Boulder Creek

Boulder Creek is a moderate out-and-back hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the McCall Ranger District. The trail is about 4.9 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 735 feet, taking you from a low point of about 6,279 feet to a high of about 7,025 feet. The trailhead is at Boulder Trailhead, and the parking area is labeled Boulder Lake. The route is on natural surface, and both horses and bikes are allowed. The land is managed by the State Department of Land, and the trail is open year-round. 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. That station sits roughly 1,100 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Louie Lake Trail starts just 0.2 miles away, and Jug Handle Bouldering is about 1.6 miles off. Paddy Flat Lake Fork Pack Trail is 1.9 miles away, and Lake Fork campground is 3.9 miles away.