Ant Basin
- 2.2 mi
- round trip
- 1,327 ft
- climb
- 6,685 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Ant Basin open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-638 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-637 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Lost Valley Log Hauling
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · USFS · Payette National Forest
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-635 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-543 · USFS · Payette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Ant Basin is a moderate out-and-back hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the New Meadows Ranger District. The trail is about 2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of roughly 1,300 feet, and it reaches a high point of about 6,685 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. The climb is steepest near the start, with a grade of about 26% at about 0.6 miles. The trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren, Idaho, show July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-30s, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to about 7°F. The hike takes about 1.5 hours. Ant Basin South Trail and Rapid River Ridge both lie within a third of a mile, and Indian Spring is about 1.3 miles away. For an overnight stay, Smokey Boulder Dispersed campground is about 3.5 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park25 mi away
- Cornucopia Lodge & Packstation36 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Ant Basin
Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
35° / 7°
Feb
41° / 7°
Mar
46° / 17°
Apr
50° / 20°
May
59° / 27°
Jun
68° / 34°
Jul
79° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
69° / 30°
Oct
56° / 23°
Nov
41° / 16°
Dec
34° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 39.6 mi away at 5,907 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Ant Basin South Trail
Next door
0.8-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 244 ft elevation gain.
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Rapid River Ridge
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5.52-mile out-and-back trail on a ridge in Idaho with 667 ft gain.
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Twin Lakes Creek Trail
~4 min drive
5.1-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,827 ft elevation gain.
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Echols Ridge Trail
~8 min drive
12.04-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 5,191 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Indian Spring Trail
~3 min drive
2.74-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 851 ft gain/loss.
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Indian Spring
~2 min drive
3.67-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,063 ft elevation gain.
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Cub Creek
~4 min drive
2.34-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 198 ft gain.
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Carbonate Hill Trail
~11 min drive
8.6-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,559 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Rapid River
~4 min drive
1.81-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 406 ft elevation gain.
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LAKE FORK RIDGE
~5 min drive
2.24-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 888 ft elevation gain
