American River Trail
Idaho
Free — you'll pick up right here.
5.7 mi
Distance
2,541 ft
Gain
2h 50m
Time
Conditions: Blocked
for hike, todayAn agency closure order is in effect for this area; weather is marginal
2 factors · 2 sources
Newest 10 h ago · oldest 11 h
problem: Agency alerts
4 active alerts in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest; most severe: Updated 250 Road Closure
USFSPosted Sep 15 · checked 11 h ago
caution: Weather
Clouds, high 51°F / low 27°F, 78% precip — 67/100 for hike
OpenWeather10 h ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
American River Trail
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 5.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,541 ft
- Elevation loss
- 2,541 ft
- Highest point
- 5,533 ft
- Lowest point
- 4,341 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
No permit or access details on file for this trail — check with the local land manager before you go.
About this trail
American River Trail is an 11.46-mile out-and-back route in Idaho with 2,541 feet of elevation gain and loss. The trail reaches a maximum elevation of 5,533 feet.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 4,341 ft
- High point
- 5,533 ft
- Total climbing
- 2,541 ft
- Total descent
- 2,541 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 24% grade around mile 5.5 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 12 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Elk City 1ne, ID weather station, 6.1 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan35° high15° low
- Feb41° high16° low
- Mar47° high21° low
- Apr53° high27° low
- May63° high33° low
- Jun71° high40° low
- Jul83° high42° low
- Aug83° high39° low
- Sep74° high32° low
- Oct58° high28° low
- Nov43° high22° low
- Dec33° high14° low
The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this spot, so expect it to run cooler up here.
Where it is
- Red River Ranger District · Ranger district
- Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · National forest
Source: USFS EDW boundaries
Conditions
Active alerts for Red River Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Red River Ranger District Road Closures
critical · posted Sep 1, 2026
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Lick Creek TrailHiking0.1 mi
- Limber Luke TrailHiking1.8 mi
- American RiverCamping2 mi
- Flint Creek TrailHiking2 mi
- Table MeadowsCamping2.3 mi
- O'Hara Saddle CampgroundCamping3 mi
- South Fork Clearwater RiverCanoeing7.9 mi
- Newsome CreekCanoeing7.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
