Idaho's Best Backpacking Trips

When you’re looking for a backpacking trip, you’re typically looking for a handful of attributes: solitude, long distances, access to backcountry camping, and big, dramatic terrain. Idaho fits the bill, and within its borders are rugged mountain peaks and sapphire alpine lakes in backcountry wilderness that is as beautiful as anything in the West. It contains the largest federally managed and contiguous wilderness area in the Lower 48, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, which protects the wild Salmon River and several mountain ranges, not to mention one of the West’s premier recreation areas in the Sawtooth Mountains. These wide-open expanses are ideal for backpacking, and our contributors at the Outdoor Project have mapped a wide array of multi-day backpacking adventures in the Gem State.

Explore some of the best multi-day backpacking trips Idaho has to offer!

Sawtooth Mountains

The Payette River is a central feature in the Sawtooth Mountain wilderness and boasts several fantastic multi-day backpacking trips.

• Ardeth Lake and the Spangle Divide: One of the most remote regions in the Sawtooths, this is the only trail that doesn't summit a pass on its way to Ardeth Lake.
• Plummer Lake and the Everly Divide: fascinating geology at the remote Mount Everly and little foot traffic on a remote trail.
• Hidden Lake and the Cramer Divide: Smith Falls and swimming holes on the way to Hidden Lake and hard-earned views.
• Grandjean to Taylor Springs: River access and solitude on a route to other adventure opportunities in the upper Payette River canyon.

Other highlights in the Sawtooth Mountains:

• Queens River and the Queens River Divide: small waterfalls and a spectacular alpine lake basin near the Atlanta region of the Sawtooths.
• Baron Falls and Baron Lakes: a remote canyon with access to climbing and other longer adventures.
• Stanley Lake Creek and Observation Peak: fire-scarred wilderness with wildflower meadows and waterfalls.

The Idaho Panhandle

The Selkirk Crest Trail: Part of the Pacific Northwest Trail, this section offers challenging off-trail bushwhacks with views of the Selkirk Mountains.

Salmon River Trail

One of Idaho’s best backcountry trails in one of its wildest regions, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the trail parallels the Middle Fork of the Salmon River for a 100-mile stretch.

• Section One: Boundary Creek to Sheepeater Camp
• Section Two: Sheepeater Camp to Marble Creek Camp
• Section Three: Marble Creek Camp to Shelf Camp
• Section Four: Shelf Camp to Driftwood Camp
• Section Five: Driftwood Camp to Otter Bar Camp
• Section Six: Trail Camp to Big Creek Bridge