2023 Bean-Bacon Loop

Volunteer Trail Work Project

2023 Bean-Bacon Loop

Volunteer Trail Work Project

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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. 

Hike: 4/5 Strenuous
The hike to camp is about 7.5 miles, slight uphill on the way in with several gains and losses of elevation totaling 1,400 feet. Once at camp, we’ll make day trips out to the trail work, with the hike getting longer each day as we work further from camp.  The trail is mild along the St. Joe River and most of the loop, and then get steep as it climbs to Bacon Peak. See the linked map for the elevation profile.

Project Work: 3/5 Moderately Strenuous
Repeated digging or sawing, the potential for some heavy lifting. Carrying tools and packs up to five miles each day.  Volunteers can pick trail duties based on comfort and ability level and are encouraged to work at their own pace.

Volunteer Spots Available: 1 of 8
If there are no volunteer spots available, click “Sign Up” to get on our waitlist for this project!

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