Kelton Freight Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Views

Restroom at the trailhead. The Reserve closes after dark.

This is the most obvious path heading straight away from the Oregon Trail Reserve parking area. It leads first across a flat plain of sagebrush, where you'll have nice views right away of the mountains on one side and basalt boulders on the other. This basalt rim is one obstacle that Oregon Trail pioneers had to navigate when getting their wagons to the Boise River.

The final part of the trail goes up a rocky "ramp" that leads to the rim. This ramp that was actually cut out as a passage for wagons in the 1860s. This is the first of two ramps that led through the cliffs here. The other is the Kelton Ramp, which is along the Rim Trail on the other side of Hwy 21.

Once on top of the rim you may choose to travel farther on the Joel Palmer Trail for views over the Boise River canyon.