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

Runaway Ridge

27.1 mi
round trip
3,910 ft
climb
7,810 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Runaway Ridge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.

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

Runaway Ridge is a hard out-and-back hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Krassel Ranger District of Payette National Forest. The trail rises from a low point of about 3,800 feet to a high point near 7,800 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 3,900 feet over a route of about 27 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The route is natural-surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The climb is long and steep, and the high point makes this a significant objective rather than a quick outing. The closest neighbors are Devils Toe and Disappointment Creek, each about 2 miles away, and Dwyer-Smith at about 3 miles. For camping, Cold Meadows Airfield lies about 7.5 miles away.