Idaho · Mountain biking · Phelan Mountain

Aspen Loop

1.5 mi
distance
402 ft
climb
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Aspen Loop open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Aspen Loop is a mountain biking route in Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest, within the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. The loop is about 1.5 miles long and climbs from roughly 7,000 feet to about 7,400 feet, with a total gain of 402 feet. The route is short and compact, so it makes an easy ride for a day on the trail network around the Wapiti Meadows area. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.9 miles in, with a grade of 18 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Jackson, Montana weather station put July highs near 77°F with lows around 42°F. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the loop, so temperatures up here run cooler. The Wapiti Meadows Loop and Wapiti Meadows Trail both start about 0.1 mile away. Williams Lake Campground is about 7 miles off, and Shoup Bridge Campground is about 9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Aspen Loop

    Best months: June–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° / 8°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 8°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      39° / 16°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 23°

      9 wet

    5. May

      57° / 31°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 37°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 42°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 39°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 32°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 25°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      36° / 14°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 7°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jackson, MT, 37.4 mi away at 6,480 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

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