Idaho · Hiking

Upper Canyon Creek

12.1 mi
round trip
5,853 ft
climb
5,981 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Upper Canyon Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It doesn't name Upper Canyon Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Upper Canyon Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Idaho Panhandle National Forests, on the St. Joe Ranger District. The trail is about 12 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 5,850 feet, and it is an out-and-back route that reaches a high point of about 5,980 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. The climb is steep, with the steepest stretch at about 1.5 miles in, where the grade reaches about 32 percent. The route starts at a low point of about 3,450 feet and climbs to the high point before descending back. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mullan Pass show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay in the upper 20s. The trail is open from June 1 to September 30, and the trip takes about seven hours. Scribner Falls and Pole Mountain are both within about a mile and a half, and Surveyors Lookout campground is about 3.6 miles away. Canyon Creek, a paddling spot, is about 5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Upper Canyon Creek

    Best months: July–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.

    1. Jan

      28° / 19°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      34° / 22°

      19 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 27°

      17 wet

    5. May

      50° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      58° / 42°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      70° / 52°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 51°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      59° / 44°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      44° / 32°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      32° / 23°

      17 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 18°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 32.2 mi away at 6,028 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.