Opal Creek
- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 476 ft
- climb
- 7,614 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Opal Creek 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.
Opal Creek is a short, easy hike in Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest, within the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The route is about 2 miles long and rises roughly 476 feet from a low point of 7,141 feet to a high of 7,614 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The climb is gentle, with an out-and-back route that starts and ends at the same place. Hikers can expect a natural surface, and the trail is open to both horses and bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Leadore put July highs around 83°F with lows near 41°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. Nearby, the Singheiser and Silver Creek hikes lie within a few miles, and Iron Lake Campground and the Lower Iron Lake hike are about 5 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Opal 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.
Jan
30° / 5°
Feb
34° / 8°
Mar
43° / 19°
Apr
52° / 25°
May
62° / 32°
Jun
71° / 38°
Jul
83° / 41°
Aug
81° / 40°
Sep
71° / 34°
Oct
55° / 25°
Nov
40° / 16°
Dec
29° / 6°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Leadore #2, ID, 48.6 mi away at 6,000 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.
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