Champion Creek Trailhead and Tin Cup Horse Transfer Camp, Idaho

This is a continuation of my September 2023 trip into the Sawtooth's. For part one, click here: Grandjean

After leaving Grandjean, I stopped off at Little Redfish Lake because I had camped in a nice little dispersed spot there before, and it is one of the only areas with cell service. BUT when I arrived, they were doing road work in that exact area, and my spot had been obliterated, foiling my plan. So I hung out by the lake for awhile, it was a rest day, and then eventually drove over to Decker Flat instead.

Little Redfish Lake.

I had camped at Decker Flat previously as well, and it is a very nice area, although literally about 2 minutes out of cell range. The cell tower in the valley is not located very high in elevation. 

The exact spot that I was in before was available...score....so I nabbed it. Just as I arrived, a skittish looking antelope, came down to the river for a drink, and then jumped in and swam across to the other side, in record time.

Decker Flat is a large open area beside the Salmon River, and Road 310 runs through it for miles, all the way over to Redfish Lake Road. Where Rd. 310 starts, there are plenty of great dispersed spots along the river, or you could also set up further down, near an irrigation canal, either way, there is easy access for stock water. RVers tend to like to be right along the very edge of the river, but there is also plenty of room on the other side of the road. There are no amenities other than some hitching rails, which outfitters use, at the road junction, which is a good place to park in order to ride the Hell Roaring Trail, as the actual trailhead does not have trailer parking. 

An antelope swims across the Salmon River.

Directly across the highway from Decker Flat is the 4th of July Road which goes up into the White Cloud Mountains. About halfway up is the Champion Creek Trailhead which was my destination for the following day. This road is very slow going, no matter what, but it had just been graded and ended up actually being one of the better roads I encountered during the entire trip.

Champion Creek Trailhead/Camp is free and has three back-in spots, that longer rigs can fit into, plus a couple of other spots alongside the loop road. There are hitching rails, star feeders, a loading ramp, and a bathroom. But no manure bin, and unfortunately no water. There is a creek that you could access via the main road, but it is not convenient. Like all trailheads in this area, there is a map on the kiosk.

Champion Creek Trailhead.

This is a funny trail because it appears that it is going to head up into the mountains and start climbing, but it actually follows a ridge up above the road, back the way I had just driven in, which made me wonder why they put the trailhead where they did.....and then it drops back down in elevation.  

Eventually it follows Champion Creek through a very pretty valley and then I got to a meadow area, where there were some hunter's tents set up. After that, the trail was suddenly not clear anymore, which didn't make a lot of sense, since one would think that Champion Lakes would be the ultimate destination. Since the uncleared part of the trail was in a burn area, it was a little frustrating trying to get around a few sections, but I made it! The map showed another shorter way, from the opposite direction, to get in to these lakes, and when I reached them, everything was cleared again, so it was just the middle section that was a pain.

On the Champion Creek Trail.

Sawtooth views on the Champion Creek Trail.

On the Champion Creek Trail.

Lots of Aspens.

Found an antelope skull.

The first lake that I got to was actually the prettiest, then I went through a boggy area and continued on to the second lake, after which, I then had to go back out the same way.

Champion Lake.

A boggy area between the two lakes.

The second lake.

One, of two, Beaver dams in Champion Creek.

After creeping along the road back to the highway, I then drove over to my next destination, and proceeded to drive even slower, if that's possible, along the 2 or so miles of potholes to Tin Cup. Basically you just let the truck drive itself, at zero miles an hour, no gas pedal required.

When I got there I was surprised to see a major change, a grid of four steel corrals near the creek, that had not been there before.

New corrals at Tin Cup.

Tin Cup Horse Transfer Camp has two very large nice steel corrals and a variety of hitching rails at the actual trailhead. There is a bathroom, a loading ramp, and a hand pump that used to have potable water, but it no longer works. Road 365 continues on with dispersed camping areas on either side, and Rd. 363 which is directly across from the trailhead, also has a few spots, and that is where I camped. Some sites are better than others as far as access to the nearby creek, in some cases you have to drag water for quite the distance. The new grid of corrals is situated in the best area, where there is a trail that leads to the creek. They are first come first serve, and when I arrived they were being used, so I set up my portable corral elsewhere.

Sunset at Tin Cup Horse Transfer Camp.

On my last trip I had done the short loop ride that goes by Yellowbelly Lake, but I was not able to do Alice or Toxaway Lake because that year an earthquake had come through and uncleared the trails.

This time I set out in the morning not sure whether I would do them as two different rides or as a  loop instead.

Pettit Lake.

On the trail to Alice Lake.

A lot of small trees got knocked over.

I made up my mind once I got to Alice Lake, since it took way less time to get there than I had thought it would. I am very glad I did the loop, the middle part, in my opinion, is the prettiest section. I climbed up to Twin Lakes, then over Snowyside Pass, where another two unnamed lakes are nestled down below. I passed Toxaway and Farley Lakes and then since this ride is a little rocky, which slows things down, I went back along Yellowbelly, since I knew I could pick up the pace a bit on that section. This is a 21 mile loop, from the trailhead, but I added extra mileage to and from the horse camp, especially going back the longer way, and it took 9 hours.

Alice Lake.

Alice Lake

Alice Lake from above.

Twin Lakes.

Looking at a couple of unnamed lakes on the other side of Snowyside Pass.

On the other side of Snowyside Pass.

At an unnamed lake.

Toxaway Lake.

Farley Lake.

When I got back, the horse people using the corrals had left, but at 9pm at night a couple of RVers pulled in very close to me. It was dark and they probably didn't realize how many other open areas there were. In any case I was giving my horse the next day off, which was good timing, since the next morning started out stormy with some rain showers, so I moved on to my next destination.

Stay tuned for the last installment of this trip.

GPS COORDINATES TO DECKER FLAT

GPS COORDINATES TO CHAMPION CREEK

GPS COORDINATES TO TIN CUP

Grandjean Horse Camp, The Sawtooth's, Idaho

In 2020 I went to the Sawtooth's for the first time, and after doing eight rides, I knew I would have to return, since there were still at least that many more rides left for me to do. On this second trip I started at Grandjean Horse Camp which is on the west side of the mountain range. To read about the first visit into the Sawtooth's, click here: Tin Cup, Redfish, Iron Creek

Baron Lake.

Sadly, after driving all day, once I got to the dirt road that leads to camp, the 7 or so miles of constant potholes slowed me right down. I remembered this about my previous trip, the riding is beautiful, but the roads are horrendous. Finally I pulled in and realized that finding a good spot was going to be tricky. No one was camped there, but the only spot I thought I could get into and be somewhat level, was right near the backpackers parking area. So I got myself situated by the horse trailhead instead, with my corral set up in site #30. More about that later....

When I walked down the camp road to the pay station, it said, "pick a spot and the host will contact you." It was late and so I settled in and went to bed.

Grandjean Horse Camp.

Grandjean has 8 spots with hitching rails, on a separate road from the nearby people campground. This is not a great camp for bigger rigs, some of the spots are long enough, but maneuvering around with a lot of trees in the way can be tricky. It is not a one way road though, so driving in from either direction is possible in order to fit into a site. There are two bathrooms, a stock water trough, that is hidden in the trees, ( I didn't even notice it until the next morning ), and a potable water spigot, that you cannot attach a hose to, in the backpackers parking area. There is a dumpster and recycling container, but no manure bin. I have an old book about the area, and the description said there were corrals. What this refers to is some corrals, out of sight, up above the camp, next to an old guard station, but you cannot get a rig up there, and you can't use those corrals anyway. This is a first come, first serve camp and it is $20 a night. There is absolutely no cell service.

The mapboard at Grandjean Horse Camp.

In the morning since I was dealing with an hour time difference, it seemed I needed to get moving quickly, and I knew the rides in this area were going to be long. I started on the S. Fork Payette River Trail which meanders though a valley and then climbs gradually to Elk Lake and beyond. I turned back when I came across a walkway over a boggy area which was completely falling apart. I might have been able to cross it, or go around somehow, but although I had a map, and the trailhead also had a map, nothing had mileage on it, so I had no idea how much further it was to the lake.

One of the creek crossings on the S. Fork Payette River Trail.

On the S. Fork Payette River Trail.

A nice mini waterfall.

Where I turned around.

Heading back down the S. Fork Payette River Trail.

That evening as I was perusing my map and trying to decide if I was going to do two or three days of riding, a guy drove in, who turned out to be the camp host. He immediately asked me why I was camped there, and not in the horse camp. As I mentioned before, I was near the trailhead, and my corral was set up in a spot right behind my trailer. There was no way I could have fit into the actual parking area for that spot. What I shortly learned from the camp host was that where I was parked, by mere feet, was actually considered the trailhead, where you can leave a rig, in order to pack in, but you aren't supposed to actually camp there. He asked if I would move. We had a little chat about it, and he said he realized that there was no way to know that you can't camp there, no signage, nothing, so he said he would let it slide this time. I also didn't know yet how long I was going to stay, but he said as long as I was just there for a few days, it would be fine. Apparently people have camped at the trailhead on purpose, instead of in the sites, because they think they can get away without paying, but that was not my intention.

The following day I got an early start, to ride the approximately 20 mile out and back to Baron Lakes along the Baron Creek Trail. Obviously this trail, as well as everything else in the area, can be done as a loop instead, if you are packing in. The trail starts out easy and then has a switchback section climbing up to the lakes.

On the Baron Creek Trail.

I passed Baron Falls and then eventually there are three lakes, the lower one is not in sight, but the trail goes right past the middle one, the largest lake, which is where I stopped. This took 9 hours to complete, with a few short breaks.

Starting to climb, on the Baron Creek Trail.

On the Baron Creek Trail.

Baron Falls.

At Baron Lake.

At Baron Lake.

On the way back down the Baron Creek Trail.

On the way back down the Baron Creek Trail.

On the last day I rode the Trail Creek Trail which is shorter, about 12 miles, but steeper, with several creek crossings, one of which is a little "interesting". The camp host had mentioned that he had not heard of a horse actually going on the side trail up to the lakes, and he warned me about a boggy section. Once you leave the main trail and start the climb, it does become much steeper with boulder sections. The boggy stuff was actually not a problem, but it could be worse earlier in the season. Just like Baron, there is more than one lake, but I just went to the lower one. This is in a burned area, and any non designated side trails tended to not be cleared.

On the Trail Creeks Trail.

Some very pretty rock, in the creek.

On the Trail Creeks Trail.

Trail  Creek Lake.

Trail Creek Lake.

That evening the camp host came back over to see me, he seemed a little perturbed, since he had assumed I was leaving that day. I said no, but I would be gone the next day. He asked me a bunch more questions and it seemed clear that even though I had wanted to go over to the hot springs in the morning, when the outside temperature was cooler, he wanted me to be out of there pretty early. So much for my relaxing day off from riding....

 At that point it was 6pm so I gathered my stuff and I walked over to the river where Sacajawea Hot Springs are. They are not really close to the horse camp, just over a mile and a half, one way, but I was determined to have enough time to enjoy them, and then get back by dark. People have made rock lined pools to catch the scalding hot water that flows out of the side of a hill and mixes with the river water. I chatted with a girl who was also there solo, but it wasn't super busy even on a Friday night. Also there are quite a few different pools, and they are separated along the river, so you can find your own little spot.

One of the pools at Sacajawea Hot Springs.

As I was walking back, the camp host happened to be driving by, and asked if I wanted a ride. I took him up on it, which was only a little awkward, since by this time our interactions were slightly strained. I do understand his point of view, he thought he was doing me a favor by not making me move, but he was definitely stressed out about it the whole time. Hopefully the forest service will add some signs at some point, also if someone does camp in one of the actual spots, and then packs in for several days, it's a bit of a mystery on how you would be charged for that. Maybe just for the nights you spend in the actual camp, not the nights out on the trail. Not everybody can just arrive and leave to pack in on the same day, especially if they live out of the area.

The next morning as I was driving out, someone in a car ahead of me was stopped along the road. I pulled over to see what was happening and a guy told me that there was a truck hanging off the side of the hill. I could see a small tree had been bent, and the truck was caught precariously on it, looking like it could roll down the embankment, but it had not, which was quite lucky. The people that had stopped were in a tizzy because they thought someone might still be in the vehicle. The windows were tinted but I could see footprints where someone had climbed out, and that the airbag was deployed, but nobody was in the drivers seat. I continued on my way, and a short while later a tow truck passed me, so that took care of that. I was actually amazed that a tow truck would come all the way out there on a gravel road, because in Oregon they will not drive off pavement.

This is just the first blog of three, so stay tuned for the next leg of the journey.

GPS COORDINATES TO GRANDJEAN