Idaho trails › Boise Mountains / Idaho City

Big Owl Trail

Mapped as Big Owl

Hiking trail · Boise Mountains / Idaho City · Trailhead near Idaho City, ID

11.4 mi18.4 kmRound trip

≈1,585 ft≈483 mElevation gain

5,974 ft1,821 mHigh point

5 hr 34 minEstimated time

Hard5.7 mi / 9.2 km one way. Length and elevation gain are calculated from map data, so they're approximate.

Pass: unknown, check before you go

Official listing: U.S. Forest Service, Big Owl (#290003)

Trailhead

Off North Fork Boise River Road, near Idaho City, ID

Coordinates: 43.88511, -115.50882

Directions

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Overview

Big Owl Trail is a round-trip hike of 11.4 mi / 18.4 km near Idaho City, ID. Expect about 1,585 ft / 483 m of elevation gain, with a high point of 5,974 ft / 1,821 m. Difficulty: Hard. At an average pace, plan on about 5 hr 34 min. High-elevation trail, usually snow-free from mid-July into October. Before then, expect snow and possible avalanche danger.

Elevation profile

Along the route: low 4,498 ft / 1,371 m · high 5,945 ft / 1,812 m

Nearby

Willow OwlHiking trail · 2.2 mi / 3.6 km
Grand Mountain TrailHiking trail · 2.3 mi / 3.6 km

Sources

Route and map: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: AWS Terrain Tiles.
Official trail listing: U.S. Forest Service.