Johnson Creek

Johnson Creek is a moderate out-and-back hike in Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest, within the Fairfield Ranger District. The trail is about 1.9 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 993 feet, and it starts at roughly 8,326 feet, reaching a high point of 8,464 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.83 miles in, where the grade reaches 18 percent. The hike is managed by the Forest Service, and the route is a short, single-day outing. Plan on about an hour for the trip. The trail is a compact option for a day in the Fairfield area, and it pairs easily with other outings in the surrounding forest. Nearby, the North Fork Ross Fork Trail lies about half a mile away, and the Alturas Lake-Mattingly hike is about 1.4 miles off. Jake's Gulch is roughly 1.9 miles away. For an overnight stay, Alturas Lake Inlet campground is about 5.4 miles from the trail.