Trail Blaze

Idaho Trails Association Blog

Trail Blaze

Idaho Trails Association Blog

Blog2022-02-24T15:00:55-07:00
11Sep 2025

Trail Spotlight: Nez Perce Trail #13 (Magruder Ridge)

September 11, 2025|0 Comments

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 ... Read More

11Sep 2025

Volunteer Spotlight: Jestine Lackner

September 11, 2025|Comments Off on Volunteer Spotlight: Jestine Lackner

We’re excited to spotlight Jestine, a passionate advocate for the outdoors who jumped right into the ITA community this past summer! She first connected with ITA through a shared love of Idaho’s wild places and stepped up to serve as camp cook on a week-long St. Joe River project—keeping volunteers well-fed and energized for long days of trail work. Her enthusiasm for nature, sustainability, and community shines through in ... Read More

20Aug 2025

Frank Church Immersion Project

August 20, 2025|Comments Off on Frank Church Immersion Project

Do you remember a daily routine outside of pings, scrolling, and screens? Our Frank Church Immersion crew has returned from almost two weeks clearing trail spanning from the historic Chamberlain Guard Station to Dillinger Meadow, spending time in one of the most remote places in the lower 48. The crew of eight tackled a long term project to clear trails in the Hida Point area, bumping camp as needed ... Read More

15Aug 2025

Volunteer Spotlight: Andie Link

August 15, 2025|Comments Off on Volunteer Spotlight: Andie Link

A huge thank you to our Youth Trail Crew Volunteer, Andie Link, for bringing her energy, creativity, and love for the outdoors to ITA! Since her very first youth trip to Loon Lake, she’s jumped in on projects like Copper Creek and Taylor Ranch, always ready to work hard, problem-solve, and have fun along the way. For Andie, trail work isn’t just about clearing trails—it’s about connecting deeply with ... Read More

14Aug 2025

Trail Spotlight: Coeur d’Alene River National Recreation Trail

August 14, 2025|0 Comments

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 ... Read More

8Aug 2025

Looking back, and forward, from the Hum Lake Trail    

August 8, 2025|Comments Off on Looking back, and forward, from the Hum Lake Trail    

On July 12th, I met eight ITA volunteers at the Hum Lake/Duck Lake trailhead east of McCall, on the Payette National Forest. On our 2025 project schedule, this looked like just another one-day trail project, working a popular route to a beautiful high mountain lake. We include this project on our schedule each year, but this year it was particularly special because not only was this ITA's first ever ... Read More

8Aug 2025

Dry Saddle Trail Project

August 8, 2025|Comments Off on Dry Saddle Trail Project

Way out on the historic Magruder Corridor, ITA and ERTH Beverage Company teamed up for 12 miles of trail work above the Salmon River. This remote section of the Idaho Centennial Trail includes one of the toughest climbs of the whole 1,000 miles of the ICT, and this crew had their work cut out for them returning to their camp at Sheep Hill fire lookout. Bitterroot Outfitters helped with ... Read More

4Aug 2025

North Fork Boise River

August 4, 2025|Comments Off on North Fork Boise River

Thanks to Backcountry Hunters & Anglers for partnering with us on this project on the North Fork of the Boise River! Our crew worked up the North Fork Boise River Trail, clearing brush and re-establishing the trail through several small rockslides. At 1.75 miles, we reached a large slide that's dammed the river and submerged the trail, effectively creating a new trail end. In the future, the Forest Service ... Read More

14Jul 2025

Trail Spotlight: Alpine Way

July 14, 2025|0 Comments

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 ... Read More

8Jul 2025

ITA Strike Team Strikes Again!

July 8, 2025|Comments Off on ITA Strike Team Strikes Again!

As part of our efforts to help our Forest Service partners fill gaps left by recent job and budget cuts, ITA launched a "strike team" program this summer, where crew leaders and experienced volunteers respond to unplanned trail work needs. The Krassel District of the Payette National Forest voiced a need for help clearing the route from Big Creek to Chamberlain Basin, the main trail connection between their workstations ... Read More

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