Dubois Via Idaho Falls

EXIT I-15, ENTER WIDE-OPEN SPACES

AAs you travel Interstate 15 north from Idaho Falls, just before you start your climb out of the Snake River Valley you pass the small town of Dubois. This is mainly farm and ranch land, so there are a lot of BLM roads and country roads that will take you either east or west of I-15.

There are two popular trail systems in the area—one on the east side of I-15 and the other on the west side. The Alex Draw to McGary Canyon Trail picks up most of the area to the northeast of Dubois up to the Montana state line. These trails will also connect with the Island Park trail system if you stay on the Lost Gold Trails Loop that connects to the Kilgore/Yale Creek road (FS 030).

Highlights

Depending on whether you want to ride in the high country of Targhee National Forest, or the lower elevations found in the high mountain deserts, there are plenty of opportunities to see some unique country. Dubois may be a small town (population of about 700 residents) but it offers a big welcome mat for all visitors. High chances to see big game.

Trail Tip

The lower elevation trails offer great spring and fall riding. But to access the higher elevations, you need to wait for the snow to melt in late May.

More To Know

Not only are there great opportunities for hunting and fishing, but if you’re into digging for precious gems, the Opal mines near Spencer are considered the Opal Capital of America. Visit www.spenceropalmines.com for details.

Elevation 5,200-8,000

Full-Service Town Dubois

Nearest Airport Idaho Falls (50 miles)

Information

Yellowstone/ Teton Territory 800-634-3246

Alex Draw To Mcgary Canyon Trail

LOTS OF SIDE TRAILS. SUITABLE FOR ALL LEVELS

Just east of Spencer there are several routes that will lead you to the Alex Draw to McGary Canyon Trail. You can either take the Three Mile Creek Road north at Threemile Reservour and start on the Lone Pine Pass Trail or you can continue on the road to the Middle-Threemile Trail.

This trail will definitely keep you coming back, simply due to all the routes you can take to mix up your adventures. Once on the Alex Draw trail you can go north to Alex Draw Road or turn at Alex Draw East which winds its way to West Steel Creek. Or you can head east to McGary Canyon, eventually coming out on Antelope Valley Road. It also connects to the Goldmine Trail.

The Alex Draw To McGary Canyon trail begins at FS 011 and ends at FS 021. It is a designated ORV trail with a 50-inch width restriction.

Stoddard Creek Trail

FISHING ACCESS. BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE.

Want to mix up your ride with a little high-mountain hook, line and sinker? Pack an ultra-light rod and head just north of Spencer off Interstate 15. There you’ll find Stoddard Creek Trail. This connects you to several ATV trails, including the Van Noy Trail, Stoddard Creek Loop, Stoddard Creek Ridge Trail and Picnic Ridge Trail.

The trail eventually takes you to the Pleasant Valley Trail and over to Swampy Draw. It features a designated width restriction of 50 inches.

Best access to Stoddard Creek Ridge trail begins at FS road 10636 and ends at FS trail 1002. The Stoddard Creek Loop Trail begins at FS road 1002.

You can also access the Picnic Ridge Trail that begins at FS road 10636 and ends at FS trail 1123.

DISCOVER “THE BIG HOLES” AREA

TThe Big Hole Mountains area in Madison County basically takes in the north Palisades Ranger District and covers the area east of Rexburg and north of the South Fork of the Snake River. It butts up against the Teton Basin area on the east.

Although this is a very popular area for motorcycles and hiking trails, the Forest Service roads provide great routes for ORVs. And there are numerous 50-inch trails that will get you off the beaten path and into some spectacular country.

Access is plentiful with multiple parking areas along the north side of the South Fork of the Snake River. You can also access the area along the Kelly Canyon Road just past Heise.

Coming from Rexburg, there are access areas from most of the dry farm roads east of town. And from the north, Green Canyon offers easy access to some of the higher country in the area.

The more popular landmarks in the Big Holes include Lookout Mountain, Relay Ridge, Sawmill Gulch, Prospect Peak and Thousand Springs.

Highlights

One of Idaho’s best kept secrets is Heise Hot Springs and Pizza Parlor at the mouth of Kelly Canyon. The ORV trails in the area are abundant … and after a hard day’s ride there’s nothing more refreshing than to relax in the naturally-heated pools at Heise. The South Fork of the Snake River borders the south and the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River borders the West. The Big Hole Mountains separate Madison from the Teton Basin on the East.

Trail Tip

Although the higher elevations are known to hoard snow long into the spring, for the most parts you can start getting out on the trails in mid April and ride into November.

More To Know

Rexburg is the home to Brigham Young UniversityIdaho and offers big city accommodations for a midsized Idaho town.

FISH CREEK/MOODY TRAIL

ROLLING FIELDS INTO FOREST. EASY RIDE.

East of the small town of Archer, as you start to climb the bench up through dry farms, you come to the Fish Creek/Moody Creek area (FS 403). The Fish Creek Trail on the lower end of the area offers some connecting routes that will get you to Kelly Canyon Road.

The North Moody Road (FS 258) will get you over to Upper Farnes Road (FS 256) and then over to the Upper Farnes and Lower Farnes Trails near Sawmill Gulch.

The top end of the North Moody Trail ties back into the northern end of Kelly Canyon Road.

Kelly Canyon

GREAT VIEWS OF THE VALLEY. INTERMEDIATE TO CHALLENGING.

Just east of Heise, where the Heise road splits and the South Fork Snake Road follows the river, Kelly Canyon Road starts to make its climb into the Big Holes. Just over two miles up the road you come to Kelly Canyon Ski Area of FS 218.

Heading east another mile will get you to the Kelly Mountain Trail (FS 881) that heads south and gets you up on top of Kelly Mountain where you can get a great view of the Snake River Valley. You could also take the Table Rock Canyon Trail (FS 217) down to the Hawley Gulch Trail or continue on to the South Fork Snake Road.

If you continue north on Kelly Canyon Road you can access the Buckskin Morgan Trail that will take you to Buckskin Morgan Ridge. Farther north you come to the Windy Ridge Loop (FS 318). If you don’t feel like taking the entire loop, the Windy Ridge Connector dumps you back on the Kelly Canyon Road near the Morning Glory Mine Trail.

The Kelly Canyon Road continues east to Hinckley Creek Trail (FS 213) which climbs in elevation to over 7,600 feet.

Eventually, the Kelly Canyon Road takes you to the Moody Swamp Road that will lead you to the Thousand Springs Trail which takes in Prospect Peak, Castle Lake and on into the Teton Basin to Garns Mountain. Or you could turn back to the northwest on the Ruby Creek Trail (FS 298) and re-connect to Kelly Canyon Road near Sheep Creek.

The Kelly Canyon Road is about 21 miles long and travels through the heart of the Big Holes and comes out on the north end at West Long Hollow Road just east of Rexburg.

Elevation

5,000-8,700

Full-Service Town

Rexburg

Nearest Airport Idaho Falls (30 miles)

Information

Yellowstone/ Teton Territory 800-634-3246

Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce 208-356-5700

South Fork Snake Road

GREAT VIEWS ALONG THE RIVER. EASY TO INTERMEDIATE.

Along the west side of the Snake River just east of Heise, the South Fork Snake Road offers access to multiple trailheads for up to 50-inch ATV trails. The road runs about 15 miles to the east, paralleling the Snake River.

The first trail along the route is the Stinking Springs Trail which winds its way about four miles to the northeast before connecting to Leaning Fir Trail. This trail heads east for three miles before connecting into the Table Rock Canyon Trail (FS 217).

Table Rock Canyon trail connects South Fork Snake Road to Kelly Canyon Road. Just east of the Table Rock Canyon trail is Wolverine Creek Trail, which goes north from the Snake River and can either loop back down on the Morning Glory Mind Trail or take the Cold Springs Trail west to Lookout Mountain.

On the far east end of the South Fork Snake Road is the Blacks Canyon Trail (FS 074). This trail ends about three miles up (and a singletrack trail continues north).

Piney Pass Trail

GATEWAY TO THOUSAND SPRINGS. EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

Just before you enter Teton Basin on Highway 31 near Pine Creek Pass, on the far east end of the Big Holes, you can access Piney Pass Trail (FS 077) that will take you back into Thousand Springs.

This beautiful 12-mile winding trail is actually in Bonneville County just north of Swan Valley. However, it leads back into Madison County and the Big Hole trail system. Due to the terrain and land-use restrictions, there are no other roads or trails accessible on the eastern end of the trail. The route is popular with mountain bikers, so ride with courtesy and caution.

Relay Ridge

VARIED TERRAIN. EASY RIDE WITH GREAT VIEW OF THE TETONS.

Coming in from the north along Highway 33, you can take the Canyon Creek Road south past Green Canyon Springs to the Warm Creek Road (FS 219). Heading back to the east you start to climb in elevation and the road becomes the Relay Ridge Trail.

The first trail you will come to is the Graham Springs Trail (FS 20) which heads back to the west and connects to a single-track trailhead. Farther up Relay Ridge you come to the Grandview Trail (FS 208) which will take you north where you can either continue down to Highway 33 or go into Teton Basin to Packsaddle Lake.

However, if you continue on Relay Ridge Trail, you will eventually reach Ryan Peak at the top where you can look to the west into the Upper Snake River Valley or to the east into Teton Basin and a great view of the Tetons. To continue the loop, take the Kirkham Trail (FS 233) back west and it will wind down to Kirkham Hollow and eventually to the upper end of the Canyon Creek Road.