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Mt. Jefferson
Trail
1.6 mile
2.6 kilometer
point to point
62% Runnable
Intermediate/Difficult
Elevation
Ascent:
1,239'
378 m
Descent: -123' -37 m
High: 10,118' 3,084 m
Low: 8,997' 2,742 m
Grade
Avg Grade: 16% (9°)
Max Grade: 43% (23°)
Dogs
Unknown
Weather
Unknown
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“A beautiful singletrack trail that takes you to the top of Mt. Jefferson in Island Park.”
— Jeff Fullmer
Features
Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife
After turning off of the highway, the road is closed during the winter with a gate a few miles in.
Need to Know
Island Park has a high density of grizzly bears. Bear spray is always recommended for this area, especially if running alone.
Runner Notes
All but 2 or 3 sections are runnable on the way up if you are in fairly good shape. You can run the entire way back.
Description
Turning onto Sawtell Peak Road off the main highway, travel for 9 miles and go almost to the top of Sawtell Peak. There is a pullout parking lot at the trailhead to the south (left) of the dirt road. The trailhead is on the west side of where the Forest Service signage is at.
A majority of this trail skirts along the Idaho/Montana border. It offers fantastic views into both states. Follow the Sawtell Peak #165 trail to start; this trail is well-marked until you need to split off after 2.3 miles. It will pop you up to sidehills and ridgelines the rest of the way.
The trail is poorly marked where you turn. Pretty much non-existent and you'll only know when to turn by following the GPX track or Forest Service map. You'll find the trail in spots, along with multiple Idaho/Wyoming land survey markers. There are some challenging sections but nothing terribly serious. You can follow the Sawtell Peak #165 trail down to Lake Marie and then work your way up the non-existent trail to the northwest ridge for added milage, or go back down that way.
A majority of this trail skirts along the Idaho/Montana border. It offers fantastic views into both states. Follow the Sawtell Peak #165 trail to start; this trail is well-marked until you need to split off after 2.3 miles. It will pop you up to sidehills and ridgelines the rest of the way.
The trail is poorly marked where you turn. Pretty much non-existent and you'll only know when to turn by following the GPX track or Forest Service map. You'll find the trail in spots, along with multiple Idaho/Wyoming land survey markers. There are some challenging sections but nothing terribly serious. You can follow the Sawtell Peak #165 trail down to Lake Marie and then work your way up the non-existent trail to the northwest ridge for added milage, or go back down that way.
Flora & Fauna
A wide variety of plants/trees and critters in the area. This is an ideal early to mid-summer run. Lots of wildflowers.
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We need help with the following missing trail information:
Dogs Allowed
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Contacts
Local Club: Idaho Trails Association
Land Manager: USFS - Caribou & Targhee National Forests Office
Sep 11, 2019: Westside Ranger District to being prescribed burning operations near Pocatello
Sep 9, 2019: Boone fire receives over an inch of precipitation
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where a life outdoors is a life well lived.
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