Mackay, Idaho

Mine Hill Tour is a self-guided driving tour focused on Mackay's mining history. Stops showcase artifacts of the once-vibrant towns that housed miners and their families.Much of the tour is available to passenger vehicles. Begin by picking up a Mine Hill Tour map from any local merchant in Mackay...

Mt. McCaleb's beautiful south face towers over the little town of Mackay, Idaho. The domineering peak is seen from US-93 just waiting to be climbed. It's a part of the Lost River Range, which boasts seven of Idaho's nine 12K-foot peaks; at 11,682 feet tall, McCaleb is Idaho's 34th highest peak.Th...

This is one of the easiest, yet scenically rewarding, hikes in the Lost River Range. Traveling only 1.2 miles (3.4 miles round trip) with an elevation gain of about 200 ft. You travel in a canyon surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Idaho. Mt. McCaleb is the giant 11,682 ft peak on the ...

Directions to the "trailhead": From Mackay, Idaho take Highway 93, approximately 2 miles past Mackay reservoir, turn right on Upper Cedar Creek road (FS rd 127). Follow this road straight toward the mountains. There will be a number of cattle gates to go through. About 3 miles up, the road crosse...

The trailhead starts at the end of an old jeep trail. If you are brave with your 4 wheel drive you can drive to here and cut 1.4 miles off your hike. My mile counting started at the trail head. The trail is very well marked. At about 0.3 miles it crosses Bear Creek. In the summer this will often ...

Rising high above the sage brush covered landscape, Mount Borah is the tallest mountain in Idaho and is referred to as the "roof of Idaho." This behemoth is part of the Lost River Range in the central part of the state. The strongest earthquake in Idaho occurred along the fault line in 1983 and r...

I have a hard time getting the word "legendary" out of my mind when referencing this hike. I liked it that much. The trailhead begins at 7200'; be prepared to drive 20 miles on a maintained gravel road to get there. The first 3 miles of this out-and-back hike are pretty flat, meandering through ...

Johnstone Pass is a diamond in a valley flush with hidden gems.Turn east onto East Fork Big Wood River Road from Highway 75. Continue through the defunct mining town of Triumph where the road turns to dirt and becomes Forest Service Road 118. At the fork stay right. Pass the Sawmill and Federal G...

This hike into the Pioneer Mountain Range starts out in a small meadow near Kane Creek, which you will follow for nearly the whole hike. Once you hit the forested area the uphill climb begins and doesn't stop until you get to the lake. About half way up the trail will begin taking you through roc...

Access the trailhead for Big Fall Creek Falls via Trail Creek Road. From Sun Valley the road is typically passable for sedans but is prone to producing flat tires. The parking area doubles as dispersed, free camping.Start the hike by crossing the creek on the log bridge. With the creek on your ri...

Biking Crater of the Moon National Monument's seven mile loop road provides an intimate experience through a wild landscape.Park at the Visitor's Center. Grab a map and check out the interactive display explaining how Craters of the Moon was formed in the same tectonic event that birthed Yellowst...

Craters of the Moon National Monument is 1100 square miles of basalt lava and sagebrush. It looks like another planet: desolate in macro, beautiful in micro. Craters is most popular in the summer, when visitors from nearby Sun Valley arrive to hike on sun-baked lava hot enough to melt their shoes...

One of the longest hikes at Craters (none of them are very long), the North Crater trail boasts a view of beautiful red and orange rock along the ridgeline of some massive volcanic craters. You can start the trail from either end—at the campground parking lot near the entrance to the park or at t...

The Devil's Orchard is a quick, family friendly stroll through unique volcanic scenery. If you follow the road past the entrance to Craters of the Moon National Monument, the road to Devil's Orchard will be on your left, marked by a sign. You'll drive a minute or two before reaching the parking l...

At 12,009 feet, Hyndman Peak is the ninth highest peak in Idaho and the tallest peak in the Pioneer Mountains. The hike to Hyndman Peak will take you up 5,000 feet in elevation over six miles. Once you've made it to the top, you can take in one of the most stunning 360-degree views of other Idaho...

This trek starts about 25 minutes from Ketchum, Idaho at the Hyndman Creek Trailhead. As a general rule of thumb, Sun Valley is a great place to be in the fall, and this adventure is no different. The hike itself follows the beautiful Hyndman Creek and is only about 3.5 miles, but the daunting st...