Boise National Forest · Idaho · Trail 009004

Switchback

Switchback Trail is a 5.2 miles trail in Boise 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.

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 end44.5144, -115.5807 · Directions ↗
Other end44.5276, -115.6193 · 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 4 segments.

The trail

Length5.2 miles
Trail class2, moderately developed; 3, developed
Typeland trail
Surfacenative material
Typical tread width18-24 inches, 12-18 inches
Motor vehiclesClosed to all motorized use year-round
AccessibilityNot evaluated
Trail numbers009004, 009005
ForestBoise National Forest (unit 0402)
StatesIdaho
Detail publishedmanagement 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.

Allowed uses

HikingAllowed year-round
Horse and pack stockAllowed year-round
Mountain bikingAllowed 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.

Trailheads

The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.

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. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.

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.

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

  • Prescribed
    Payette National Forest Rx

    37 mi from the trail midpoint

  • Wildfire
    Crooked

    47 mi from the trail midpoint · 10,081 acres · 97% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.

Reference

Questions people ask

How long is the Switchback Trail?

5.2 miles, the sum of the 4 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Boise National Forest.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

What is allowed on the Switchback Trail?

hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Where does the Switchback Trail start?

The line begins at 44.5144, -115.5807 and ends at 44.5276, -115.6193. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the Switchback Trail 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 Switchback Trail?

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.

Source: Boise National Forest official page

How developed is the Switchback 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 Switchback Trail?

The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Who manages the Switchback Trail?

Boise National Forest, Forest Service unit 0402. The trail is in Idaho.

Source: Boise National Forest official page

Is there a fire near the Switchback Trail?

2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Payette National Forest Rx at 37 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.

Source: Fire nearby

Source

This page is built from 4 segments named SWITCHBACK 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 September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.