Willow Creek Campground
Campground
Campground · 2.0 mi from the trail
Idaho · Hiking · Near Idaho City
Willow Creek Snow Loop
- 18.9 mi
- loop
- 1,943 ft
- climb
- 6,506 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is WILLOW CREEK SNOW LOOP open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Boise National Forest. It doesn't name WILLOW CREEK SNOW LOOP, so check the source for the area it covers.
UPDATED Sept. 19 - Crooked Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-03-140 · USFS · Boise National Forest
Lava Fire Road Closure
Agency alert covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-06-84 · USFS · Boise National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Boise National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Willow Creek Snow Loop is a hard loop hike in Idaho's Boise National Forest, within the Idaho City Ranger District. The route is 18.9 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 1,943 feet, and it starts and ends at about 6,468 feet. The high point on the loop reaches 6,506 feet, and the climb is back-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 12 miles in, where the grade reaches 16 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Stanley, at a similar elevation, show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the upper 30s and only five or six wet days a month. Winter is cold, with January highs near 29°F and lows around 4°F. The trip takes about 7.5 hours. Willow Creek Campground sits about 2 miles away, and Crooked Rock, a climbing area, is about 1.9 miles off. The Crooked River, about 2.4 miles away, offers canoeing, and Beaver Creek is a hike at a similar distance.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Diamond Lil's Restaurant & Saloon
Restaurant
On your way back · 16 mi
If it rainsj.a.woodhouse from United States, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: j.a.woodhouse from United States, CC BY 2.0 (commons)
More in Idaho CityLocal outfitters
- Riverpond Campground24 mi away
- Camp Perkins36 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit WILLOW CREEK SNOW LOOP
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
29° / 4°
12 wet
Feb
35° / 7°
12 wet
Mar
42° / 14°
14 wet
Apr
49° / 21°
12 wet
May
60° / 30°
12 wet
Jun
69° / 35°
10 wet
Jul
80° / 39°
6 wet
Aug
80° / 37°
5 wet
Sep
70° / 31°
7 wet
Oct
55° / 24°
9 wet
Nov
39° / 14°
12 wet
Dec
28° / 6°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley Rs, ID, 35.3 mi away at 6,495 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Beaver Creek
~4 min drive
Beaver Creek is a 1.89-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 56 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Crooked River
~4 min drive
23.38-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 626 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Lamar Creek
~5 min drive
2.82-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 395 ft gain.
HIKE
CROOKED PIKE LOOP
~5 min drive
18.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,172 ft gain/loss
HIKE
WILLOW CREEK OVERLOOK
~5 min drive
3.16-mile out-and-back trail at 6,115 ft elevation in Idaho
HIKE
Willow Owl
~5 min drive
Willow Owl is a 12.04-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 395 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
GOLD FORK SUMMIT
~7 min drive
7.18-mile out-and-back trail to Gold Fork Summit in Idaho with 1,535 ft elevation gain
HIKE
BEAR SUMMIT
~8 min drive
19.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,374 ft gain and 6,040 ft max elevation.
HIKE
ROCKY RIDGE YURT ACCESS
~5 min drive
1.0-mile out-and-back trail to Rocky Ridge Yurt with 261 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Beaver
~7 min drive
15.24-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1885 feet of elevation gain.
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