Needles Route
- 8.9 mi
- round trip
- 850 ft
- climb
- 8,188 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Needles Route open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Boise National Forest. It doesn't name Needles Route, so check the source for the area it covers.
UPDATED Sept. 19 - Crooked Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-03-140 · USFS · Boise National Forest
Lava Fire Road Closure
Agency alert covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-06-84 · USFS · Boise National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Boise National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Needles Route is an 8.9-mile out-and-back hike in the Cascade Ranger District of Idaho's Boise National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 7,221 feet to about 8,188 feet, with a total elevation gain of 850 feet. It is rated hard. The route is on natural surface, and both horses and bikes are allowed. That makes it a versatile option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Several other destinations sit within a few miles. Dollar Creek Way is about 1.9 miles away, and the Square Top hike and the Pins And Needles (McCall Area) climbing area are each about 2.2 miles off. Kennally Creek Campground, about 6 miles away, offers a place to stay.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park19 mi away
- Arrowhead RV Park19 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Stupid Dingo, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Dollar Creek Ridge
~7 min drive
11.20-mile out-and-back trail on Dollar Creek Ridge with 3,248 ft gain
Photo: Stupid Dingo, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Nickel Creek
~8 min drive
1.50-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 192 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Needles Route Pack Trail
~9 min drive
29.86-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 6,873 ft gain/loss.
HIKE
South Fork Gold Fork
~9 min drive
5.02-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 122 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Stupid Dingo, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Wewukiye
~19 min drive
8.76-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 577 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Stupid Dingo, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Vulcan Hot Springs
~19 min drive
1.59-mile out-and-back trail to Vulcan Hot Springs in Idaho, 131 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
CURTIS CREEK
~17 min drive
29.02-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,436 ft elevation gain/loss
HIKE
EAST FORK KENNALLY CREEK
~10 min drive
1.76-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,390 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: Stupid Dingo, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)WEST SIDE WARM LAKE
~20 min drive
14.34-mile out-and-back trail to West Side Warm Lake in Idaho
HIKE
Square Top
~4 min drive
2.03-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 264 ft gain.