Idaho · Hiking

Sheep Falls

0.7 mi
round trip
393 ft
climb
6,041 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Sheep Falls 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.

Sheep Falls is a short, easy hike in the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District of Idaho's Caribou-Targhee National Forest, about 0.7 miles long and roughly 190 feet of elevation gain one way. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 5,839 feet to about 6,041 feet, with the steepest stretch at the start, around 19% grade. It's a quick outing, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ashton show July and August highs around 83°F with lows near 50°F and only about four wet days a month. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the falls run cooler. Nearby, the Big Bend Ridge Trail is about 3.7 miles away and the Mesa Nature Trail about 4.3 miles. Grandview Campground is about 4.6 miles off, and the Warm River campground is about 7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Sheep Falls

    Best months: May–October. 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

      29° / 13°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 17°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 25°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 31°

      7 wet

    5. May

      65° / 40°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 46°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 51°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 42°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 32°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 23°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 15°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ashton 1n, ID, 9.3 mi away at 5,212 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

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