Idaho · Hiking · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Little Loon

23.7 mi
round trip
3,476 ft
climb
7,758 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Little Loon 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.

Little Loon is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,285 feet to 7,758 feet, a total gain of 3,476 feet over a route of about 23.7 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but not bikes. That makes it a viable option for riders on horseback, though the climb is steep and the distance is long. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Stanley, Idaho, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 34°F, and the station sits about 1,500 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Nearby, the West Fork Thomas Creek Trail and Middle Fork East are both about 3 miles away, and Norton Lake is about 3.7 miles off. Little Loon Creek, a canoeing route, is about 4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Aug

    Best time to visit Little Loon

    Best months: July–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.

    1. Jan

      26° / -3°

    2. Feb

      33° / -1°

    3. Mar

      43° / 9°

    4. Apr

      50° / 18°

    5. May

      60° / 26°

    6. Jun

      69° / 31°

    7. Jul

      80° / 34°

    8. Aug

      79° / 32°

    9. Sep

      70° / 25°

    10. Oct

      56° / 19°

    11. Nov

      38° / 10°

    12. Dec

      25° / -2°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley, ID, 35.1 mi away at 6,249 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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

Middle Fork EastPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Middle Fork East

~5 min drive

24.99-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 117 ft of elevation gain.

Middle Fork TrailPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Middle Fork Trail

~6 min drive

1.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 172 ft elevation gain/loss.

HIKE

West Fork Thomas Creek Trail

~5 min drive

11-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,989 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Middle Fork Trail

~7 min drive

3.64-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,877 ft elevation gain and loss.

White CreekPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

White Creek

~11 min drive

11.13-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,269 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Little Soldier Lookout

~14 min drive

1.87-mile out-and-back trail to Little Soldier Lookout in Idaho with 715 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Jack Creek Trail

~11 min drive

12.16-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,956 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Middle Fork Trail

~12 min drive

Middle Fork Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Idaho with 2,048 ft gain.

Lake CreekPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Creek

~18 min drive

16.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,270 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Jack Creek Spur 1

~16 min drive

1.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 532 ft elevation gain.