Sheep Creek Trail #201

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Sheep Creek Trail can be accessed at its southern end, by a short jetboat ride up the Salmon River, from Riggins, Idaho. The trail's northern end can be accessed at Jumbo Camp Campground, by vehicle over forest service roads.

Rattlesnakes are around during the warmer months - late April into the fall.

Just north of the Salmon River, Sheep Creek Trail descends from Jumbo Camp Campground to the banks of the Salmon River. From the Campground, the trail follows the East Fork of Sheep Creek downstream for about the first 5 1/2 miles to where the East Fork merges into Sheep Creek. From here, the trail follows Sheep Creek downstream to the Salmon River where Sheep Creek empties into the River, and Sheep Creek Trail ends. The trail is always near, or at the creek valley bottoms, sometimes next to the creeks, and sometimes just above them. There are a few creek crossings along the way. This is rugged country. The mountains rise steeply above the creeks. High meadows, rocky outcroppings, cliffs, and rocky hillsides add to this dramatic landscape.

Sheep Creek Trail starts out in thinning forest for about a mile or so. It then crosses open grasslands and shrubs for the next three miles as it descends somewhat steeply. Around the five mile mark, still descending, but more gradually, the trail re-enters forest again for about 2 1/2 miles. Still descending, with about five miles to go, the trail leaves the trees for the open grasses and bushes for a bit, and then finishes in a mix of thin forest, grasses and shrubs.

The views of the surrounding mountains, both near and far, are awesome. Wildflowers abound in the spring and into the summer. Spring is an especially beautiful time with all the greenery - new foliage and the grasses are all green. And the creeks are cascading wildly.

Variety of vegetation from forest with undergrowth, to open grassy meadows, to grassy old burn areas with blackened snags and logs. Beautiful early summer wildflowers - mules ear, paintbrush, lupines, syringa, and many more. Deer and sheep are around. Also rattlesnakes (see Need to Know above).