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

Lower Lodgepole

11.3 mi
round trip
471 ft
climb
7,181 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Lower Lodgepole open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.

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

Lower Lodgepole is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 5,630 feet to about 7,181 feet, a total gain of 471 feet over a route of about 11.3 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with no designated route for bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren, Idaho, put July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-30s. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. The trail is open year-round. Chamberlain Basin campground is about 4 miles away, and the McCalla Creek and Bismark hikes are within about 3.5 miles.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Lower Lodgepole

    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.

    1. Jan

      35° / 7°

    2. Feb

      41° / 7°

    3. Mar

      46° / 17°

    4. Apr

      50° / 20°

    5. May

      59° / 27°

    6. Jun

      68° / 34°

    7. Jul

      79° / 37°

    8. Aug

      79° / 35°

    9. Sep

      69° / 30°

    10. Oct

      56° / 23°

    11. Nov

      41° / 16°

    12. Dec

      34° / 9°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 22.1 mi away at 5,907 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.