Heart Pass
- 9.9 mi
- round trip
- 797 ft
- climb
- 6,531 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Heart Pass open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in North Fork Ranger District. It doesn't name Heart Pass, so check the source for the area it covers (6 listed).
NFSR 247 Amended Closure
Agency closure covering North Fork Ranger District · Order 01-17-53-26-012 · USFS · North Fork Ranger District
Updated 250 Road Closure
Agency closure covering Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · USFS · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Moose Mountain Fire Area Closure
Agency closure covering North Fork Ranger District · Order 01-17-53-26-008 · USFS · North Fork Ranger District
Little Weitas Trail Closures
Agency closure covering North Fork Ranger District · Order 01-17-53-26-005 · USFS · North Fork Ranger District
Little Weitas Trails Closure
Agency closure covering North Fork Ranger District · Order 01-17-53-26-005 · USFS · North Fork Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · North Fork Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Heart Pass is a hard hike in the North Fork Ranger District of Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The out-and-back route is about 9.9 miles long, rising from roughly 5,647 feet to about 6,531 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with lows in the low 50s and only about six wet days a month. Winters there are cold, with January highs near 28°F and lows around 19°F. The trail is natural-surface, and both bikes and horses are allowed. It is not an accessible trail. Skyland Lake is about 1.5 miles away and Fawn Lake about 1.8 miles. For camping, Surveyors Lookout is about 4.2 miles off, and Aquarius Campground is about 7.8 miles away.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Heart Pass
Best months: July–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.
Jan
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 36.6 mi away at 6,028 ft. The station sits about 500 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
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Skyland Lake
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0.44-mile out-and-back trail to Skyland Lake in Idaho with 82 ft of elevation gain.
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Fawn Lake Trail
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Elmer Creek Trail
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Black Lake Trail
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Fawn Lake
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Martin Creek
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The Nub Trail
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BEAVER CREEK
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2.18-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,262 ft elevation gain.
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Heart Lake
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0.53-mile out-and-back trail to Heart Lake in Idaho with 41 ft gain.
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Cataract Creek
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