Blue Bunch Mtn
- 8.4 mi
- round trip
- 4,965 ft
- climb
- 8,727 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Blue Bunch Mtn open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Stoddard Bridge Construction Closure
Agency alert covering Salmon-Challis National Forest · Order 0413-07-17 · USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Blue Bunch Mtn is a hard out-and-back hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, part of the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs about 8.4 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of 4,965 feet. The route starts at about 8,709 feet and climbs to a high point of 8,727 feet, which makes it a steep, long day. The trail is a natural-surface route, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The steepest section comes around mile 3.8, where the grade reaches about 27 percent. The trip is open year-round, and the estimated time is about 5.5 hours. Parking is at the Blue Bunch / Bear Valley Creek trailhead. Several other destinations sit within a few miles. Camptender and Bear Valley Creek are hikes about 2.6 and 3.4 miles away. Dagger Falls Campground and Boundary Creek Campground Complex offer places to camp, both about 3.5 miles from the trail.
Local outfitters
- Arrowhead RV Park38 mi away
- The Sawmill Station43 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Camptender
~4 min drive
24.14-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,295 ft gain.
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Bear Valley Creek
~6 min drive
2.48-mile out-and-back trail at Bear Valley Creek in Idaho.
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SULPHUR CREEK CUTOFF
~6 min drive
6.06-mile loop trail in Idaho with 536 ft elevation gain.
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Kirkham Ridge
~20 min drive
43.48-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 7,247 ft elevation gain/loss
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Mountain Meadows
~8 min drive
6.14-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 815 ft elevation gain.
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Bear Valley Marsh Creek
~6 min drive
8.75-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 134 ft elevation gain.
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Cutthroat
~9 min drive
5.81-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 419 ft elevation gain.
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Muskeg Creek
~10 min drive
12.03-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 683 ft elevation gain.
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Big Soldier Trail
~10 min drive
1.0-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 474 ft gain and 8,924 ft max elevation.
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Roughneck
~9 min drive
Roughneck is a 5.02-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,147 feet of elevation gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 8.4 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 4,965 ft
- Starts at
- BLUEBUNCH / BEAR VALLEY CREEK TH (about 8,727 ft)
- Summit
- 8,746 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
Getting there
Park at BLUEBUNCH / BEAR VALLEY CREEK TH.
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Blue Bunch Mtn on Blue Bunch Mountain?
About 8.4 mi round trip from BLUEBUNCH / BEAR VALLEY CREEK TH (about 8,727 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Blue Bunch Mtn?
About 4,965 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Blue Bunch Mtn?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Blue Bunch Mtn start?
BLUEBUNCH / BEAR VALLEY CREEK TH (about 8,727 ft).
When is the best time for the Blue Bunch Mtn?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Blue Bunch Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
