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Best Mountain Hikes in Idaho

The directory currently contains 46 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Idaho. Their average mapped distance is 87.1 km and average recorded ascent is 1,764 m (5,787 ft); the longest route in the set is 1558 km.

This subset represents 44% of the 105 quality-checked routes in Idaho. Its average distance is 87.1 km, compared with 41.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,764 m (5,787 ft), versus 907 m (2,976 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 1 routes (2%) are rated easy, 22 (48%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (7%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

84.8 km

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

2,018 m

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Pacific Northwest Trail 02 Idaho

Idaho · United States

Distance
156 km
/ 97.1 mi
Elevation gain
5,148 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Warm Springs State Hospital, Warm Springs, Montana
Expert

CDT - Idaho & Montana Section

Idaho · United States

Distance
1558 km
/ 968 mi
Elevation gain
12,077 m
Typical duration
388 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Idaho Centenial Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
560 km
/ 348 mi
Elevation gain
10,039 m
Typical duration
148 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Idaho Centennial Trail (West)

Idaho · United States

Distance
277 km
/ 172 mi
Elevation gain
11,006 m
Typical duration
82 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Kinnikinnick is very common matted plant on the gentle gravelly slopes along the ridge leading up to Borah Peak.
Hard

Borah Peak Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,661 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Trail 040

Idaho · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
281 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Granite Mountain Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
537 m
Typical duration
2 hr 40 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Pettit Creek Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
11.0 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
669 m
Typical duration
3 hr 18 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Caribou Ridge

Idaho · United States

Distance
7.9 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
104 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Horton Peak Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
825 m
Typical duration
2 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Divide Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
49.4 km
/ 30.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,841 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ardeth Lake Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
251 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Hard

Queens River Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
22.4 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,066 m
Typical duration
6 hr 30 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ten Lake Basin Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
6.0 km
/ 3.7 mi
Elevation gain
424 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Trail Creek Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
8.6 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
898 m
Typical duration
3 hr 8 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Hard

Trail 460

Idaho · United States

Distance
24.1 km
/ 14.9 mi
Elevation gain
118 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Mount Cramer Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
14.3 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
430 m
Typical duration
3 hr 37 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Grassy Mountain Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
378 m
Typical duration
1 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Coal Creek Trail #41

Idaho · United States

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Benedict Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
586 m
Typical duration
3 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Trail 191

Idaho · United States

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
511 m
Typical duration
1 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Trail 093

Idaho · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
100 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Twin Creek Ridge Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
898 m
Typical duration
3 hr 7 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Easy

Iron Mountain Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Trail 407

Idaho · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
141 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Summit View Loop

Idaho · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
50 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Hard

Trail 024

Idaho · United States

Distance
16.5 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,115 m
Typical duration
5 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Van Camp Trail

Idaho · United States

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
163 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
  • Mountain

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Pacific Northwest Trail 02 IdahoIdaho156 km5,148 m44 hrExpertJune to October
Palouse to Cascades State Park TrailIdaho400 km2,018 m97 hrExpertApril to October
Pacific Northwest Trail 01 MontanaIdaho350 km7,077 m93 hrExpertJune to October
CDT - Idaho & Montana SectionIdaho1558 km12,077 m388 hrExpertJuly to September
Lewis & Clark National Historic TrailIdaho84.8 km4,759 m26 hrExpertJune to October
Idaho Centenial TrailIdaho560 km10,039 m148 hrExpertJuly to September
Idaho Centennial Trail (West)Idaho277 km11,006 m82 hrExpertJune to October
Borah Peak TrailIdaho6.2 km1,661 m3 hr 47 minHardJuly to September
Meadow Creek National Recreation TrailIdaho41.9 km567 m10 hrExpertJune to October
Iron Creek-Stanley Lake TrailIdaho23.4 km723 m6 hr 13 minHardJuly to September

Pacific Northwest Trail 02 Idaho, Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail 01 Montana currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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