Idaho · Hiking · Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

Rapid River

42.3 mi
round trip
3,733 ft
climb
6,073 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Aug–Sep
best months

Is Rapid River open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.

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

Rapid River is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs from about 4,600 feet to about 6,070 feet over roughly 42 miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Middle Fork Lodge, which sits well below the trail, show July highs around 86°F with lows near 48°F, and September highs around 76°F with fewer wet days than the rest of the year. That station's figures are only a guide, since temperatures on the trail run cooler. Horses are allowed, so the route works for riders as well as hikers. The closest neighbors are Sheep Creek, about a mile away, and Hard Scrabble, about 3 miles off. Paddlers can find Duffield Creek about 5 miles away, and East Fork Thomas Creek is a little farther.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Rapid River

    Best months: May–June and August–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.

    1. Jan

      34° / 16°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 18°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      50° / 25°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      57° / 31°

      11 wet

    5. May

      67° / 38°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 44°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 48°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 46°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 39°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 31°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 23°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 15°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Middle Fork Lodge, ID, 6.5 mi away at 4,480 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.