Idaho · Hiking

Rapid River

26.2 mi
round trip
3,355 ft
climb
6,602 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Rapid River open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. It doesn't name Rapid River, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Rapid River is a hard hike in Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, within the Salmon River Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 3,240 feet to 6,602 feet, a total gain of 3,355 feet over a distance of about 26 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren, Idaho, show July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-30s, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to about 7°F. The trail is not accessible, and horses are allowed. The Oxbow Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Rapid River Trail and Rapid River Ridge are both within about a mile and a half. For an overnight base, Black Lake Campground is about 8.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Rapid River

    Best months: June–August. 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.

    1. Jan

      35° / 7°

    2. Feb

      41° / 7°

    3. Mar

      46° / 17°

    4. Apr

      50° / 20°

    5. May

      59° / 27°

    6. Jun

      68° / 34°

    7. Jul

      79° / 37°

    8. Aug

      79° / 35°

    9. Sep

      69° / 30°

    10. Oct

      56° / 23°

    11. Nov

      41° / 16°

    12. Dec

      34° / 9°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 36.3 mi away at 5,907 ft. The station sits about 700 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

Rattlesnake TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Rattlesnake Trail

~5 min drive

7.12-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,373 ft gain and 5,030 ft max elevation.

Alder Springs TrailPhoto: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Alder Springs Trail

~9 min drive

2.16-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 844 ft gain/loss.

Sheep Lake Climber's TrailPhoto: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sheep Lake Climber's Trail

~12 min drive

4.1-mile out-and-back to Sheep Lake in Idaho with 3,393 ft gain/loss

HIKE

Rapid River Ridge Trail

~2 min drive

29.7-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,970 ft gain/loss and 7,570 ft max elevation.

He Devil Climber's TrailPhoto: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

He Devil Climber's Trail

~12 min drive

1.7-mile out-and-back climb in Idaho with 1,332 ft gain and loss

Cannon Lakes TrailPhoto: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cannon Lakes Trail

~10 min drive

1.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 560 ft elevation gain.

Sheep Lake TrailPhoto: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sheep Lake Trail

~12 min drive

5.94-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,825 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

RAPID RIVER RIDGE

~4 min drive

20.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,396 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Oxbow Trail

Next door

Oxbow Trail is a 35.12-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho.

HIKE

Jackley Mountain Trail

~5 min drive

1.12-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 477 ft of elevation gain