Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current conditions and  keep yourself safe if you choose to hike this trail. Physical guidebooks and maps are always good to have or check out some online resources like Alltrails.com for updated trail reports. If your trip is as awesome as you hope it will be, please share photos and feedback!

Trail Spotlight: Lake Creek Trail #204/Crooked Creek Trail #215

Recommended by: Gina Cretser, ITA volunteer

Duration: Day hike and/or overnight backpacking

Area: Nez Perce-Clearwater NF/Gospel Hump Wilderness

Difficulty Rating: 3 out of 5- there is a two-mile drop from the trailhead then a steady uphill to Jumbo Canyon. The high point to low point elevation difference is about 1200 ft. over nine miles making this a challenging but doable hike for any skill level.

Road Considerations: Pass through Elk City, the last potential place for services, and head to the unincorporated community of Dixie. The road to the Halfway House campground where the trailhead is located is a fairly well maintained dirt/gravel road. Low clearance vehicles will want to watch for a few large potholes right outside of Dixie before the Dixie Work Center airfield.

Total Hiking Miles: 6+

The Hike: This trail offers many hiking itineraries! From the Halfway House Campground to a lovely campsite at Silver Spur Creek is about 6 miles. The trail begins with 2 miles of downhill hiking through rocky scree slopes and some brushy areas, then quickly reaches thick timber. The hike continues to follow along Crooked Creek until the Lake Creek #204 trail junction. At the junction, there is a beautifully built bridge over Lake Creek. Keep your eyes out for marmots and other wildlife in the rocky scree near the bridge. From here, hikers can continue on to the Lake Creek Trail toward Jumbo Canyon and Fish Lake, opening up many options for longer backpacking trips. This trail is easy to follow and has beautiful scenery with water access.

Places to camp along the way: The trailhead at Halfway House Campground is a great place to camp. There are pit toilets, swimming holes, campsites with tables, and plenty of room for stock. For backpackers, Silver Spur Creek and Jumbo Creek have established outfitter sites with room for 4-5 tents and water access.

Things to consider: The temperatures in the Gospel Hump can be brutally hot in the summertime so be prepared. ITA worked on this trail last year but expect downfall and pile-ups about a mile south of Fish Lake. Also, be aware that there is a large rock in the trail in the Crooked Creek section that may affect stock passage.

Upcoming opportunities: We still have a few volunteer spots open on our five-day 2025 Lake Creek- Jumbo Canyon Trail Project!