Trail Spotlight: Shingle Flat

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: Shingle Flat Trail #200

Recommended by: Melanie Vining, ITA Executive Director

Duration: Day hike

Area: Payette National Forest

Difficulty Rating: 2 out of 5

Road Considerations: To get to the trailhead, travel approximately 2.5 miles north from Council on Highway 95 to Mill Creek Road. Turn east on Mill Creek and travel 2 miles to the trailhead; just before the trailhead you will cross a cattleguard marking the entrance to the Payette National Forest. The trailhead parking is just beyond this. There is ample parking, and trail signs direct hikers once you cross the creek on the north side of the parking area, showing the way to hike the lower, 2-mile loop, both of which lead to the longer out and back.

Total Hiking Miles: 7

The Hike:

Whether you live in west-central Idaho or are just passing through on Highway 95 to other parts of the state, this trail is convenient to access and grab a short hike with big views.

At an elevation of just over 3000 feet, Shingle Flat Trail is spectacular with wildflowers and views of the green Council Valley as early as late April/early May. There is a short, two-mile loop complete with a bench to sit in the shade for a short break midway through, or the whole trail is 7 miles as an out-and-back. The trail climbs steeply from the parking lot but also includes more mellow stretches along the climb to the Shingle Flat dispersed camping area, a shady place to grab an overnight if one desires. There’s a vault toilet but no other campground amenities, so be sure to bring drinking water. Much of this trail is on a south-facing ridge, so in the hotter months is best hiked early in the morning.

Things to consider: After your hike, Council is a great place to grab pizza, a burger, or ice cream and enjoy the shade of the town square park.