Poison Creek
Photo: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 8.5 mi
- round trip
- 2,030 ft
- climb
- 7,939 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Poison Creek open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Poison Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Caribou-Targhee National Forest, on the Palisades Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 8.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 2,030 feet, from a low point of roughly 5,848 feet to a high of about 7,939 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface, with horses and bikes allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Alta, Wyoming, show July highs around 79°F and lows near 48°F, with no snow days. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike is open year-round. West Pine is about half a mile away, and Liars Pass and North Pine are each within about a mile and a half. Pine Creek Campground, about 5 miles off, is the closest place to camp.
Local outfitters
- The Virginian RV Park27 mi away
- Greys River Cove30 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Poison Creek
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
29° / 12°
9 wet · 7 snow
Feb
32° / 13°
8 wet · 6 snow
Mar
40° / 21°
9 wet · 6 snow
Apr
48° / 27°
9 wet · 4 snow
May
60° / 35°
10 wet · 2 snow
Jun
69° / 42°
8 wet
Jul
79° / 48°
5 wet
Aug
78° / 47°
6 wet
Sep
68° / 40°
6 wet
Oct
53° / 30°
7 wet · 2 snow
Nov
38° / 20°
8 wet · 5 snow
Dec
28° / 12°
9 wet · 7 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Alta 1 Nnw, WY, 20.3 mi away at 6,440 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Tie Canyon
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