Sheep Creek
- 5.9 mi
- round trip
- 2,122 ft
- climb
- 7,640 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Aug
- best months
Is Sheep 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.
Sheep Creek is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 6 miles in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail rises about 2,100 feet from a low point of roughly 5,500 feet to a high of about 7,600 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Stanley show July highs around 80°F with lows in the mid-30s, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. Rapid River is about a mile away, and Hard Scrabble and Pottervine are both within 3 miles. For paddling, Duffield Creek is about 6 miles off.
Local outfitters
- The Sawmill Station40 mi away
- Arrowhead RV Park49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jul–Aug
Best time to visit Sheep Creek
Best months: July–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.
Jan
26° / -3°
Feb
33° / -1°
Mar
43° / 9°
Apr
50° / 18°
May
60° / 26°
Jun
69° / 31°
Jul
80° / 34°
Aug
79° / 32°
Sep
70° / 25°
Oct
56° / 19°
Nov
38° / 10°
Dec
25° / -2°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley, ID, 30 mi away at 6,249 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Middle Fork Trail
~9 min drive
1.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 172 ft elevation gain/loss.
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Norton Lake
~10 min drive
38.80-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,685 ft elevation gain.
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Pottervine
~5 min drive
3.16-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,691 ft elevation gain.
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Horse Ladder
~20 min drive
11.28-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,853 ft elevation gain.
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Little Soldier Lookout
~8 min drive
1.87-mile out-and-back trail to Little Soldier Lookout in Idaho with 715 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Middle Fork East
~10 min drive
24.99-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 117 ft of elevation gain.
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Middle Fork Trail
~12 min drive
3.64-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,877 ft elevation gain and loss.
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West Fork Thomas Creek Trail
~10 min drive
11-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,989 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Beaver-Trail Creek
~19 min drive
1.18-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 19 ft gain and 284 ft loss.
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lake Creek
~12 min drive
16.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,270 ft elevation gain.
