Jarbidge Forks

Hikes: D, O.
Total Distance, D: 4 miles.
Difficulty: Level II.
Season: March 15-June 15.
USGS Map: Dishpan.
BLM 100K Map: Sheep Creek.
Dirt Road Miles: 4 1/2 gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 3, T16S R9E.

Introduction: Nowhere does the high desert blend into the mountains so imperceptibly as in the Jarbidge River drainage. This hike starts at 5000 feet and goes downstream into a desert canyon. A short distance upstream, the river's canyon gradually becomes a mountain valley, draining the Forest Service's Jarbidge Wilderness Area.
  In the mid 1980's, the Forest Service, BLM, and Nevada and Idaho Fish and Game Departments wanted to capitalize on this linkage of high desert and high mountain ecosystems by reestablishing elk populations on Elk Mountain and the Jarbidge drainage. At last elk, a plains animal, would return to the desert from its mountain retreats. However, cooperation from ranchers was required--but not granted. So, there remain no elk on Elk Mountain or the Owyhee Plateau.
  This great hike enters the Jarbidge River Wilderness Study Area. A tiny plateau area just west of this hike was recommended for wilderness in the BLM's Jarbidge Resource Management Plan, but withdrawn in the final Plan. Only rim-to-rim wilderness is proposed.
The trailhead area was improved in the early 90's by adding a parking area and a pair of primitive (almost invisible) campsites. This was done for river runners.
  Watch for bighorn sheep on the hillsides under the canyon rim. And, keep your usual eye open for rattlers. The author has seen one on each of his trips here.

The Hike: The trail is an ancient route, today used more by fishermen and hikers than by cows. It is fairly easy to follow on the stretch to the footbridge your map shows. It stays up above the river for a while, but then descends and passes a number of possible tentsites. Several of these sites are on sandbars that would obviously be flooded at high water.
  It's hard to miss the old bridge site--it had fairly substantial footings. Beyond it the trail deteriorates a bit, but the vegetation gets even better. Climb to the right through some junipers, and pick up the trail again. At times it fools you and you find it higher or lower than you thought, but at times it is almost nonexistent. The trail passes some attractive campsites before reaching a bend and an open slope to the right where it seems you could climb out of the canyon if you wished.
  Below here the canyon narrows, campsites become scarcer, trout fishing improves, and one of the area's frequent thunderstorms turned back your author. Columbet Creek beckons as an extended goal.

Access: Drive to Rogerson on US-93, and turn right on the paved road toward Murphy Hot Springs. The pavement ends just before the road descends to Murphy Hot Springs; drive 4 1/2 miles past the pavement end, and turn right into the developed trailhead area. Other camping possibilities are roadside turnoffs back towards Murphy's or up towards Jarbidge, or the Forest Service campground above Jarbidge town.