High above the beautiful Federally designated Wild and Scenic St. Joe River, we’ll work an 11-mile loop that goes up Bacon Creek, over a high pass, then back down Bean Creek to the St. Joe. This is beautiful and seldom visited backcountry in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. From a base camp on the St. Joe River, we’ll do lots of crosscut work along with brushing and tread repair.
Trail: St. Joe River Trail #48, Bacon Loop #66, Bean Divide #610
Itinerary: Arrive at Spruce Tree Campground Saturday afternoon/evening. Meet packer Sunday morning to hike into base camp; the packer will pack gear. Work Monday-Friday with a day off mid-week to relax, fish, and explore. Saturday morning, the packer will return to bring gear back to the trailhead. There is a potential to move camp mid-week, depending on project work.
Crew Leader: Don McIntosh
More Information: All Trails for the St Joe River Trail
Estimated Drive Time from Closest Town: 1.5 hours from Avery, Idaho
GAIA Map: Trailhead to Camp and Bacon Loop Trail
Refundable deposit: $50
Why do I need to pay a deposit? We’ve had trouble with people backing out of trips at the last minute which can really affect the productivity of the overall project. By charging a refundable fee, volunteers are less likely to cancel their reservation. Refunds will not be given to volunteers that do not show up or cancel their reservation. Exceptions will be made for medical reasons or unforeseen circumstances. Volunteers can choose to donate the deposit to ITA. All donations are tax-deductible and will go towards maintaining trails throughout Idaho. If you require assistance in paying for this fee, please contact us at trails@idahotrailsassociation.org and we will waive the cost.
Difficulty Rating
You should have some experience with backpacking and be in good hiking condition with broken-in and tested gear. This is a remote backcountry project so injuries such as sprains and blisters or even extreme fatigue from not being properly conditioned can quickly become a big safety issue. If you are unsure about the proper gear or about preparing for a trip, please reach out to trails@idahotrailsassociation.org.


Volunteer Spots Available: 1 of 8
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