Idaho · Hiking · Near Ketchum

Citizens Trail

2.4 mi
round trip
23 ft
climb
6,494 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Citizens Trail 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.

Citizens Trail is an easy hike in the Ketchum Ranger District of Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest, about 2.4 miles long with a total elevation gain of 23 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface makes it a simple walk, with no trailhead to reach and no major climbs to tackle. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ketchum put July highs around 80°F with lows near 45°F, and September is nearly as mild at about 69°F by day. Bikes are allowed on this trail, so you can ride it as well as walk. The Griffin Butte Connector starts just 0.1 mile away and Adams Gulch is about half a mile off. The Forbidden Fruit Trail #159 lies roughly 0.9 mile away for mountain bikers, and the Big Wood River fishing access is about 3.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    North Fork Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 5.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Grumpy's

    Pub

    On your way back · 4 mi
  • If it rains

    Sun Valley Museum of Art

    Museum

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Ketchum

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Citizens Trail

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      31° / 8°

      10 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      35° / 11°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    3. Mar

      43° / 19°

      8 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      52° / 27°

      7 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      62° / 35°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 40°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 45°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 43°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 36°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 28°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 17°

      7 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 9°

      10 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ketchum Rs, ID, 4.1 mi away at 5,890 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Proctor MountainPhoto: ArtBrom, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Proctor Mountain

~9 min drive

8.80-mile out-and-back hike to Proctor Mountain summit in Idaho with 1,097 ft gain.

Aspen LoopPhoto: Chloé François, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Aspen Loop

~9 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 637 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Lane's Trail - Sunnyside

~2 min drive

4.45-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 222 ft gain.

HIKE

OSBERG RIDGELINE TRAIL

~8 min drive

22.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 6,112 ft elevation gain and 9,552 ft max elevation.

Corral CreekPhoto: ArtBrom, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Corral Creek

~9 min drive

8.65-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 350 ft gain.

Trail CreekPhoto: ArtBrom, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Trail Creek

~9 min drive

2.11-mile out-and-back trail at Trail Creek in Idaho with 65 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Lake Creek Connector

~3 min drive

2.82-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,131 ft elevation gain

HIKE

EAST FORK BAKER CREEK

~12 min drive

17.58-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,286 ft elevation gain.

Easley Gulch Aka CurliesPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Easley Gulch Aka Curlies

~12 min drive

6.16-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,518 ft elevation gain.

SOUTH BOULDER LOOPPhoto: DieselDemon, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

SOUTH BOULDER LOOP

~10 min drive

2.27-mile loop trail in Idaho with 249 ft gain and 274 ft loss.