Bear Creek

Trail Overview

Bear Creek Trail is a 4.6 mile long single track in the trail system between Wallace and Avery, in the St. Joe National Forest in Idaho. It starts off of Loop Creek Road, with a steep downhill from the road, straight into a creek crossing that's long and rocky, and can be deep water in late spring or early summer. Please be sure to tread lightly amongst the creek crossing. There's a couple tight and steep switchbacks right away, then it continues as a narrow dirt trail through a very overgrown and lush forest full of bushes and tall mossy pines. The bushes whip you as you ride past, but it's really beautiful scenery. The trail goes underneath one of the trestles of the Route of the Hiawatha, which is a famous biking route through this forest that goes on an old train route in these mountains, and is a pretty cool sight to see. The trail has potential to be full of downed logs if it isn't cleared for the season, but most of the big logs were cut as of summer 2024. Overall the trail gains 2,500 feet over the 4.6 miles, with lots of short and steep hill climbs that often go straight up. It'll go straight up, then flatten out, then do it again, and the climbs are quite technical often with roots and slippery dirt. Downed logs would make these climbs even harder. There's a bit of embedded rock, tight trees, and is pretty windy through the forest, and along the ridge once it gets to the top. Overall it's a really fun challenge, but be ready for overgrowth, tight and narrow sections, and lots of steep climbs. There's not many rocks, but the roots can make it slippery. The south end pops out on Shefoot Road. This trail is open 5/22 - 9/05.

Photos of Bear Creek

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Difficulty

This is an advanced trail due to lots of really steep climbs that would be difficult for the inexperienced rider, tight switchbacks, overgrowth, and a deep water crossing.

History

The Route of the Hiawatha passes through here, which is an old train route built in the early 1900's that is now a biking and walking path that goes over several trestles and through old train tunnels. The Bear Creek trail passes underneath one of the trestles, and goes right up next to the biking route, so you'll likely see lots of peddle bikers going past.

Technical Rating