Idaho · Hiking

Hurst Canyon

16.3 mi
round trip
2,667 ft
climb
9,541 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Hurst Canyon open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Hurst Canyon is a hard hike in Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest, within the Lost River Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 6,800 feet to nearly 9,500 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,667 feet over a route of about 16 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, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. That makes it a practical choice for a longer trip with gear. Fish Creek Summit lies about a mile away, and Iron Bog Campground is about 2 miles off, so either can serve as a base. The Muldoon-Ironbog hike is roughly 5 miles away, and Dry Fork Creek, a paddling spot, is about 6 miles out.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

HIKE

Craters of the Moon, the Oregon Trail

~24 min drive

History A Safer Alternative The Oregon Trail followed the course of the Snake River, about 100 miles south of the monument. In 1852, John Jeffrey began promoting a spur trail which traced traditional Shoshone migration routes. He wanted to generate business for his ferry at…

North Crater TrailPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Crater Trail

~25 min drive

3.18-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 1,206 ft gain and 6,143 ft max elevation.

Devils Orchard TrailPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Devils Orchard Trail

~27 min drive

0.50-mile loop trail in Idaho, National Park Service.

HIKE

Fish Creek Summit

~2 min drive

12.04-mile out-and-back trail to Fish Creek Summit in Idaho with 1,709 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

LAKE CREEK

~21 min drive

16.98-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,069 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

North Crater Flow Trail

~25 min drive

An excellent introduction to the Craters of the Moon landscape, an easy, paved 0.3 mi (0.5 km) loop winds through a pahoehoe lava flow that spilled from the North Crater vent about 2,100 years ago. For your safety and in order to protect this sensitive area, off-trail travel i…

HIKE

FISH CREEK SUMMIT SPUR 1

~6 min drive

5.96-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,148 ft elevation gain.

Caves TrailPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Caves Trail

~28 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 51 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Muldoon-Ironbog

~8 min drive

12.01-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,585 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Big Craters

~26 min drive

The source of one of the most recent eruptions at Craters of the Moon, Big Craters allows visitors to venture up to the edge of one of the park's larger craters. Big Craters is located at the southern end of North Crater Trail near the Spatter Cones area. A short, steep hike…