Beaver Creek Group Campground
Campground
Campground · 2.7 mi from the trail
Idaho · Hiking · Near Idaho City
Skyline
- 4.4 mi
- loop
- 561 ft
- climb
- 5,879 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Skyline open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Boise National Forest. It doesn't name Skyline, so check the source for the area it covers.
UPDATED Sept. 19 - Crooked Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-03-140 · USFS · Boise National Forest
Lava Fire Road Closure
Agency alert covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-06-84 · USFS · Boise National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Boise National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Skyline is a 4.4-mile loop hike in Idaho's Boise National Forest, within the Idaho City Ranger District. The trail rises from about 5,360 feet to about 5,879 feet, a total gain of 561 feet, and is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open from November 16 through May 14. The route is a loop, so the climb is one way. Bikes and horses are both allowed, and the trail surface is natural. The closest trailhead is Gold Fork Trailhead, and the trip takes about 1.5 hours. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Deadwood Lodge, at a similar elevation, run to highs around 82°F in July and 73°F in September. Winter is cold, with January highs near 35°F and lows around 8°F. Twister, a cross-country ski area, and the Ridge and Ralph's hikes both sit within a mile. Edna Creek Campground is about 3 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Diamond Lil's Restaurant & Saloon
Restaurant
On your way back · 17 mi
If it rainsj.a.woodhouse from United States, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: j.a.woodhouse from United States, CC BY 2.0 (commons)
More in Idaho CityLocal outfitters
- Riverpond Campground20 mi away
- Camp Perkins38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Skyline
Best months: June–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.
Jan
35° / 8°
Feb
36° / 12°
Mar
42° / 16°
Apr
49° / 22°
May
61° / 30°
Jun
70° / 35°
Jul
82° / 40°
Aug
81° / 38°
Sep
73° / 32°
Oct
57° / 26°
Nov
40° / 16°
Dec
31° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Deadwood Lodge, ID, 31.6 mi away at 5,948 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Ridge
~1 min drive
Ridge is a 1.39-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 116 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Ralph's
~1 min drive
4.32-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 197 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Beaver
~3 min drive
15.24-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1885 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
EDNA/ROCK CREEK
~5 min drive
38.92-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,510 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Lodgepole Trail
~2 min drive
0.6-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 115 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
GOLD FORK SUMMIT
~2 min drive
7.18-mile out-and-back trail to Gold Fork Summit in Idaho with 1,535 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Crooked River
~6 min drive
23.38-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 626 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
CROOKED PIKE LOOP
~8 min drive
18.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,172 ft gain/loss
HIKE
Moose Trail
~2 min drive
2.72-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 815 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Gold Fork
~2 min drive
4.03-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 478 ft of elevation gain.
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