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

Grass Mountain (Wilderness)

25.1 mi
round trip
4,169 ft
climb
7,044 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Grass Mountain (Wilderness) 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.

Grass Mountain (Wilderness) 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 an out-and-back that climbs from about 3,400 feet to 7,044 feet, a gain of 4,169 feet over a route of about 25 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July and August highs around 76°F with lows in the upper 30s, while winter highs stay near freezing. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses, and bikes are not permitted. Several other hikes sit close by, including Chamberlain Creek about a mile away and Devils Toe at 1.6 miles. Runaway Ridge is about 3.6 miles off, and Cold Meadows Airfield campground is roughly 9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Grass Mountain (Wilderness)

    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

      31° / 5°

    2. Feb

      33° / 8°

    3. Mar

      38° / 13°

    4. Apr

      46° / 20°

    5. May

      57° / 28°

    6. Jun

      64° / 35°

    7. Jul

      76° / 39°

    8. Aug

      76° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 31°

    10. Oct

      52° / 24°

    11. Nov

      36° / 14°

    12. Dec

      28° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dixie N, ID, 25.3 mi away at 5,740 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.