North Star
- 7.8 mi
- round trip
- 2,128 ft
- climb
- 7,155 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is North Star open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-638 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-637 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Lost Valley Log Hauling
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · USFS · Payette National Forest
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-635 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-543 · USFS · Payette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
North Star is a hard hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the New Meadows Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 7.8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 2,128 feet, taking you from a low point of about 5,032 feet to a high of about 7,155 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses allowed but bikes not. The route is rated hard, and the climb is the main challenge. The trail is not accessible. It is open year-round, so you can plan a trip for any season. Curren Mountain lies just 0.4 miles away, and Echols Ridge and Lake Fork Ridge are each about 1.4 miles off. For an overnight base, Black Lake Campground is about 3.7 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park28 mi away
- Cornucopia Lodge & Packstation37 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Curren Mountain
Next door
4.80-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,983 ft gain.
HIKE
Echols Ridge
~2 min drive
4.31-mile out-and-back trail on Echols Ridge in Idaho with 133 ft gain.
HIKE
Twin Lakes (Granite Lookout)
~4 min drive
1.20-mile out-and-back trail to Twin Lakes (Granite Lookout) in Idaho.
HIKE
Carbonate Hill Trail
~6 min drive
8.6-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,559 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Lonesome Ridge
~4 min drive
7.71-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,810 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
LAKE FORK RIDGE
~2 min drive
2.24-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 888 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Black Lake Creek
~5 min drive
0.11-mile lollipop trail in Idaho with 3,174 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Echols Ridge Trail
~7 min drive
12.04-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 5,191 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Black Lake Creek Trail
~5 min drive
6.48-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,626 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Frypan Creek
~4 min drive
3.20-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,861 ft gain.
