West Fork Buckhorn
- 12.2 mi
- round trip
- 3,037 ft
- climb
- 6,984 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is West Fork Buckhorn open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-638 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-637 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Lost Valley Log Hauling
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · USFS · Payette National Forest
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-635 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-543 · USFS · Payette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
West Fork Buckhorn is a hard hike of about 12 miles in the Krassel Ranger District of Payette National Forest in Idaho, managed by the Forest Service. It is an out-and-back trail that rises from a low point of about 3,900 feet to a high of nearly 7,000 feet, with a one-way gain of about 3,000 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren put July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-30s, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s or lower. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail, and the surface is natural. The Buckhorn Creek hike starts just 0.4 miles away. Phoebe Creek campground is about 2 miles off, and Teapot Mountain and Martin Ridge are each about 2 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park17 mi away
- Arrowhead RV Park32 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit West Fork Buckhorn
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.
Jan
35° / 7°
Feb
41° / 7°
Mar
46° / 17°
Apr
50° / 20°
May
59° / 27°
Jun
68° / 34°
Jul
79° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
69° / 30°
Oct
56° / 23°
Nov
41° / 16°
Dec
34° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 24.3 mi away at 5,907 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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BUCKHORN CREEK
Next door
1.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,881 ft elevation gain
HIKE
TEAPOT MOUNTAIN
~4 min drive
14.08-mile out-and-back trail on Teapot Mountain in Idaho with 2,541 ft gain
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Indian Ridge Trail
~6 min drive
37.26-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 8,880 ft elevation gain and loss.
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CATON CREEK
~13 min drive
1.68-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 556 ft elevation gain
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Miners Peak
~4 min drive
5.59-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,604 ft gain.
HIKE
Martin Ridge
~4 min drive
21.41-mile out-and-back trail on Martin Ridge in Idaho with 3,601 ft gain.
HIKE
Deadman Creek Trail
~9 min drive
9.04-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,715 ft elevation gain
HIKE
S/F SHEEP CREEK
~14 min drive
1.02-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 794 ft elevation gain/loss.
HIKE
CATON LAKE
~10 min drive
7.12-mile out-and-back to Caton Lake in Idaho with 2,036 ft gain
HIKE
Cougar Creek
~4 min drive
18.49-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,563 ft elevation gain.
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