Idaho is reportedly a ‘Hidden Gem’ and several Vlogs I follow seem to echo that feeling with lots of opportunities for off-road travel. I also have a good friend, Kurt Eckroth, near Boise, ID to visit…
Getting back out of Canada took several days, but we stopped in numerous great spots along the way: Derrick Lake (small rec site – on our own), Silverthorne Lake Rec Site (rather busy but great walks around the lake. I caught a break when leaving – I’d left the awning partially out, which fortunately I corrected when Bo needed a pee!), Deer Jaw (a spectacular single spot boondock beside a big river a little south of Quesnel, BC), Fish Trap Creek rec. site (an equestrian campground – it was actually pretty crowded so I moved down the road a little and camped on a disused track).
I crossed back into the US on a very minor road into Washington and quickly found a BLM campsite – Miners Flat rec area. It was really hot so I unusually decided to park under a tree – but with enough overhead to allow Starlink to work! The next two days were pretty silly – driving right to Idaho – and then driving across the panhandle to Montana in search of Drum (rolling tobacco). On the plus side, we ended up on an off-road track (Dry Creek-Cliff Creek) which hugged the border of Montana/Idaho, high up in the mountains. That night was the Lunar Eclipse – and what a special event! I was lucky to see it as I popped out of the camper to let Bo do his stuff – and there was the moon, partially covered. While watching the eclipse develop, I heard howls which I attributed to moon loving campers elsewhere along the trails… In the morning, I took Bo for a walk and not 5 minutes after returning to the camper, 4 wolves crossed the path we’d just been walking on! Magic!
We continued the following day along Dry Creek-Cliff Creek which took a turn onto a really narrow track with precipitous drop-offs and adverse camber, but fantastic views. Took it slow!
Once back on proper roads I was tired so looked for a campsite and settled on a really poor choice – Shadowy St. Joe Campground – tight spots and full – but it had been a great off-roading couple of days.
The following day we set off in search of Mindi (partner in crime of last year’s adventure). She was in her Sienna with both pups in tow. She’d found an RV Resort and had rented a Yurt for the night. We had a lovely visit and in a complete role reversal, I did the cooking! She’s on her way to Olympic Park and then Vancouver Island before heading out to go Motorcycling in Pakistan! I certainly miss having her as a travel buddy!
The following morning I left in search of more off-road jaunts and ended up at the tippity top of Woodrat Mountain with spectacular views. Fortunately my weather app. Windy was predicting low winds for the evening. Unfortunately the morning brought with it a smoke filled vista.
I came off the mountain the following morning and visited the local ranger station who gave me good ideas for finding the illusive IDBDR. I found it and started off nice and easy – but then a right hand turn took me up a very narrow, steep, deeply rutted trail with low hanging trees and horrendous dropoffs with adverse camber – plus nowhere to turn around! I made it to the top to Devil’s Chair and though it was early, decided to stay there the night with again, spectacular views, and contemplated carrying on another 20 miles on this track or heading back the 2 miles I’d come. In the end, sense won out and I headed back the way I’d come. On the way down, I managed to hook a low tree and ended up bringing the whole thing down with a massive whump! Fortunately no damage done (but it did illustrate that the IDBDR is really designed for motorcycles and side-by-sides.
The following day we made our way through western Montana to the start of the Magruder Corridor a 101 mile offroad route and a major section of the IDBDR. We stocked up in Hamilton and did laundry and then started the trail – just going far enough to find a forestry campsite which we had to ourselves.
Carrying on in the morning we covered about half the trail which was fantastic and crossed the Continental Divide. Ending up at a magnificent boondock with exceptional views. Even though I was struggling with the altitude, we had a lovely walk in the mountains.
We finished the Magruder Corridor the following day – having chased a Black Bear along the trail! The Magruder Trail is a very special trail and I recommend anyone with a 4WD high clearance vehicle to have a go at it. It’s not super technical, but the scenery is truly spectacular.
As we got within striking distance of Kurt’s home, we stayed a night at a very special spot – the smallest camp I’ve been at having to squeeze between rocks and tree trunks and with a magnificent view of a couple of lakes below. Some great forest trails allowed Bo to roam free – at one point scaring up a large bull Moose! Time to get outta here Bo!
We arrived at Kurt and Megan’s the following afternoon and spent 4 days there, travelling each day to different spots in Idaho – including the ghost town of Silver City, apparently the first town in Idaho and scene of Silver and Gold mining activities. I say ghost town, but in fact the dwellings are all owned and mostly used as summer getaways.
We had a great visit with Kurt and Megan – and Bo really enjoyed playing with Midnight, their 10 year old Lab. I hadn’t seen Kurt for probably 15 years and it was super to meet Megan who’s a dynamite lady and definitely going places!