Pittsburg Landing

Hikes: D, O, W, L.
Total Distance, W: 18 miles.
Difficulty: Level I.
Season: March 1-September 20.
USGS Maps: Kirkwood Creek, Grave Point*.
Forest Service Map: Nez Perce N.F.
Dirt Road Miles: 18 gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 30, T26N R1W.

Introduction: The Snake River Trail in Hells Canyon offers some of Idaho's finest springtime hiking. The northern access to the trail is from Pittsburg Landing, near Whitebird. From there, you can go as far as 30 miles upriver before hitting the sheer rock canyon below Hells Canyon Dam. The author's North Idaho Hiking Trails book rated this trail Level II because of steep, rocky stretches. In this book, the mere presence of a maintained trail earns it a Level I rating!

The Hike: The trail is easy to follow as it leaves Upper Pittsburg Landing. You quickly pass campsites along China Rapids, and then come to a steep climb up Line Gulch. This is a refreshingly cool, green change from the rocky, exposed trail. At Lower Kirby Rapids, near Cat Creek (D), there are hardy ponderosa pines and more campsites. This spot makes a good stopping place for dayhikers.
The trail climbs high above Kirby Bar, and stays high until it comes to Kirkwood Bar (O). Here, the HCNRA is glorifying the history of sheepherding in Hells Canyon. You can camp at the downstream end of the bar.
  A half mile past Kirkwood you come to Halfmoon Bar, where there is camping. From there you climb to Suicide Point (above Big Bar on the Kernan Point map). From its splendid viewpoint you can see many campsites on the benches and bars from there to Caribou Creek.
  On the author's trip to Suicide Point, he encountered a dead domestic sheep smack in the middle of the trail. He and friends wanted to wait until a float trip full of Eastern tourists came by, for the exact moment when the guide told the tourists the legend of Suicide Point. Then, while tourists stared intently at the Point, he would toss the sheep off the cliff. Speculation centered on what the tourists' reaction would be if he got entangled with the sheep, and went over the side hand-in-paw.

Extensions: You could continue to Sheep Creek, 8 miles farther, or Granite Creek, 19 miles in, or to trail's end some 5 miles below Hells Canyon Dam, 30 miles to the south. (See the Hells Canyon hike for details on a boat pickup.) In summer, you could take either the Granite or Sheep Creek trails 'way up into the Seven Devils.

Access: The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area received funding to improve the road to Pittsburg Landing, to build campgrounds there, and to improve the area's trailhead. This has made it easier to get there during wet Spring weather.
  To reach Pittsburg Landing, take the road that heads toward Hammer Creek Recreation Area (about 1 1/2 miles south of Whitebird Bridge on US-95). Cross the old bridge across the Salmon River, and turn left. After 7 1/4 miles, turn right on the Deer Creek Road. After another 2 3/4 miles, turn right on the road for Pittsburg Landing.
  When you reach the flats of Pittsburg Bar, you'll see a new, well-signed junction. To the right will be the boat launch and campground, to the left the trailhead. The new trailhead may come much sooner than your Kirkwood Creek map shows. As much as 1/2 mile of the road in the Klopton Creek area might be closed, to make a better trailhead facility. The HCNRA also plans to build a nature trail which leads to a large petroglyph field.