Targhee National Forest Hiking

With over 1,600 miles of trails stretched throughout 2.6 million acres, Targhee National Forest has more hiking trails that you can shake a walking stick at.

With land stretching through Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, the Targhee National Forest contains diverse ecosystems, flora and fauna, including many rare, threatened or endangered species and is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of North America’s wild jewels.

Luckily, the powers that be have seen fit to gift the Targhee Forests with an extensive trail system of 1,600-plus miles, making it possible for hikers to escape into the great outdoors in any direction and from any number of different places. While this is by no means an extensive exploration of the Targhee National Forest trails outside of West Yellowstone, it should give you a few interesting places to start hiking.

For more detailed trail information, maps, and advice on up-to-date conditions, check in at one of West Yellowstone’s outdoor shops and the Island Park Ranger District.

Coffee Pot Rapids

Coffee Pot Rapids is a raging rapid that rips through the Henry’s Fork. The easy-to-moderate 2.5 mile trail follows the Snake River from a calm river to a roaring rapid, with lush forest, shrubs and mountain flowers all around. Camping is available at the trailhead.
Coffee Pot Rapids trail begins at the Upper Coffee Pot Campground, which is 27 miles south of West Yellowstone near Island Park.

• 5 miles 
• 2 hours 
• Elevation gain minimal 
• Easy to moderate 
• Out-and-back

Box Canyon Trail

The Box Canyon Trail takes hikers and anglers along the rim of Box Canyon above the Henry’s Fork, providing easy access to excellent fishing spots in addition to the scenic river overlooks and wildlife.

Box Canyon Trail begins at the Box Canyon Campground, just off of US-20 approximately 28 miles south of West Yellowstone.

• 6 miles
• Elevation gain minimal 
• Easy to moderate 
• 2-2.5 hours 
• Out-and-back

Big Springs Interpretive Trail

One of the few handicap-accessible trails around the Ashton/Island Park area, the Big Springs Interpretive Trail is paved for the first half-mile (the second half-mile is dirt and gravel). Educational signs provide information about the local river ecosystem.

The Interpretive Trail begins at the Big Springs Campground, 25 miles south of West Yellowstone. The short trail to the historical Johnny Sack Cabin also starts here. 

• 2 miles 
• Elevation gain minimal 
• Easy 
• 1 hour 
• Out-and-back

Targhee Creek Trail

This is something of a hidden gem of a trail. Two different forks lead up to the Continental Divide Trail, making it possible to do a complete 15 mile loop that includes a 1.5 mile segment of the Continental Divide Trail.

Targhee Creek Trail begins among meadows and the mixed aspen/conifer stands that are prevalent in the area. It quickly dips into the Targhee Creek Canyon, following it for a few miles before climbing up the canyon walls, breaking into views of surrounding mountains, cliff bands and forest. Once you make the climb up to the elevation of the Continental Divide Trail, you’ll enter a sub-alpine ecosystem and find a number of alpine lakes (both seasonal and constant).

As the trail becomes more difficult and elevation gain more pronounced the further you travel, if the entire 15 mile loop sounds a bit daunting, a shorter out-and-back can be equally rewarding and much easier.

Access the Targhee Creek Trail from the Targhee Creek Trailhead, off of Targhee Creek Trail Road/Forest Road #057, 2.2 miles north of the junction of ID-87 and US-20.

• 5 miles 
• 2,500 feet elevation gain (majority of elevation gain is in the last few miles that climb up to the Continental Divide Trail) 
• Easy to Difficult 
• 2 hours to 2 days 
• Loop or out-and-back

Sawtell Peak - Rock Creek Basin Trail

A nice, shorter overnight or longer day hike, the Sawtell Peak – Rock Creek Basin Trail climbs up through white bark and lodgepole pine to the Continental Divide from Rock Creek Basin Trailhead before dropping down to Rock Creek Basin and Lake Marie. Along the way, the higher-elevation trail (it stays above 8,000 feet the entire time, and is often close to or above 9,000) displays spectacular views of surrounding features, including Henry’s Lake, Island Park, the Yellowstone Caldera and nearby mountain ranges.

Camping along the trail and in Rock Creek Basin is available for those wishing to make the trip an overnight excursion.

The Rock Creek Basin trailhead is about an hour from West Yellowstone; take US-20 West just over 20 miles and turn right on Sawtell Peak Read, which leads just over 10 miles down to the trailhead. 

• 8 miles 
• 1,000 feet elevation gain 
• Moderate to difficult 
• All day or overnight 
• Out-and-back

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Targhee National Forest contains just over 60 miles of the Continental Divide Trail, a rugged path that follows the Continental Divide all the way from Mexico to Canada. While doing the entire trail is best left to the truly experienced (and hardcore) backpackers, the rest of us mortals can still have a great time hiking sections of the trail.

The major access points are just outside of Kilgore, Montana (an hour-and-half southeast of West Yellowstone on US-20 West and County Road A2/Kilgore-Yale Road) and at the Howard Eaton Trail in Yellowstone National Park (half-an-hour east of West Yellowstone on the south end of Grand Loop Road).

Be aware that sections of the Continental Divide Trail have yet to be finished. Make sure that you know where you are going and are aware of trail conditions. 

• 61 miles in Targhee National Forest; the entire Continental Divide Trail stretches 3,100 miles, however not all sections of the trail are in useable condition.
• Easy gain varies from minimal to extreme 
• Easy to difficult 
• 2 hours to multi-day excursions 
• Out-and-back or one-way with shuttle