Day 6

Friday July 22, 2011 - Lemhi Pass to Darby

Length: 162 miles

Gas: Salmon, ID, 127 Miles from Dell

Darby, 118 Miles from Salmon

Click on thumbnail above to enlarge. Download routes and waypoints in the the .gpx file here.

The primary route on Day 6 (LD wpts, Red on the map,162 miles) begins at Thursday's camp in the area around Lemhi Pass, follows the Warm Springs Road to Salmon, Idaho, North to Gibbonsvile and over the Big Hole Pass. It then heads North in the foothils, crosses Highway 43 to FS road 1203, Placer Creek to Johnson Creek, West of Sula to Darby.

The alternate route (RD wpts, Blue on the map,120 miles) from Hwy 324 to Skinners Meadow into the Big Hole begins on Friday at Reservoir Lake Campground, a suggested camping spot on Thursday. From Reservoir lake, the route follows Bloody Dick Creek to Skinners Meadow, to Wisdom. From Wisdom, riders can choose the amount of dirt they want, but the route shown has plenty. After following Hwy 43 West a short distance out of Wisdom, alternate route follows Swap Creek SW, intersecting the Primary before heading North in the foothils, crossing Highway 43 and Gibbons pass to Sula and then Darby.

The alternate is shorter and while there is more dirt, overall it should be slightly less challenging than the primary. Riders can get gas in Wisom (138 Miles from Dell ) and Darby (71 Miles from Wisom) on the alternate.

Horse607's comments: "Both the primary and the alt routes for this day are maintained roads there shouldn’t be any trouble with either one of these routes even if it rains. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden the alt route so ill have to refresh my memory when I preride it."

Things to See:

• • Soak at Sharky Hot Springs near the end of the Warm Springs Road (Primary route)

  • The Sacajawea Center in Salmon (Primary route)

  • The Big Hole Battlefield may be of interest regardless of the route on Day 6.

Here are some of Horse607's pix. Browse to ADVrider for more.

Updated 02/12/2011