Camping on Summit Creek

My wife Shirley and I decided we needed to take our travel trailer and make one more trip to the mountains before the snow fell and the weather got too cold. Our favorite camping spot on Phi Kappa Creek in the Salmon/Challis National Forrest was taken when we arrived so we decided to check out the Phi Kappa Creek campground. The campground had too many people like us, or maybe they were archery hunters, so we decided to check out other places.

We found a nice spot on Summit Creek about half way between Phi Kappa and Park Creek campgrounds opposite Little Fall Creek. It was easy to get into and we had it all to ourselves. We were a little closer to the road (Trail Creek Road) than we wanted to be but this proved to be a non-problem.

We spent 2 days camping and enjoyed every minute. When we were leaving (got about 1/2 mile down the road from where we were camped and saw a cow and calf moose standing in the middle of the road. I slowed almost to a stop so Shirley could get the camera and take their picture, but they were too fast, we were to slow and there won't be any pictures of moose in this blog.

Our Campsite On Summit Creek Opposite Little Fall Creek Canyon

(Our Shih Tzu Tucker Welcomes You)

Summit Creek Beside Our Campsite

Wayne Olsen Photo

Fall Willow Colors on Summit Creek Above Our Campsite

Wayne Olsen Photo

Shirley and I took our 4-wheeler up the Little Fall Creek Road until we got to the second switchback on the first shale slide and decided to go back as the sky was clouding up and it looked like a big storm was coming in. We only had one machine and that was another reason not to get to far from camp. We never want to go farther with one machine than we want to walk back (we were about 3 miles up the canyon). When I was in early grade school, my Dad logged in Little Fall Creek, so some day we want to go back with two machines and see how far we can still get up the old logging roads.

Little Fall Creek Canyon

Wayne Olsen Photo

We also took the 4-wheeler and went up the Park Creek Road into the head waters of the West Fork of Trail Creek. It is a pretty ride and is only about 2-3/4 miles from the Park Creek Campground to the end of the road and the trail head.

Meadow at the Head of West Fork of Trail Creek

(This is in the Sawtooth National Forest Which Borders Salmon/Challis National Forest)

Wayne Olsen Photo

Looking Down Summit Creek Toward the Big Lost River Valley

Wayne Olsen Photo

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