Powderhouse Gulch
- 3.4 mi
- distance
- 2,006 ft
- climb
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Powderhouse Gulch 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.
Powderhouse Gulch is a mountain biking route in Idaho's Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The ride covers about 3.4 miles, climbing from a low of 6,053 feet to a high of 8,067 feet, a total gain of 2,006 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 2.1 miles in, with a grade of 29 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jackson, Montana, show July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F, and the station sits roughly 1,600 feet lower than the route's high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Powderhouse Gulch Trail hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Shoshoni and Wapiti Meadows mountain biking areas are within about a mile and a half. Williams Lake Campground, about 6.5 miles off, offers a place to stay.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Powderhouse Gulch
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.
Jan
28° / 8°
6 wet
Feb
31° / 8°
6 wet
Mar
39° / 16°
8 wet
Apr
46° / 23°
9 wet
May
57° / 31°
10 wet
Jun
66° / 37°
9 wet
Jul
77° / 42°
6 wet
Aug
76° / 39°
5 wet
Sep
66° / 32°
4 wet
Oct
51° / 25°
5 wet
Nov
36° / 14°
7 wet
Dec
27° / 7°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jackson, MT, 38.7 mi away at 6,480 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
