Cataract Creek
- 10.6 mi
- round trip
- 2,652 ft
- climb
- 6,372 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Cataract Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It doesn't name Cataract Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).
Emergency Road Closure Lightning Creek / Forest Road 419
Agency closure covering Idaho Panhandle National Forests · Order 0104-06-26-002 · USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Emergency Road Closure Forest Road 225, Slate Creek
Agency closure covering St. Joe Ranger District · Order 01-04-04-26-001 · USFS · St. Joe Ranger District
Abandoned Mines Area Closure
Agency closure covering Idaho Panhandle National Forests · Order 1-04-00-25-001 · USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Idaho Panhandle Seasonal Food Storage Order
Agency closure covering Idaho Panhandle National Forests · Order 01-04-00-24-001 · USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Heavy Truck Traffic on FS Road 209
Agency alert covering Idaho Panhandle National Forests · USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Cataract Creek is a hard hike in the St. Joe Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 10.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,652 feet, taking you from a low point of about 3,556 feet to a high of about 6,372 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mullan Pass show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay near 28°F. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Northbound Creek starts just 0.1 mile away, and Martin Creek, Horseshoe Loop and Surveyor's Ridge are each about a mile off. Surveyors Lookout campground is about 1.2 miles away.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Cataract Creek
Best months: July–September. 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
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 33.2 mi away at 6,028 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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