Dollarhide Summit / Smoky Mountains Loop
Hailey/Ketchum, Idaho
Length: 2 Days
Distance: 85 Miles
Elevation Gain: 5,920’
Terrain: Bike Path, Double Track, Gravel, Pavement
Joyous Exploration Rating: 7/10
Ride gravel through the Sawtooth National Forest Smoky Mountains Range along Warm Springs Creek to Dollarhide Summit, Elev. 9301’. Descend down from the summit and loop back around Dollarhide and the Southern Smoky Mountains to pick up some dirt doubletrack and more Idaho country gravel back to Hailey/Ketchum.
Traveling counterclockwise you can either begin in Hailey, on the Wood River Trail to Warm Springs Road bike path in Ketchum or begin in Ketchum by riding out Warm Springs Road bike path. The bike path terminates 2 miles out with another 2 miles of paved road before you hit gravel all the way to Dollarhide Summit. You will be following Warm Springs Creek all the way to the final 3 mile climb up to the summit. No reason to be in a rush because you can stop and fish every inch of this creek for rainbows and soak in Frenchman’s Hot Springs at mile 10. There are an abundance of designated creekside campsites for those that find fishing and soaking irresistible. After descending down Dollarhide Summit you will turn left at mile 32 onto Rd 510 for 5 miles before turning right onto Rd 890. You will immediately be forging Little Smokey Creek (great snack stop) and riding a more challenging double track for 5 miles before turning right onto Willow Creek Road. Once on Willow Creek Rd you will spin down 9 miles taking a left on Baseline road. After 2 miles, turn left onto Camp Creek Rd for the last climb of the day to Richardson Summit. From the summit it is a fast cadence all the way to Hailey, and the bike path to Ketchum if you are returning to Ketchum.
Route Design Cues
I prefer to ride this route counterclockwise. I mosey along on the first day because of the Creek, fishing and hot springs. I typically ride my Salsa Cutthroat on this ride but a suspension bike plays nicely in the double track section. The ride is a great opportunity to introduce yourself or others to bike packing by just riding and camping on Warm Springs Creek Rd and returning to town the next day. This route gives you the true contrast between National Forests lands and the rural-urban interface of Idaho.
Highlights
Warmsprings Creek, fishing, Beavercreek fire (2014) forest regeneration, Hot Springs, Views, Stars, Sheep, Sheep Dogs, and Sheep Herders