Big Burns Creek Trail #068

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

This is a great intermediate trail that starts with a nice, gradual 5.0-mile climb along the creek before the real climb up to the "1000 Spring Valley." The trail meanders through nice small meadows, cottonwood groves, and rolls up and down through steeper parts of the canyon. At one point, the trail is completely overhung by a cliff for about 100 feet. All but one creek crossing has a bridge in place.

The trailhead is well marked as well as the rest of the trails along the route. This is a singletrack motorized trail so riding in the dry months, you may run into other users, however, it is still a great ride close to Idaho Falls. There are other trails in the area for loop options if desired, like Old Ranger Trail #287, Hells Hole Trail #070, Coalmine Trail #064, and Little Burns Creek Trail #071.

I rode it as an out-and-back on frozen and snow-covered ground. It can get a little muddy in the fall, so either ride it early in the morning when temperatures will stay cooler or on snow which was a blast.

To find the trail, follow the signs to Kelly Canyon Ski Resort off of Highway 26 out of Idaho Falls. Go past the resort at Heise (good pizza and cold beer for your way out). Where the road goes to the left to go to Kelly Canyon, stay right and head for the Wolf Creek parking area, this is a popular parking area to ride Sidewinder and Stinking Springs Canyon ATV Trail. Head past this parking area and keep driving up the Snake River and stay right at the next junction with Forest Road 217 (Table Rock Canyon) and continue up along the Snake River.

Once you hit a cattle guard that says "No Trespass Burns Creek Ranch" you are all most there. At the far end/east end of the ranch, the road will fork, go to the left and in about a mile you'll see the trailhead at the end of the road.