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Lake Creek Trail


Several years ago (probably more like 8 or 9) Shirley and I went camping with friends in the Lake Creek Campground, Salmon Challis National Forest, (about 60 miles from our home in Mackay, Idaho).  Our friends went some where with their kids fishing, so we decided to check out the trail to the chain of Lake Creek lakes:  Round Lake, Long Lake, Big Lake, Rough Lake, Golden Lake, etc..  Well we got up the trail about 6 miles or so and the trail being so rocky and rough and because we were both on one 4-Wheeler, we decided to turn back to camp.  Also, no one knew where we were because we left after our friends had gone and we had been out several hours.  We never got to any of the lakes, and always wondered what the rest of the trail was like and what the various lakes looked like.

Well, a few weeks ago, we got to find out!  Our son Dirk called and said that he and his family would like to go camping for the weekend.  They wanted to camp at the Lake Creek Campground and check out the trail to the lakes, as Dirk was looking for places to take his Boy Scout Troop.

We started our adventure after lunch and headed for the Lake Creek trail head located along the southeast section of the Copper Basin Loop Road about 5 miles from the Forest Service Ranger Station.  The group consisted of Shirley and I on her new Honda Rubicon 500, Dirk and Madison (his daughter) on our Polaris Magnum 500 and Ben (Dirk's son) and Natalie (Dirk's wife) on our Polaris Magnum 325.  Dirks 4-year old daughter Lindsie and his 2-year old son Garrett went with us also.

The day was nice, not to hot and a little overcast.  The forest service sign at the trail head gives the distance to the fork in the trail where the so called "Lake Creek Loop" begins and the distance to the various lakes. Since the Scouts are supposed to hike a distance of 5-miles as one to their requirements for the Second Class Rank, we used our trip odometer and started measuring from the parking lot at the trail head.  After going 5 miles we still had not reached the Loop sign directing us to the various lakes (that was about 6-miles).  The sign lead us to believe the trail to the left and Round Lake would be the closest at 1/4-mile. So we decided on seeing that lake first, then returning and going to the other lakes.

Scenery Along North Side Of Trail

Wayne Olsen Photo

View of the Valley Surrounded by the Lake Creek Lakes

This is One of the Best Sections of the Trail 
(like a paved road compared to most parts of the trail).

Wayne Olsen Photo


Stopping for a Snack and Water Break in One of the Shady Spots.









The trail so far was very rocky and rough.  The only trail maintenance we could observe was on the bridges over bogs and streams and cutting of trees that had fallen across the trail.  No grading of the trail, removal of huge boulders, or other maintenance is performed.  This is one of the most rugged trails I have ever ridden.   But it was about to get worse.  We got a chuckle out of several forest service signs warning riders to slow down as speed damaged the trail.  LOL.

There are several switch-backs on the trail which are very steep and rocky.  I had to back up even with the power steering on the Rubicon, and only had 3 of the 4 wheels on the ground some of the time.  Those on the Polarises didn't have to back up but only had 2 of the 4 wheel on the ground in some places.

We made it to the end of the trail to Round Lake only to find that we had to hike through a marsh another 1/4-mile to get to the lake.  We decided not to take the hike.  While there, we met another family on their 4-Wheelers (each had one, even though the kids 4-Wheelers were quite small; so were the kids).  They told us to follow them and they would show us a shortcut to Long Lake.  We followed them until they stopped to take a break. Then showing us the way, we went on.  It turned out the short cut was the "Loop" leading to Long Lake and Rough Lake and then to where the trail forks to the other lakes.  We found this out after we had traversed even worse trail conditions and decided it was to rough and to far to backtrack; so we continued on.

A View of Long Lake
Notice the large ripple to the left center?  
The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the lake as that is what kids are supposed to do. 

Wayne Olsen Photo

Long Lake was the only lake we saw.  The family we met told us the trail to Rough Lake was extremely rugged and did not recommend we try it riding double with 2 small kids.  And, while we were descending the trail from Long Lake a mountain shower soaked us so we decided to head back to camp.

Resting At Camp After A Long Rough Trail Ride
(Don't know where Ben is)


Anyway, we now know what to expect on the Lake Creek Trail Loop.  We traveled over 15 miles, usually traveling at an average speed of 5 miles per hour (min. speed almost stopped, max. speed 9 miles per hour). Total travel time 3-1/2 plus hours.  I would not recommend this trail to those riding in side-by-side ATVs, nor to those with little riding experience on steep, rough, rocky trails.  It would be good for hiking.

Take your time, enjoy the view as you go.  It is beautiful country!
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