Nickel Creek Table

Hikes: D, O.
Total Distance, D: 7 miles.
Difficulty: Levels I, II, III.
Season: April 15-June 25.
USGS Maps: Pleasant Valley, Slack Mountain.
BLM 100K Maps: Triangle, *Jordan Valley.
Dirt Road Miles: 46 1/2 gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 36, T9S R4W.

Introduction: The North Fork Owyhee Wilderness Study Area is one of the most unique areas in Idaho's high desert. Near Juniper Mountain, the area has dense juniper forests found nowhere else in southern Idaho. The junipers take many forms: some bushy, some extremely tall and straight-grained. Due to overgrazing (depleting competing grasses), fire suppression (due to lack of Indians to start fires, and to lack of grassy fine fuels to carry it), and possibly a cooler/moister climate (favoring their growth), young junipers are surviving, and the species is increasing its range.
  This juniper "invasion" of grasslands reduces the amount of forage available for elk, bighorn sheep, deer, and cattle. The BLM is manipulating the area's vegetation to reduce juniper and increase grasses. That would be a good idea if that increased grass and shrub production helped wildlife, but gee, guys, it's for cows.
  And, some question whether the lack of junipers was the true "unnatural" condition, brought about primarily by man-caused fires. Is the true high Owyhee vegetation near-pure stands of juniper?
  This hike is reached via a side road off the Mud Flat Road that is impassable in wet spring weather. Side roads around here offer beginner and intermediate hiking on what can, in spring, be thought of as a good trail rather than as a nasty road. These spring road hikes offer above-average length and time for desert hikes. The road portion is Level I, the climb to the dayhiker's goal is Level II, the descent off the Table is Level III.

The Hike: Follow the road northnorthwest across a level area of springs and bogs. Watch the cliffs to your left--you'll descend them at some point on your return. You soon start a gradual climb which turns steep prior to your first descent across a drainage. Another climb and descent brings you to a second drainage. When the long walk up from this crossing ends, you are in an interesting, fairly level "forest", a good camping area (O). Turn right here and seek views down and up Current Creek's gorge.
  After crossing a flat, make a short steep climb on the road. From the crest of that climb (W1), cut left and work your way through the junipers to the top of Nickel Creek Table (D). What a difference in scenery! You are at the high point of the rocky, thin-soiled table, and you can see vast distances through the widely scattered junipers. Juniper Mountain is to the southsouthwest, Deep Creek valley to the east, South Mountain to the north.
  The easy way back is to retrace your steps north to the road. A harder but rewarding route heads south by the compass for 1/2 mile, avoiding a pesky drainage. It then cuts southeast across the Table to the rim and a view of the road you walked on. Find a safe descent from the vicinity of W2 and you're soon back at the trailhead. In country like this, your progress is measured juniper tree by juniper tree.
  You might try to extend this hike by walking up Currant Creek, which is in good condition for this area. DO NOT walk to Indian Battleground Reservoir, one of several "range improvement" reservoirs in the area which have been altered a bit to conform to the landscape, but are still major cow attractors.

Access: Take the Mud Flat Road, driving the loop route. As you enter Jordan Valley town, turn left on a paved road when US-95 makes a ninety degree right turn. After 3 miles turn right towards South Mountain, and in a short 3 miles bear right on the paved road. The critical junction comes at Pleasant Valley School, where you bear right. After 15 miles, when a pretty good road bears right for Three Forks, bear left (straight).
  Cross the North Fork Owyhee River 10 miles later; there is a campground here. About 4 1/4 scenic miles from the river, you must bear left and start your climb towards Pleasant Valley. After 14 more miles, you see a side road head north off the Mud Flat Road and parallel it for a few feet. This is the trailhead.