North Fork West Pass

North Fork West Pass is a hard out-and-back hike in Idaho's Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area within the Sawtooth National Forest. The trail runs about 17 miles, with a total elevation gain of 5,271 feet, taking you from a low point of about 6,900 feet to a high of about 10,000 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface, with horses allowed. The pass is a long, steep climb. Plan on a full day or more, and expect the trail to be challenging from start to finish. The trip is open year-round, so you can go any time of year, though conditions at that high elevation change with the seasons. Nearby, the Upper North Fork and North Fork Lake hikes are within a few miles, and the East Fork Salmon River offers canoeing about 5.6 miles away. For an overnight base, Caribou Campground sits about 7 miles off.