Loon Creek
- 19.7 mi
- round trip
- 272 ft
- climb
- 6,226 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Loon Creek open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-638 · USFS · 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.
Loon Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the McCall Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,268 feet to about 6,226 feet, a total gain of 272 feet, and it is 19.7 miles long. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren, Idaho, run to highs around 79°F in July and August, with lows in the mid-30s. That station sits about 319 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The Split Creek Trailhead is the parking for this route. Willow Basket Creek and Split Creek Lookout are both about 3.5 miles away, and the Secesh River Trail is about 3.6 miles away. For camping, Secesh Horse Camp is about 7.2 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park23 mi away
- Arrowhead RV Park46 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Loon 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, 10 mi away at 5,907 ft. 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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Loon Creek Trail Loop
~2 min drive
2.96-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,302 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Split Creek Lookout
~6 min drive
2.18-mile out-and-back trail to Split Creek Lookout in Idaho with 550 ft of elevation gain.
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Steamboat Ridge
~8 min drive
10.44-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,859 ft gain.
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Victor Creek Trail
~14 min drive
20.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,741 ft elevation gain.
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LOON CREEK
~2 min drive
3.38-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,643 ft elevation gain and loss.
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GRIMMET CREEK
~8 min drive
2.3-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 755 ft gain/loss.
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Hum Lake
~10 min drive
21.58-mile out-and-back trail to Hum Lake in Idaho with 2,894 ft elevation gain.
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Bear Pete Ridge Trail
~16 min drive
29.76-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,825 ft gain and 8,352 ft max elevation.
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WILLOW BASKET CREEK
~6 min drive
4.74-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,398 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Burgdorf 1 Trail
~13 min drive
1.5-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 108 ft elevation gain.
