South Fork of the Snake River

Hikes: D, O.
Total Distance, D: 6-13 miles.
Difficulty: Level I.
Season: May 15-October 15.
USGS Map: Wheaton Mountain.
Forest Service Map: Targhee N.F.
Dirt Road Miles: 4 gravel, 3/4 good dirt (Dry Canyon); 15 gravel (Black Canyon).
PLSS Location: Section 30, T3N R43E.

Introduction: This hike is in the Forest Service's Garns Mountain Wildernss Study Area, where the Snake River enters the Middle Rocky Mountains--at the very eastern limit of Idaho's high desert. This protion of Grans Mountain has much in common with BLM WSA's. It has critical deer and elk winter range, basalt and rhyolite rock, and it borders the Snake. A key difference is that a good trail leads the length of the roadless stretch. The trail is not closed to motorized vehicles.
  The BLM also has WSA's along this stretch of river. A number of islands, well mapped in the BLM's Medicine Lodge Resource Management Plan, dot this popular float trip. Some are large and ungrazed. Islands 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, and 47 have good natural character.

The Hike: You have two trailheads to choose between. To the north is Black Canyon, reached by a long gravel road (T2). That trailhead takes you to a level bar along the river, with good camping. To the south is Dry Canyon, reached by a short dirt and gravel road (T1). That trailhead puts you high above the river, on brushy benches with excellent views. The distance from trailhead to trailhead is about 6 1/2 miles.
  From the Dry Canyon trailhead, hike down the lane until it cuts right and descends through forest. When you reach Dry Canyon, turn left and walk along benches where you could camp. The South Fork trail soon veers to the right and begins a short, steep climb to a basalt bench 300 feet above the river.
  The bench (D1) is deceiving. It somehow seems to be a pure southern exposure, yet it isn't: it has a western exposure broken by several streams. The result is areas facing south that are rich in bitterbrush, and areas facing north that are forested. As you hike along the trail, you'll be constantly moving from sun to shade. One of the drainages you'll cross is Ladder Canyon. As you descend it, watch for the columnar basalt on the opposite cliff.
  The hike changes character as you come to Gormer Canyon. If you continue beyond here, you'll discover that the trail is not as shown on your USGS map. It now climbs over the saddle near 5714, and then mnakes a steep, somewhat hazardous descent over loose rock. When you reach Bear Gulch, observe the junipers which flourish in place of ponderosa pine. You could camp here.
  On the return, Level II hikers can seek out the old trail that shows on the USGS map. From Bear Gulch, hike south along the river. The old trail is generally visible. There are superb campsites (O) in an aspen/juniper grove, just before the trail vanishes at a clump of large shrubs. When that happens, backtrack and look straight up the slope. The trail climbs a bench in an open area.
  Climb up the trail, then bear right, climbing to the west of a slight drainage. The old trail brings you to Gormer Canyon below the new trail you used earlier.
  To hike from Black Canyon (T2), just climb the trail to a saddle, and pause to enjoy the view before descending to the river near Bear Gulch (D2). There are good campsites all along this stretch of river.

Access: For Dry Canyon (T1), drive to Swan Falls, at the junction of US-26 and ID-31. Turn north on ID-31, and drive 4 3/4 miles to a gravel road to the left. Take it for 1 1/2 miles, and make a right turn. (This is 5735, in the southeast corner of your USGS map.) After 2 miles turn left, and then turn right on a dirt road after 3/4 mile. Park on BLM land in 3/4 mile, when that road turns left.
  For Black Canyon, frive 1 1/4 miles past the golf course at Heise Hot Springs, and turn right on the Snake River Road. After 8 miles turn right on the River Road, and after 5 more miles bear right for Black Canyon. The trailhead comes after 1 /34 more miles, just before the Black Canyon trail sign.