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

Starvation

9.1 mi
round trip
3,424 ft
climb
6,963 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Starvation 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.

Starvation is a hard out-and-back hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs about 9 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of about 3,400 feet. The route starts at a low point of about 5,850 feet and climbs to a high point of about 6,960 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.5 miles in, with a grade of about 33 percent. Horses are allowed on the trail, and the surface is natural. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July and August highs around 76°F with lows in the upper 30s. That station sits about 1,200 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up high run cooler. The trip is estimated to take about 4.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Nearby, Whimstick Creek and Cottonwood Creek are both within about 3 miles, Cold Meadows Airfield is about 3 miles away, and Cold Mountain is about 4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Starvation

    Best months: June–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.

    1. Jan

      31° / 5°

    2. Feb

      33° / 8°

    3. Mar

      38° / 13°

    4. Apr

      46° / 20°

    5. May

      57° / 28°

    6. Jun

      64° / 35°

    7. Jul

      76° / 39°

    8. Aug

      76° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 31°

    10. Oct

      52° / 24°

    11. Nov

      36° / 14°

    12. Dec

      28° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dixie N, ID, 28.7 mi away at 5,740 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.