Idaho · Hiking

Eckels Creek

Eckels CreekPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
17.6 mi
round trip
2,269 ft
climb
4,977 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Eckels 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.

Eckels Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the Council Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 1,700 feet to nearly 5,000 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,269 feet over a route of about 17.6 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. The parking area is named Eckels Creek, and the nearest town is New Meadows, about 24 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at New Meadows show July and August highs around 85°F with lows in the low 40s, while winter highs there stay near freezing. That station sits about 1,100 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Hells Canyon, a climbing area, is about 1.6 miles away, and the Allison Creek hike is about 1.9 miles off. Big Bar campground is about 2 miles away, and the 32 Point Creek Trail is about 2.8 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Eckels Creek

    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

      30° / 9°

    2. Feb

      36° / 12°

    3. Mar

      45° / 21°

    4. Apr

      55° / 27°

    5. May

      64° / 33°

    6. Jun

      72° / 39°

    7. Jul

      85° / 43°

    8. Aug

      85° / 41°

    9. Sep

      75° / 33°

    10. Oct

      59° / 25°

    11. Nov

      42° / 19°

    12. Dec

      31° / 13°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at New Meadows Rs, ID, 23.7 mi away at 3,862 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Allison CreekPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Allison Creek

~3 min drive

4.07-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,901 ft elevation gain.

32 Point Creek TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

32 Point Creek Trail

~5 min drive

14.28-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,759 ft elevation gain and loss.

Hells Canyon Reservoir ViewptPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hells Canyon Reservoir Viewpt

~5 min drive

1.34-mile out-and-back trail to Hells Canyon Reservoir Viewpt in Idaho, 327 ft gain.

Hells Canyon Reservoir TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hells Canyon Reservoir Trail

~7 min drive

3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,579 ft elevation gain and loss.

Buck Creek TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Buck Creek Trail

~8 min drive

3.04-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,805 ft elevation gain and loss.

Reservoir Bench TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Reservoir Bench Trail

~7 min drive

17.46-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 6,012 ft gain and 6,070 ft max elevation.

HIKE

Sheep Rock

~6 min drive

0.39-mile loop trail with 96 ft elevation gain in Idaho.

Deep CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Deep Creek

~8 min drive

14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,814 ft elevation gain

Stud Creek TrailPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Stud Creek Trail

~13 min drive

2.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,045 ft elevation gain

Haley Ridge TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Haley Ridge Trail

~9 min drive

8.92-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,691 ft elevation gain.