Trail Creek
Trail Creek Trail is an 8.1-mile trail in Payette National Forest, Idaho. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Hells Canyon Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Payette 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 | 45.2263° N, 116.4453° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 45.2280° N, 116.3959° 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 4 segments.
The trail
| Length | 8.1 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| 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 | 185, 217 |
| Forest | Payette National Forest (unit 0412) |
| 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 year-round |
| 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
- Hells Canyon WildernessFS · the line touches the boundaryWilderness 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
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.
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
- PrescribedBrush Rx
7 mi from the trail midpoint · 2,000 acres
- PrescribedRailroad Rx
14 mi from the trail midpoint · 375 acres
- PrescribedCold Rx
19 mi from the trail midpoint · 1,094 acres
- PrescribedGoose Rx
23 mi from the trail midpoint · 529 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Idaho
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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 Trail Creek Trail?
The Forest Service records 8.1 miles under this name in Payette National Forest, the sum of 4 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Trail Creek Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Trail Creek Trail start?
The line begins at 45.2263° N, 116.4453° W and ends at 45.2280° N, 116.3959° W. 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 Trail Creek Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Hells Canyon Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Hells Canyon Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Trail Creek Trail?
Black Lake Campground (3 mi) is within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists it with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Trail Creek Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately 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 Trail Creek Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Trail 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 Trail Creek Trail?
Payette National Forest, Forest Service unit 0412. The trail is in Idaho.
Is there a fire near the Trail Creek Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Brush Rx at 7 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 4 segments named Trail Creek in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0412. 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.