Idaho · Hiking · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Chamberlain Creek

25.4 mi
round trip
5,834 ft
climb
5,643 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Chamberlain Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.

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

Chamberlain Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The trail is about 25 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 5,800 feet, and it is an out-and-back route that reaches a high point of about 5,640 feet. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dixie, at a similar elevation, show July and August highs around 77°F with lows in the upper 30s. Winter is cold, with January highs near 33°F and lows around 5°F. The trip takes about 11.5 hours. Chamberlain Basin campground is about a mile away, and Queen Creek is under a mile off. Artic Point and Flossie Lake are both within about 6 miles.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Chamberlain 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

      33° / 5°

    2. Feb

      36° / 6°

    3. Mar

      41° / 14°

    4. Apr

      46° / 21°

    5. May

      57° / 29°

    6. Jun

      66° / 35°

    7. Jul

      77° / 39°

    8. Aug

      77° / 36°

    9. Sep

      67° / 30°

    10. Oct

      52° / 23°

    11. Nov

      39° / 15°

    12. Dec

      31° / 6°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dixie, ID, 18 mi away at 5,620 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.