Lake Creek
- 9.8 mi
- round trip
- 3,301 ft
- climb
- 6,437 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Lake Creek open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-637 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Lost Valley Log Hauling
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · USFS · Payette National Forest
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-635 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-543 · USFS · Payette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Lake Creek is a hard hike in the New Meadows Ranger District of Idaho's Payette National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 3,125 feet to 6,437 feet, covering roughly 9.8 miles with a total elevation gain of 3,301 feet. The trail is rated hard, and the route is long and steep. It is open to horses and bikes, and the surface is natural. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Warren weather station put July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-30s. Winter is cold, with January highs in the mid-30s and lows near 7°F. Patrick Butte Trail lies about 0.1 mile away, and Lake Point and Lake Creek Trail are within a mile. For camping, Shorts Bar is about 5 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park33 mi away
- Oregon Backcountry Outfitting49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Lake Creek
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.
Jan
35° / 7°
Feb
41° / 7°
Mar
46° / 17°
Apr
50° / 20°
May
59° / 27°
Jun
68° / 34°
Jul
79° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
69° / 30°
Oct
56° / 23°
Nov
41° / 16°
Dec
34° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 27.3 mi away at 5,907 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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