Idaho · Hiking · Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness · Near Ketchum

Murdock Creek

6.8 mi
round trip
1,280 ft
climb
7,624 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Murdock Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Sawtooth National Forest.

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

Murdock Creek is a hard hike of about 6.8 miles in the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs on natural surface, and horses are allowed. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 6,447 feet to about 7,624 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 82°F with lows near 47°F, and the station sits roughly 1,360 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Caribou Campground and Murdock Campground both sit about 1.3 miles away, and the Murdock Loop Ski and East Fork hikes are within about 2 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Cougar Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Sun Valley Club

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 8 mi
  • If it rains

    Sun Valley Museum of Art

    Museum

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Ketchum

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Murdock Creek

    Best months: May–September. 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

      31° / 7°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 11°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      44° / 21°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      53° / 28°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      63° / 35°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 41°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 47°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 45°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 37°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 28°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 18°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 9°

      5 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chilly Barton Flat, ID, 30.6 mi away at 6,260 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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