Rocky Comfort Flat

Hikes: D.
Total Distance, D: 6 miles.
Difficulty: Level II.
Season: March 15-June 15.
USGS Map: Rocky Comfort Flat.
USFS Map: Payette National Forest.
Dirt Road Miles: 13 1/4 miles gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 21, T19N R3W.

Introduction: It is difficult to hike Hells Canyon from the Boise side. The canyon below Hells Canyon Dam is wilderness in the hostile sense, and it has no trail. It is so steep that trail construction would require extensive blasting, and hikers would always be subjects building such a trail. If you want one, let them know.) Access to several promising areas near Brownlee Reservoir is blocked by private land. One solution is to take a leisurely river trip with lots of time for dayhiking.
  This is not a canyon hike. Rather, it is a hike along a tableland bounded on three sides by canyons cut by streams hurrying to join the Snake in Hells Canyon. The good news about the hike is that it lets you into a very scenic patch of good condition rangeland during early season. The bad news is that you parallel cultivated private property bordering the Payette National Forest and the boundary is fenced.
  As a bonus, the author throws in directions to Sheep Rock, a short Forest Service nature trail offering great views of Hells Canyon and the Seven Devils.

The Hike: Your goal is a view down Wildhorse River Canyon from
Hill 4517, about 3 miles in. Start walking along the south side of the fence, with native bunchgrass on your side, and alfalfa on the other. Crooked River, below you, will join Bear Creek in a few miles and become Wildhorse River. Straight ahead is Sheep Peak, to the south Cuddy Mountain, to the west the Wallowas, to the north the Seven Devils. Horse Mountain Lookout, an easy side trip on the drive to Sheep Rock, is almost due north. In springtime, this combination of snowy mountains and lush rangeland is superb!
  You soon cross a fence and a drainage, and come to a large monument marking the corner common to Sections 22, 23, 26, and 27. Continue along the fence, passing an old cabin and some areas that seem to have burned or been treated to kill sagebrush.
  Soon after descending and climbing from a steep ravine, the other side of the fence becomes public land. When the fence finally runs out, step around or over it and head north. You overlook a small basin and a gentle ridge dividing Bear Creek and Crooked River, with some trees. Follow this divide west until you overlook the confluence of creek and river(D). Wildhorse River drops about 100 feet per mile on its way down to the Snake.

Access: Drive to the square in downtown Council where US-95 makes a ninety degree turn, and go west on the Hornet Creek Road. It wanders around a bit before crossing the railroad tracks and heading out of town. Follow signs for Bear and Cuprum, and 24 miles from Council, as you start to climb up from Crooked River, you see the road leading left to Wildhorse River. After another 3/4 mile, you reach the top of the hill (Rocky Comfort Flat) and come to a fence and two signs. Find a convenient parking place along the road on the Forest Service land.

Sheep Rock Nature Trail: This road may not be opened until July 1. Contact the Council Ranger District for information. Go 4 1/2 miles past the Rocky Comfort Flat trailhead, and turn left on the road to Cuprum. After 7 1/2 miles, turn right for Cuprum. After 2 1/2 miles, you come to an intersection that is poorly shown on older maps. Bear right, and after another mile, turn left. (This is a detour that avoids an active mine.) After 4 1/2 miles you reach Lockwood Saddle, where a good road branches off to Horse Mountain Lookout, with an excellent view of Rocky Comfort Flat and more.
  From Lockwood Saddle to Sheep Rock, the road deteriorates to a "poor dirt" level. Bear left and then right after 3 1/2 miles, and you'll reach the end of the road--Sheep Rock Nature Trail. The trail quickly takes you to fine views into Hells Canyon. From here, Rocky Comfort Flat is revealed as a miniature Idaho version of the Oregon side high basalt plateau.
  The north side of the trail is in forest, the south side in a drier, rockier environment. The author was surprised to see mountain mahogany here (#15), but the altitude is only 6847 feet. Buckwheat (eriogonum heracleoicles) is #19. Bluebunch wheatgrass is #22, at the very end of the trail.