In the Hells Canyon Wilderness, ITA will work on clearing and improving the Little Granite Trail. When open, this trail offers backpackers a great “ridge to river” adventure from the Seven Devils down to the Snake River.
The crew will take a jetboat ride over Class III rapids to the confluence of Granite Creek and the Snake River. From here, we will backpack up the trail about a mile to base camp near the historic Hibbs Ranch site. The crew will work on the Little Granite Creek Trail as it climbs high into the Seven Devils Mountains, removing trees and rocks blocking the trail, brushing, and improving switchbacks and tread. This is the perfect time of year for this section as it gets hot in the summer. Later this summer, ITA will host a project based at Hibbs Cow Camp on the Seven Devils loop trail, working from the top of Little Granite down to tie in with where this crew leaves off.
A beautiful little valley tucked between the river and mountains, with views of snowcapped peaks in the distance, this area had the crew last year saying, “we have to go back!”
Project information is subject to change. Crew leaders will communicate via email. Failure to respond to your crew leader may result in being dropped from the project. See our FAQs, reach out to your crew leader, or contact ITA staff at trails@idahotrailsassociation.org if you have questions.
Trails: Little Granite Creek #112
Itinerary: This is a five-day project. Wednesday, meet in the morning at Hells Canyon Boat Launch, near the Hells Canyon Dam Visitors Center. Boat to Granite Creek and backpack to base camp near Hibbs Ranch, approximately one mile. From here, work up Little Granite Creek. Work up the trail, return to base camp each evening. Sunday morning, pack up and meet jet boat to be transported back to boat ramp.
Food Provided by ITA: No
Crew Leader: Tom Dabrowski
Estimated Drive Time from Closest Town: 1 hour 30 min from Cambridge
Trail Map: Click for trail map and elevation profile
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 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
If there are no volunteer spots available, click “Sign Up” to get on our waitlist for this project!
