Idaho · Hiking

Grouse Creek

21.3 mi
round trip
2,927 ft
climb
6,280 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Grouse 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.

Grouse Creek is a hard hike of about 21 miles on natural surface in the Council Ranger District of Idaho's Payette National Forest. The trail is out and back, with a total elevation gain of about 2,900 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. It is a long, steep trip, rising from about 3,300 feet to roughly 6,300 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in McCall put July and August highs around 81°F with lows in the mid-40s, and those months see few wet days. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. The route is open to horses and bikes, which makes it easier to plan a multi-day trip. Buck Park Cabin, about 5 miles away, offers a place to stay. Other hikes within a few miles include June Creek, Dukes Creek-Starveout Creek and Dukes Creek Rim.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Grouse 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

      31° / 13°

      14 wet · 11 snow

    2. Feb

      36° / 14°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      43° / 20°

      13 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      51° / 27°

      12 wet · 3 snow

    5. May

      61° / 35°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      70° / 40°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 45°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 43°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 36°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 28°

      9 wet · 2 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 21°

      13 wet · 7 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 13°

      15 wet · 12 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mccall, ID, 32.6 mi away at 5,025 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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

DUKES CREEK-STARVEOUT CREEKPhoto: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

DUKES CREEK-STARVEOUT CREEK

~6 min drive

10.54-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,047 ft elevation gain/loss

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

Hells Canyon Reservoir Trail

~30 min drive

3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,579 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

~31 min drive

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

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JUNE CREEK

~3 min drive

2.42-mile loop trail in Idaho with 2,221 ft elevation gain

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

Reservoir Bench Trail

~30 min drive

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

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Rush Creek

~9 min drive

17.29-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,729 ft of elevation gain.

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Grouse Creek

~9 min drive

A moderate 2.18-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho featuring mixed terrain within the Lost River Range trail system.

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DUKES CREEK

~9 min drive

3.84-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,399 ft elevation gain.

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E/F PINE CREEK

~9 min drive

15.88-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,915 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Grade Creek

~12 min drive

Grade Creek is a 14.00-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,166 feet of elevation gain.