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

Soldier Bar

1.3 mi
round trip
490 ft
climb
4,207 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr, Jun
best months

Is Soldier Bar 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.

Soldier Bar is an easy out-and-back hike of about 1.3 miles in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, within the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the nearest town is Yellowjacket, about 16 miles away. The trail rises about 490 feet from a low point of 3,702 feet to a high of 4,207 feet. Horses are allowed, and the route is not accessible. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 88°F with lows near 51°F, while September cools to highs around 76°F with fewer wet days. Goat Creek (Wilderness) starts just 0.1 mile away, and Soldier Bar Airfield campground is about 0.4 mile off. Big Creek Ridge and the Middle Fork River lie within about 5 miles.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun

    Best time to visit Soldier Bar

    Best months: April, June and September–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

      31° / 16°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 19°

      8 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      50° / 27°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 33°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      68° / 40°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 45°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 51°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 50°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 33°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 25°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 17°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Taylor Rch, ID, 2.3 mi away at 3,835 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.