White Creek
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 11.1 mi
- round trip
- 3,269 ft
- climb
- 7,404 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Aug
- best months
Is White Creek open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Stoddard Bridge Construction Closure
Agency alert covering Salmon-Challis National Forest · Order 0413-07-17 · USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
White Creek is a hard hike in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,100 feet to 7,400 feet, a total gain of 3,269 feet over 11 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open year-round. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. That makes the trail a natural fit for a pack horse or a mule, and the climb is steep enough to justify planning for a long day. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Stanley, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 34°F. Winter is harsh, with January highs around 26°F and lows near -3°F. The Middle Fork Trail starts just 0.6 miles away, and Cache Creek and Cow Creek are both within about 2 miles. Little Loon Creek, a paddling route, is about 9 miles off.
Local outfitters
- The Sawmill Station42 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jul–Aug
Best time to visit White Creek
Best months: July–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
26° / -3°
Feb
33° / -1°
Mar
43° / 9°
Apr
50° / 18°
May
60° / 26°
Jun
69° / 31°
Jul
80° / 34°
Aug
79° / 32°
Sep
70° / 25°
Oct
56° / 19°
Nov
38° / 10°
Dec
25° / -2°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley, ID, 39.7 mi away at 6,249 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Middle Fork East
~15 min drive
24.99-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 117 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Middle Fork Trail
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Middle Fork Trail
Next door
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Middle Fork Trail
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Middle Fork Trail
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Photo: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Norton Lake
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Sleeping Deer Lo
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1.20-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 631 ft elevation gain.
