Idaho · Hiking

Baker Creek

Baker CreekPhoto: Fredlyfish4 at English Wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
9.5 mi
round trip
1,665 ft
climb
7,942 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 21 h ago

Is BAKER CREEK open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Sawtooth National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Sawtooth National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Baker Creek is a hard out-and-back hike in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area, within the Sawtooth National Forest. The route is about 19 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,467 feet, and it reaches a high point of 7,942 feet. The climb is front-loaded, and the steepest stretch comes at about 8.8 miles in, where the grade reaches 9%. The most comfortable time to go is summer, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Stanley run around 80°F for highs in July and August and about 69°F in June. That station sits roughly 1,400 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Winters are cold, with January highs near 29°F. The trip takes about 7 hours. The nearest trails are Silver Creek Loop, about half a mile away, and Easley Gulch Aka Curlies at about 0.7 miles. For camping, Wood River Campground is about 5 miles off, and the Billy Goat Buttress climbing area is about 3 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit BAKER CREEK

    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.

    1. Jan

      29° / 4°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 7°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 14°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 21°

      12 wet

    5. May

      60° / 30°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 35°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 39°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 37°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 31°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 24°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 14°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 6°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley Rs, ID, 32.5 mi away at 6,495 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.