Best trails in Avery, Idaho

One Loop Option: The trail begins on Northbound Creek Trail 111. Head down the trail 2 miles (dropping about 1,400 feet) until you get to Sawtooth Creek. Cross the creek and follow Northbound Creek 4 miles (gaining 1,400 feet) until you come to Northbound Lake. Follow Trail 111 (0.5 miles) until it intersects Heart Pass Trail 65. Turn right on this trail to the ridge near Heart Lake. The junction to Heart Lake is 0.5 miles farther up the ridge, and the trail to Heart Lake is another 0.5 miles. To continue up the ridge to the high point, it is 0.5 miles past the junction to Heart Lake. From the high point, it is 0.8 miles to the junction of Trail 13 (if you decide to go to Crag Lake). Go 0.2 miles more to the junction of Trail 108, and turn right down this trail towards Mud Lake. Follow Trail 108 5 miles (losing 3,000 feet) down towards the Little Northfork Clearwater River (passing through a cedar grove). At the intersection of Clearwater Trail 50, go right (over the base of Mulligan Hump), and then 0.5 miles down to Sawtooth Creek. Cross the creek and follow the trail 0.5 miles to Surveyors Ridge Trail 40. Just after this intersection, the trail drops down near the confluence of Canyon Creek and the Little Northfork Clearwater River (to the trapper's cabin). Finally, to complete the loop, hike up Surveyors Ridge Trail to Sawtooth Saddle (8.5 miles), and back to your parking spot.Show more

The trail starts at the back of the campground loop. Their are signs for the hiking trail however the trail head only has a brown information board with nothing on it. Their is also a small parking area. The trail starts out flat and starts a steady climb up after the first bridge. The first 2.3 miles will be a climb where most of the elevation gain will occur. The trail does not rejoin the creek until you reach the top where it flattens out. Their are some water falls just off the trail approximately one mile in. Just look for the rock "cliffs" on the right side of the trail going up. The rocks are not too difficult to climb down and up for a photo shoot or a drink of water. Most moving water in this region is potable. Their are multiple creek crossings which are shallow and easy to cross. Bring extra shoes or make sure you have well vented shoes and get your feet wet. It felt great standing in the water to cool off. Horse's and dog's are able to use the trail. The trail is also open to motorcycles. This trail can be out and back or you can loop around on some other trails which you should reference the St. Joe NF map for the other trails. Also, the TFP in Avery is a great spot (the only spot) for some wood fired pizza chicken and jojo's, and a cold drink.Show more