MotorcycleJazz - Tour of Idaho T2

T2 - The East to West Tour of Idaho

Five hundred enjoyable riding miles, great variety, brain burning scenery - and it kinda looks like a big old smiley face on the map. What's not to like?

The Tour of Idaho II begins near Alpine, Wyoming and traverses the southern part of the state to Jordan Valley, Oregon. The overall length of T2 is a little less than 500 miles and encompasses fast dirt roads (65%), primitive roads (25%), single track trail (5%) and pavement (5%). Though street legal dirt bikes are recommended T2 is entirely appropriate for most bikes with any off-road capability. With the exception of one short segment of single track (easily bypassed) T2 is entirely passable even on very large dual sport bikes. You will need an OHV sticker.

Though not as remote or rugged as the vertical Tour of Idaho (henceforth referred to as T1), much of the two days required for T2 (at anything less than a race pace) is spent far from civilization. Cell phones are largely useless. Water, food, emergency supplies and fuel must be carried and bikes must be capable of a 200+ mile range.

T2 encompasses elevations from 2600' at Bruneau Hot Springs to 8000' at Monument Peak and traverses environments from forests to marshlands to deserts. T2 is generally passable by mid June and remains ridable through early November during most years.

By combining T2 with the Centennial trail it is possible to ride an off road lap around the state of Idaho. Maps, directions and the route gps are provided below.

T2 begins in a parking area on US 89 on the southern end of Palisades Reservoir about a mile south of Alpine Junction, Wyoming. From the parking lot follow NFD 087 around the southern end of the reservoir then northwest to the McCoy Creek Campground where the road turns west and heads into the mountains. From here NFD 087 winds some 16 miles through Caribou Basin to an intersection with Grays Lake Road at Herman on the northeastern edge of Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Turn right (north) and follow Grays Lake Road west some 5 miles to an intersection with Cranes Flat Road. Turn left (southwest) and proceed mostly southwest 11 miles to an intersection with Poison Creek Road. Turn left (south) and proceed 5 miles to the northern edge of Blackfoot Reservoir. Turn right at the bottom of the hill on the northern shores of the reservoir onto Government Dam Road. Follow this around the northwest end of the reservoir a few miles to a bridge crossing the Blackfoot River. From this bridge proceed south along Government Dam road 0.6 miles to an intersection with Corral Creek Road on the right (west). Follow this 3 miles to a intersection with Cow Camp Road on the left (south).

Cow Camp Road winds 11 miles southwest up and over the scenic crest of the Chesterfield Range (7100') and down into the historic Chesterfield settlement. Head west along Chesterfield Road 1.5 miles beyond Chesterfield then jog right (north) 0.5 miles to an intersection with Kelly Toponce Road. Turn left and head west 2.75 miles where Kelly Toponce Road swings to the south. Continue another half mile to an intersection with Toponce Canyon Road on the right (west).

Proceed several miles up Toponce Canyon Road to Dry Gulch where the road loops south for another 1.5 miles to an intersection with NFD 208 on the right (west). Proceed west 2.5 miles to an intersection with East Inman Canyon Road on the left (south). Head steeply up then down the rugged dirt road a little less than a mile to a "T" intersection. Turn right (west) remaining on East Inman Canyon Road and proceed west 1.5 miles to Inman Pass (6600') and an intersection with T1. Proceed down Inman Canyon 5.25 miles to an intersection with Rapid Creek Road. Turn left (south) and proceed south then west 3 miles into the small town of Inkom. Gas, food and supplies are available at several locations in Inkom and lodging is available 10 miles to the north in Pocatello.

For most the route out of Inkom proceeds proceeds uphill past the cement plant in the center of town on West Portneuf Road. At the top of the hill turn left (south) on North Marsh Creek road and proceed south 5 miles to Walker Creek Road on the right (west). Head west 4 miles along West Walker Creek road until it ends in a parking area. Follow the obvious ATV trail out of the west end of the parking area across the creek and proceed about 0.25 miles to a fork in the trail. Take the right fork and ascend steeply 2 miles of single track trail to Indian Mountain Pass (6600'). Continue along the trail steeply downhill another 3 miles to Lead Draw. From Lead Draw turn right (west) onto East Fork Mink Creek road (paved) and 0.5 miles to South Fork Mink Creek Road. Turn left (southwest) and follow it about 4 miles to Crystal Summit and another intersection with T1. From here the two routes run together for 20 miles or so.

Riders on large dual sports will probably want to avoid the steep and fairly technical single track by riding west then north from Inkom along West Portneuf Road to an intersection with Mink Creek Road just south of Pocatello. From here it is about 8 miles to Crystal Summit.

From Crystal Summit head south on Mink Creek Road about 1.5 miles to Myler Road on the left. Proceed down Myler Road a few miles to another intersection with Mink Creek Road, then follow Mink Creek south several miles to an intersection with Lusk Loop on the left. Follow Lusk Loop south then west several miles to an intersection with Arbon Valley Road. Cross Arbon Valley Road and go another 0.5 miles to an intersection with Bailey Road. Turn left (south) and follow Bailey Road a mile or so to Knox Canyon Road.

Turn right (west) and follow Knox Canyon Road several miles west and south to a pass just north of Deep Creek Peak. Continue west, descending into Big Canyon toward ID 37 in the Rockland Valley. At the intersection of Big Canyon Road and ID 37 continue west, crossing ID 37, to Flint Canyon Road. Follow Flint Canyon Road southwest about 9 miles to an intersection with NFD 579. From here the routes part and T1 veers north to Canada.

To continue along T2 turn left and follow NFD 579 as it winds south for a couple of miles to Hartley Canyon Road. Turn right (south) and go about 0.1 miles to Sublett Creek Road on the right (southwest). Follow this about 8 miles to Sublett Reservoir. Continue another 5 or so miles west along Sublett Road to 3350 E Road on the left (south). Head south about 3 miles to an intersection with Cold Spring Canyon Road. Turn right and head southwest about 0.25 miles to I-86. Take the underpass beneath the freeway and turn right (north) on Juniper Road then go another 0.25 miles to Pierce Lane on the left (west). Proceed west 9 miles to an intersection with Clover Lane on the left (south). Head south 6 miles to a "T" intersection with Kelly Road. Turn right (west) and go 0.5 miles to a point where the road veers south. Continue 2.5 miles to an intersection with SR 81/Old Highway 30 S.

Cross the highway and proceed west 2.5 miles Ey Road. Follow Ey road generally west through the Raft River Narrows 9 miles to Narrows Road on the left (south). Go west 7 miles to Almo Road. Turn right (north) and proceed 1 mile north into Almo. Gas, food and lodging are available in Almo.

The route out of Almo heads back south to City of Rocks Road on the right (west) just south of town. Follow this west 4 miles to an intersection. Turn right and continue west along City of Rocks Road 4 miles to Birch Creek Road. Turn right (north) and follow Birch Creek Road 13 miles northwest to Oakley. The last few miles into Oakley are paved. Gas and food are available in Oakley during daylight hours.

Take South College Street out of Oakley which turns into 500W. Two miles south of Oakley the route turns right (west) onto 2200 South. After 0.5 miles turn left (south) onto 600S. After another 0.5 miles veer right (west) onto Trapper Creek Road/NFD 533. Proceed around the north side of Lower Goose Creek Reservoir and some 15 miles southwest to an intersection with NFD 538/Monument Peak Road on the right (north). From here the route climbs 4 miles to the spectacular summit of Monument Peak (8000') and it's commanding view of the South Hills. Continue north another 5 miles to the beginning of paved road (Rock Creek Road) just south of Magic Mountain Ski area. Proceed north 2 miles to Shoshone Basin Road on the left (west). Follow Shoshone Basin/Magic Mountain Road generally west about 20 miles to US 93 and the town of Rogerson. Gas and food are available at Rogerson.

From Rogerson it is possible to ride 19 miles south on US 93 to the casino resort town of Jackpot, Nevada where one will find relatively luxurious dining, lodging and gambling if that's your game.

Load up with gas at Rogerson as it's difficult to find for much of the next 200 miles. From Rogerson proceed west 8 miles west to Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir. Go west another 2 miles along Three Creek Road to to Antelope Spring Roseworth Road on the right (north). Proceed northwest about 1.5 miles and turn left (west) onto a series of nondescript roads that traverse the desert northwest crossing Cedar Creek after about 5 miles. Continue northwest another 5 or so miles to an intersection with House Creek Road. Turn left (southwest) and proceed 0.5 miles to another intersection on the right. Turn right (northwest) and proceed 7 miles to Devil Creek and Big Bend Crossing. Head west 4 miles to a "T" intersection. Turn right (northeast) and go 0.5 miles. Turn left (northwest) and proceed 8 miles toward Horse Butte, then another 8 miles northwest to an intersection with Clover Road. Turn left (southwest) and go about 1 mile to an intersection with Clover Three Creek Road on the right.

From here two alternatives are possible. The fastest is to turn right and proceed northwest along Clover Three Creek Road 27 miles to an intersection with Hot Springs Road in the Bruneau Canyon. A more interesting alternative is to turn left and proceed south 2 miles to the Clover Creek crossing. The route then turns northwest and follows a series of roads 18 miles across the desert toward Lookout Butte and, a few miles later, Winter Camp. This variant rejoins Clover Three Creek Road about 1 mile northeast of Winter Camp.

From the intersection with Hot Springs Road head northwest 0.5 miles along Hot Springs Road to Blackstone Grasmere road on the left. Turn left (west) and go about 0.25 miles to an intersection with Sugar Valley Road. Turn right (north) and proceed north then west along Sugar Valley Road some 9 miles to an intersection with SR 51. Proceed west across SR 51 to Shoofly Road.

Follow Shoofly Road northwest approximately 10 miles to an intersection with Poison Creek Road. Turn left (southwest) and go 8 miles to Poison Creek Cutoff on the right (north). Proceed north 16 miles to an intersection with Henderson Lane on the left (west). Go west about 4 miles to an intersection with Oreana Road on the right (north). Follow this road north 3.5 miles, through the village of Oreana, to an intersection with SR78/Murphy Grandview Road (paved). Turn left (northwest) and go 9 miles to Silver City Road on the left (west).

Follow Silver City Road some 16 miles southwest to Silver City (6600'). Proceed west out of Silver City to Cow Creek Road. Follow this some 13 miles to an intersection with Yturri Road on the right (west). Follow Yturri Road west into Jordan Valley and the Route's end. You've made it!

Photos - Martin Hackworth and Dan Colvin

1. Poison Creek Road
2. Blackfoot Reservoir
3. Poison Creek Road
4. Raft River
5. City of Rocks
6. Lower Goose Creek Reservoir

7. Trapper Creek
8. Monument Peak
9. South Hills
10. Rogerson
11. Bruneau Overlook
12. Indian Mountain Pass

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