Nez Perce Ridge
- 5.8 mi
- round trip
- 2,889 ft
- climb
- 7,988 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Nez Perce Ridge open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Stoddard Bridge Construction Closure
Agency alert covering Salmon-Challis National Forest · Order 0413-07-17 · USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Nez Perce Ridge is a moderate out-and-back hike in Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest, on the North Fork Ranger District. The trail runs about 5.8 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,889 feet, from a low point of 5,055 feet to a high of 7,988 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jackson, Montana, show July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F, and the station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the ridge's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The trail is open year-round. Three Mile Ridge lies about a mile away, and Anderson Mtn Loop is roughly 3.6 miles off. For an overnight base, May Creek Cabin is about 5 miles away, and the North Fork Salmon River offers canoeing about 6 miles out.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Nez Perce Ridge
Best months: June–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.
Jan
28° / 8°
6 wet
Feb
31° / 8°
6 wet
Mar
39° / 16°
8 wet
Apr
46° / 23°
9 wet
May
57° / 31°
10 wet
Jun
66° / 37°
9 wet
Jul
77° / 42°
6 wet
Aug
76° / 39°
5 wet
Sep
66° / 32°
4 wet
Oct
51° / 25°
5 wet
Nov
36° / 14°
7 wet
Dec
27° / 7°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jackson, MT, 25.5 mi away at 6,480 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
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Three Mile Ridge
~2 min drive
19.18-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 6,618 ft elevation gain/loss.
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Anderson Mtn Loop
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May Creek Ridge
~10 min drive
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Joseph Creek Trail
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12.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,206 ft elevation gain
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May Creek Trail
~11 min drive
13.92-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,595 ft elevation gain and loss.
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MAY CREEK RIDGE SKI TRAIL
~11 min drive
9.36-mile out-and-back ski trail in Montana with 1,957 ft elevation gain
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SUNNY MEADOW SKI LOOP
~15 min drive
1.32-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Montana with 199 ft elevation gain
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Twin Creek Ridge Trail
~12 min drive
10.58-mile out-and-back hike on Twin Creek Ridge in Idaho with 2,637 ft of elevation gain.
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MAY CREEK
~11 min drive
11-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,217 ft gain and 7,396 ft max elevation
