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: South Fork of Gibson Jack Trail

Recommended by: Michelle & Glenn Florence, ITA Crew Leaders

Duration: Open Year-Round / Day Use Only / No Overnight Camping

Area: Westside Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Difficulty Rating: 3-Moderate, rocky sections with 521 ft. elevation gain

Road Considerations: From Pocatello, drive south on Bannock Highway to Gibson Jack Road. This road is good and is paved all the way to the trailhead, 3.2 miles from Bannock Hwy.

Total hiking miles: 3.7 miles, out and back.

The Hike: The Pocatello & Chubbuck area has over a thousand miles of recreational maintained trails and pathways for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.  One of the local favorites is the South Fork of Gibson Jack trail.  This is a popular hiking, mountain biking, and horse-riding trail due to the ease of access and beauty of the trail.  The best time to visit is May through November, and it takes an average of 1.5 hours to complete the hike. This trail is also a great place for snowshoeing during the winter months. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

From the parking lot, you’ll start hiking west on an easy single-track that follows along Gibson Jack Creek.  As you continue, the trail becomes slightly more technical with some incline and rocky sections. Near the turn around point, there is a nice bridge where you can enjoy the creek and get some shade. Note that ITA repaired this bridge and improved the approaches on National Public Lands Day in September of 2024, so it’s a much smoother transition now.  As for scenery, the beginning of the trail is mostly open with sagebrush, buckbrush, and a few junipers, but then becomes more rewarding with aspen groves and thicker stands of pines. Depending on the time of year, you may be welcomed by wildlife, wildflowers, or fall colors. The Gibson Jack area is home to mule deer and small mammals such as squirrels and cottontail rabbits. Occasionally, elk, moose or even mountain lions can be seen. Mountain bluebirds, broad-tailed hummingbirds, and western tanagers are also known to migrate through the area. In the late spring and early summer months, the wildflowers are abundant and monarch and swallowtail butterflies can be seen.  And in the fall, the aspens provide a delightful canopy of colors. Overall, it’s a beautiful, family-friendly trail.

Another reason this trail is so popular is that it connects to other major trails, including Elk Meadows Loop and Slate Mountain Trail. The Elk Meadows Loop then connects to the West Fork Trail, and the Slate Mountain Trail connects to Valve House Trail.  So, there are many options available to hike further if you would like.

More info about this hike: Places to camp along the way: There are a couple campgrounds nearby: Scout Mountain Campground and Mink Creek Group Campground. Both require reservations.

Things to consider: During the summer months, insects might be bothersome. And in the winter, the Gibson Jack road to the trailhead may be snow-covered and icy.

Fun places to visit on your way in or out: Some historical points of interest in Pocatello include the Museum of Clean, The Idaho Museum of Natural History, and the Fort Hall Replica and Museum.

More info about this hike: You can find more information and reviews of this trail by visiting AllTrails.com.