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The Tour of Idaho



No support, no cheering crowds - just you, your bike and your wits. The Tour of Idaho is a dirt bike ride designed for soloists and small groups traveling alone and unsupported that begins in the Malad Range of southern Idaho and ends 2000+ miles and a quarter of a million vertical feet later in the Selkirk Mountains near the Canadian border. Between navigation and riding, it is very likely one of the most committing and difficult long dirt bike rides in the United States. It is NOT a dual sport ride - plated dirt bikes with lights are required. 

There are several variations of the Tour of Idaho. T1 is the "official" Tour of Idaho with restrictions (note: this version ended in 2023. From now on this is a T2), beacon tracking, etc. and a finisher number awarded to those who finish within the rules. T2 is the Cartman "I do what I want" version of T1. T3 is a dual sport Tour that is easier than either T1 or T2 but more difficult than the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route. T4 is a 500-mile East-West Tour for dual sport bikes. T5 is another East-West Tour that is a bit more like T1.

Idaho has some new requirements for off road motorcycles. If your bike is plated out of state, you should be fine. Click here to check the rules. 

Most of the 13 days required to complete the T1 is spent in remote areas far from the nearest town. Cell phones are of little use much of the way. Water, food, emergency supplies and fuel must be carried and bikes and riders must be capable of a 170+ mile range day after day.

The Tour encompasses extremes of elevation (1486' to 10,420') and climate. Most of the trails used on the Tour are far from civilization. The Tour crests 10,000' three times, and 9000' feet a dozen times more. Technical challenges include mud, snow, extensive sections of technical single track, rocky trails, numerous water crossings and deep sand. Navigational challenges abound. There is a distinct possibility of blistering heat, brutal cold and deluges of biblical proportions - rain, snow or both - along the entire route. And all of the above may be encountered within just a few hours. Fires are a perennial problem throughout Tour season. 

The Tour is in no way a casual undertaking. It's not like 10,000 laps around an enduro course and it is not for everyone. Yet the variety of plants, animals and geological features found along the way is amazing. The riding is varied, challenging and always interesting. The Tour is fun, if your mindset and preparation are good, even when it's really hard. If you are the type of person who feels comfortable rebuilding a bike in the middle of nowhere - with a bear watching, or lashing logs together to cross a swollen creek, the Tour just might be for you.

All of the trails along the Tour are officially open from July 1 to early September. The Tour is physically passable, i.e., snow, blowdown and other winter remnants are minimized, by mid to late July each year. A last week of July start is generally the earliest that is advised. By October 1, a significant number of trails used on the Tour are closed to OHV use for hunting season and the Tour is effectively over for the year. T1 officially runs from July 15 until Sept 15. 

Maps for the Tour of Idaho, waypoints and detailed route information may be found at our detailed route description page. Start there. For up to date trail information and advice, visit the Tour of Idaho Facebook Group and our forum. The Facebook group is open for all to read, but membership is restricted to those actually planning a Tour of Idaho trip the year they join (you must read the group description to be added, and there is some light screening prior to being added). 

You are free to use all of the information here anyway that you wish. We ask only that you spend some time exploring the information here (there is a lot) before you ask questions on the forum - and that you respect the tradition of reserving the appellation "Tour of Idaho" for those who complete the entire route unsupported and in small groups observing our intervals and standards. For more on what it takes to complete the "Tour" see the route description page.  


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Tour of Idaho

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Interested in the Tour but unsure of your ability? Check out Jimmy Lewis Off-Road.

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Jimmy Lewis does the Tour of Idaho

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The best for down and dirty rides. 

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You need these. 

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For more information about the Tour of Idaho please visit our route description page and the challenge point page.  The list of successful Tour of Idaho finishers.

Idaho-Utah Border
Jenkins Hollow (5762'). D1.
Mile Marker 1
Old Baldy Peak
Approaching Old Baldy Peak (8356') from the south. D1
Old Baldy
Weston Peak
Skirting the western flanks of Weston Peak (8165'). D1




Weston Peak
Ruben Hollow
Descending the northern slopes of Weston Peak into Ruben Hollow (7400'). D1



Ruben Hollow
Oxford Ridge
Beginning the spectacular climb up Oxford Ridge. D1


Oxford Ridge
Oxford Ridge 
The Oxford Ridge trail straddles the Oneida/Franklin county line (8281'). The city of Clifton, ID and Twin Lake Reservoir lie in the background, some 4000' below. D1






Oxford Ridge
Oxford Basin
Oxford Basin in the fall (7000'). D1




Oxford Basin
West Elkhorn Trail
Skirting the southern flank of Elkhorn Peak a few miles from Kent's Canyon. D1

West Elkhorn
Fenceline Trail
Elkhorn Peak. D1
Fenceline
Fenceline Trail
Elkhorn Peak. D1
Fenceline_2
Sedgwick Peak
Descending from the summit of Sedgwick Peak (9167') along the Portneuf Range Crest toward Lava Hot Springs. D1




Sedgwick
Reed Canyon
D1 Challenge Section - right were the fun starts.
Reed
Bob Smith/Girl Scout Camp Trail
Looking back on the approach to Girl Scout Camp (7000') on the D1 challenge section.
Girl Scout Camp
Robber's Roost
The long, technical climb toward Robber's Roost and Haystack Mountain (7000'). D1


Robber's Roost
Robber's Roost
Portneuf Range divide (8300'). D1
Robber's Roost
Inkom Pass
Cresting the knoll above Inkom Pass (7500') along the Portneuf Range Crest. D1




Inkom Pass
Chinese Peak
Don't forget your Silky.
Sawing
Chinese Peak/Scout Mountain  
Looking south toward Scout Mountain (8700') from Chinese Peak (6459') near the top of Blackrock Canyon. D1





Blackrock Canyon
Tour of Idaho Flagpole and Register
Entering Pocatello (5000'). D1
Tour of Idaho Flagpole
Slate Mountain Trail
Leaving Pocatello on D2. (5800'). D2

Slate Mountain
Slate Mountain Trail
Traversing Slate Mountain. (6000'). D2

Slate Mountain
Scout Mountain
Skirting the eastern slopes of Scout Mountain. D2
Crestline Cycle Trail
Crestline Cycle Trail
Nearing the summit of Scout Mountain D2. (8000'). D2

Scout Mountain
Scout Mountain
Skirting the eastern flank of Scout Mountain (8700'). D2

Scout Mountain
Racetrack Trail
Descending Scout Mountain toward Arbon Valley on D2. (6000'). D2

Racetrack
Arbon Valley
Lusk Loop, Arbon Valley (5415'). D2
Arbon Valley
Deep Creek Range
Crest of Deep Creek (7400'). D2
Deep Creek Range
Rockland Valley
Rockland Valley (4700'). D2
Rockland Valley
Desert Vista
Challenge point near Fall Creek. D2
Desert Vista
Fall Creek
Looking north toward the Snake River from Fall Creek (4600') in the northern Sublett Range. D2
Fall Creek
American Falls
Just west of American Falls on the north side of the Snake River (4417'). D2
American Falls
Sand Trail
West of American Falls, on the north side of the Snake River. Thirty miles of sand, dunes, rocks and singletrack. D2



Lake Channel
Sand Dunes 
Just west of  Bonanza Lake. D2





Sand Dunes
Gasten-Beattie Well
Middle of nowhere, Snake River desert (5087)'. D2

Gasten Beattie
Snake River Plain
Ten miles north of the middle of nowhere (5160'). D2
Snake River Desert
Big Southern Butte
Big Southern Butte, a prominent landmark along Goodale's Cutoff, rises 2500 feet above the desert floor and dominates the Snake River Plain for a hundred miles in any direction. D2
BSB
Big Southern Butte
The view from the lookout on top of Big Southern Butte (7517') in June. The road to the top is steep in sections but suitable for all motorcycles. D2 





Big Southern Butte
Big Lost River
The view north toward Arco, 20 miles west of Big Southern Butte. D2
Arco Desert
Arco
Arco, ID - population 1026, elevation 5325'. Plenty of submarine parking. US 20 is in the foreground. The road out of town toward Arco Pass is in the front of the sail. Arco is a full-service, dirt bike friendly town. D3
Arco Submarine
Arco Pass Road
Approaching Arco Pass. D3
Arco Pass
Pass Creek
Pass Creek area. D3
Pass Creek
White Knob Mountains
Pass in the White Knobs (10,000'). D3
White Knobs
Wildhorse Lookout
The view from Wildhorse Lookout (9545'). Pioneer Mountains in the background. D3
Wildhorse
Little Kane Creek
Looking northeast toward the White Cloud Range from the Burnt Aspen/Little Kane Creek Divide (8200'). D3
Little Kane Creek
Warm Springs
Looking north toward the Warm Springs from the Red Warrior Trail (8500'). D3
WS
Warm Springs
Looking north toward Warm Springs  from the Red Warrior Trail (8500'). D3
WS
Big Peak Creek
A view along the Big Creek Peak at the challenge point (6000').  D3

Big Creek Peak
Paradise Creek
Looking back south toward Big Smoky Guard Station from lower Paradise Creek Trail (5900'). D4
P1
Paradise Creek
Looking back south on upper Paradise Creek Trail just south of Snowslide (8000'). D4
P2
Paradise Creek
Switchback section of Paradise Creek Trail descending into the Big Smoky headwaters (8200'). D4
P3
Big Smokey Headwaters 
Top of Mule Creek (9000') D4

Big Smokey
Grand Prize Gulch
(9000') One of the best trails on the Tour. D4

GPG
Little Boulder Creek
Spectacular scenery along the Little Boulder Creek single track trail (7100'). White Cloud Mountains. D4






Little Boulder Creek Trail White Clouds
Little Boulder Creek
Little Boulder Creek Traik (7300'). D4
LBC
Big Boulder/Little Boulder Divide
Crossing the divide from Little Boulder Creek to Big Boulder Creek (9400'). White Cloud Mountains. D4
Big Boulder/Little Boulder Divide
Chinese Wall
Looking west toward Chinese Wall from the top of Railroad Ridge, the high point of the Tour at 10,400'. D4






Chinese Wall
The Roof of the Tour
Looking north from Railroad Ridge (10,440'). D4
RRR
French Creek
Rocky single track descent into into French Creek (7200'). D4
French Creek
French Creek
The single track trail along French Creek (7100'). D4
French Creek
Thompson Creek
(7600') Heading west toward Custer Lookout. D4
Thompson Creek
Thompson-Cinnibar
(8000') D4
Thimpson-Cinnabar
Custer LO
Just below Custer Lookout (9753'), the D4 special challenge section.
Custer LO
Bayhorse 
Above Little Bayhorse Lake (8800'). D4
Bayhorse Trails
Ramshorn Peak
(9895') View to the south. D4

Ramshorn
Keystone Peak
Descending from Keystone Mountain (9000') into Challis. D4
Lombard Trail
Lombard Trail
Descending into Challis along the Lombard Trail (7600'). D4
Lombard
Twin Peaks Lookout
The view from Twin Peaks Lookout (10330'). The second point of the Tour above 10000'. D5






Twin Peak LO
Twin Peaks Lookout
Another view from TPLO (10330'). D5
TPLO
Pat Creek
Pat Creek single track (6250'). D5
Pat Creek
Camas Creek
Near the top of the Eddy Creek/Camas Creek single track (7000'). D5
Camas Creek
East Fork Morgan Creek
Starting some of the best trail on the Tour (4872'). D5
West Fork Morgan Creek
Furnace Creek
(8800') The view down Furnace Creek toward Camas Creek. D5
Furnace Creek
Van Horn Peak
(8600') Go West, young man. D5
Van Horn
Van Horn/Alder Creek Divide
Alder Creek (8000'). D5
Van Horn - Alder
Alder Creek
Alder Creek single track (7600'). D5
Alder Creek
Corral Creek
Looking north along Corral Creek Trail (7400'). D5
Corral Creek
Hat Creek Trail
A few miles from Hat Creek Lakes (8000'). D5
Hat Creek Trail
Hat Creek Lakes
First Hat Creek Lake (8805') D5
Hat Creek Lakes
Taylor Mountain Pass
Looking north over Taylor Mountain Pass north of Hat Creek Lakes (9181'). D5
Taylor Mountain Pass
Taylor Mountain Pass
Looking north toward Iron Lake (9181'). D5
Taylor Mountain Pass
45th parallel
The view from the 45th parallel on Salmon Ridge Road (8400'). D5
Salmon Mountains
Ulysses Lookout
D6 (7640')
ULO
Butcherknife Ridge
(7800') One of the best single track trails of the Tour. D6 
BR
Sheep Creek
Another outstanding D6 trail. 
Sheep Creek
Silverleads Ridge
Looking back along a sweet section of D6 trail that leads up to Stein Mountain. It gets really steep just after this. D6
Silverleads
Stein Mountain Trail
One of the best trails of the entire Tour, D6
Stein Mountain
Henderson Ridge
First thing in the morning, D7.
Henderson Ridge
Henderson Ridge
D7

Henderson Ridge
Divide Trail
Heading west along the Divide Trail. D7
Divide Trail
Marlin Spring
Just south of the Divide Trail (7000') on the D7 Challenge Section. If you see this you are about to be unhappy. 
Marlin Spring
Blue Nose Lookout
Looking west from Blue Nose Lookout (8677'). The Salmon River valley is in the background. D7
Above Shoup
Midnight Carburetor Repair
Kim Creek Saddle (6000'). Smack dab in the middle of the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48 and 80 miles from the nearest outpost. Kim Creek Saddle is very cold after dark every month of the year. It is home to many large, curious and hungry carnivores. It is entirely possible to rebuild the carb of an XR600R at night with a flashlight and a Leatherman tool if one's motivation is sufficiently high. D7
Magruder Midnight Repair
Magruder Saddle
The beginning of the "primitive road" section of the Nez Perce Trail in the Magruder Corridor (7040'). D7
Magruder
Salmon Mountain
The top of the 4000' climb from Magruder Crossing in the headwaters of the Selway River to Salmon Mountain (8228'), the high point of the Magruder Corridor. D7





Salmon Mountain
Dry Saddle
The vista from Dry Saddle (7796'). Beyond Dry Saddle the Nez Perce trail descends some 2700' in just 7 miles to Poet Creek. D7
Magruder
Elk City ATV Trail Network
Approaching Black Hawk Mountain (5800') along one of the better trail networks along the entire tour. D7

Elk City
Selway Falls
Nearing Selway Falls (2000'). D7
Selway
Pete King Trail
Pete King singletrack trail (3200'). D8
Pete King Trail
Fish Butte Trail
The sidehill gets bigger later (4585'). D8

Fish Butte
Fish Butte Trail
A bad place to fall off of Fish Butte Trail (3900'). D8

Fish Butte Trail
Lolo Motorway
The view from Indian Grave Peak (6500'). D8


Lolo Motorway
Windy Ridge
Windy Ridge single track (6288'). D8
Windy Ridge
Scurvy Saddle
Windy Bill singletrack (5000'), D8. When you see this you are just about done - if you can find your way up the hill. 
Windy Bill
Scurvy Mountain Lookout
(6691'), D8. When you see this it's all over except for the dirt road drone into Powell Ranger Station. 
Scurvy Mtn LO
Rock Garden
The aptly named Rock Garden (6800'). D9
Rock Garden
Lunde Ridge
Lunde Ridge (7000'). D9
Lunde
Cayuse Creek
Heading north from Cayuse Creek on a long but scenic D9 transfer section (5000'). 
Cayuse Creek
Quartz Creek
From NFD715 near Flyl Hill (6140'). D9


Quartz Creek
Hellar DIvide Trail
Trail 77 (5500'). D9 
Hellar Divide
State Line Trail
North of Bonanza Lakes (7100'). D9
SLT
State Line Trail
Eagle Cliff area of State Line Trail (7400'). D9
State Line Trail
State Line Trail
Cliff Lake area of State Line Trail (8000'). D9
SLT
State Line Trail
Spectacular scenery abounds along NFD 391, the State Line Trail, here near Craddock Peak (6518'). D9






State Line Road
Roland Pass
An old railroad bridge viewed from Cliff Creek road near Roland (5309'). D9
Bridge Wallace
Independence Creek
Independence Creek single track (3800'). D10
Independence Creek
Hoodoo Mountain
Looking north toward Priest River from the summit of Hoodoo Mountain (5119'). D10
Tower Mountain
Selkirks
The view from the Sundance LO at the end of the route (6300'). D10
Near the end
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