It would be an understatement to say that hiking in the Salmon-Challis National Forest is undeveloped. Because the area lacks a developed trail system, hiking is hard but very rewarding. The area is a nature lover's paradise and full of vast expanses of protected wilderness, abundant wildlife, and incredible views. In short, it's an adventure.
At 4.3 million acres, the Salmon-Challis National Forest is massive. It includes the largest wilderness in the Lower 48, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, as well as Idaho's tallest mountain, Borah Peak, which reaches an elevation of 12,662 feet. Many locals refer to the mountain ranges on its eastern boundary, the Lost River Range and the Lemhi Range, as the "Himalayas of Idaho."
The vastness means you probably won't see very many other hikers while you're exploring, but it also means that you won't find any paved paths or easy hikes. Fortunately, the area's easiest hike is also one of our all time favorites—Goldbug Hot Springs. Most of our other recommendations are backpacking trips and require at least two hours to reach the trailheads via dirt roads like the lakes of the Bighorn Crags.
Whether you hiked a few miles or backpacked a few weeks, you need a place to rest those tired legs. Look no further than River's Fork Lodge and reserve your room today!
