 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
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Mores South
15 mi from the trail midpoint · 245 acres
- PrescribedRound Ferry 2026 Rx
31 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedRx Fawn Tussock
38 mi from the trail midpoint · 86 acres
- WildfireEast Fork
40 mi from the trail midpoint · 266 acres · 60% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Elkhorn Loop?
The Forest Service records 12.2 miles under this name in Boise National Forest, the sum of 6 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Elkhorn Loop?
Hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing 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 Elkhorn Loop start?
The line begins at 44.0242° N, 115.6064° W and ends at 44.0265° N, 115.6034° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Banner Ridge Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Elkhorn Loop in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Elkhorn Loop?
Mountain View (2.6 mi), Kirkham (3.3 mi) and Beaver Creek Rental Cabin (3.3 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 7 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Elkhorn Loop?
Trail class 4, which the Forest Service describes as highly 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 Elkhorn Loop?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Elkhorn Loop a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Recreation Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Elkhorn Loop?
Boise National Forest, Forest Service unit 0402. The trail is in Idaho.
Is there a fire near the Elkhorn Loop?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Mores South at 15 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 6 segments named Elkhorn Loop in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0402. 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.