Atomic City to Frenchman's Cabin

Trail Overview

This route will take you from the main highway to Big Southern Butte. If you have not been to Big Southern Butte, it is worth the trip. The butte is one of the largest volcanic domes in the world and is the largest on the Snake River Plain. There are obsidian deposits that are easily seen in the spring at the base and the dome is huge up close with sweeping views of the entire area, including the Grand Tetons on a clear day. This route starts at a ghost town (Atomic City, originally Midway) which died as a result of the slow interest in nuclear energy that happened in the 80's and 90s. The route takes you to a cabin at the base of the butte which was built in the mid-1800s. Needless to say, the route and views are amazing especially when the desert blooms in the spring and the temperatures cool off in the fall.

Photos of Atomic City to Frenchman's Cabin

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Difficulty

This is a two-track desert road which is stock Subaru-worthy.

History

Near the Goodale's Cutoff, the Frenchman's Cabin is a cabin rumored to have been built by a French settler in the mid 1800s and abandoned shortly thereafter, hence the name Frenchman's Cabin.

Technical Rating