Day 5

Thursday July 21, 2011 - Eureka Basin Junction (Gravelly Range) to Lemhi Pass

Length: 138 miles (primary route)

Gas: Dell (116 miles from Ennis)

or, from Alder or Sheridan if the alternate Ruby River Road is taken (see below)

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

The primary Day 5 route (EL wpts, Red on the map, 138 miles) begins at Wednesday's camp along the Gravelly Range road between the Clover Meadows campgroud and the Eureka Junction (Gravelly Range Road and the Centennial Road / Ruby Reservoir Road from Alder). The route drops into the Centennial Valley and heads West North of the Lima Reservoir then to Dell.where Gas is available. From Dell, the route follows Big Sheep Creek about 20 miles then descends Medicine Lodge Creek to Hwy 324 near Grant. From Grant the route goes west on 324 up Trail Creek on the Lemhi Pass Road, ending at the campground for the day.

An alternate leg (ER wpts, Blue on the map, 144 miles total from Eureka Junction) diverges from Hwy 324 West of Grant on the Bloody Dick Creek Road to Reservoir Lake Campground for the night. This leg continues on Friday to Wisdom and then Darby via Skinners Meadow.

Things to See and Do:

• • Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

  • Calf-A Restaurent in Dell

  • Big Sheep Creek Back Country Byway

  • Lemhi Pass Historic Landmark where Lewis and Clark crossed into the Columbia drainage in 1805.

Camping, Related:

• • Several campgrounds at the Clark Canyon Reservoir Recreation site , about 30 miles East of Lemhi Pass.

  • The Montana Guest Cabins are operated by a Horse Prairie ranch family just West of the Medicine Lodge / Hwy 324 intersection and are very nice.

  • The Horse Prairie Stage Stop (formerlly the Horse Prairie Hilton :) ) is a rustic hotel at Grant on Hwy 324. Check for schedule.

  • The Bridgers (Fred and Esther) have offered their guest cabin for a small group of riders (up to 5). The cabin is located about 8 Miles West of Grant along a spring creek. It has a double bed, shower and cooking facilities and there is room to camp for those not staying in the cabin. Call 406-681-3167 and talk to Fred for more information.

  • The Horse Prairie Pack Station is a small family-operated ranch about 5 miles below Lemhi Pass; can provide a shower and camp spot. Call 406-681-3296 and talk to Tom or Carol.

  • There is no camping at the Lemhi Pass picnic area, but there are lots of possible camp sites either Side of Lemhi Pass; Agency Creek Campground is an alternate developed camping spot and there are some options along the Lemhi River.

  • The Forest Service rents a rustic cabin part way up Bloody Dick Road.

  • The Reservoir Lake Campground is a good place to stay for those following the Alternate route into the Big Hole Valley.

NOTE: According to the USFS, the Gravelly Range Road may be impassible from Ennis to the Centennial Valley this time of the year. It is possible that it will be impassable on the July 20 and / or 21. We recommend that riders call the USFS office in Ennis to check on the status (406-682-4253).

We are showing an alternate (Blue on the Day 4 Map, AC- waypoints) that would involve going West on Hwy 287 from where the Granite Creek road intersects Hwy 287 to get gas in Sheridan, then back to Alder to Ruby reservoir then along the Ruby River Road to Eureka Junction..

Horse607 cautions that: "Those that rode last years route know that once the route starts into the Centennial valley it can get slick if its wet. Luckily last year we just had to put up with a few mud holes. Because it gets muddy in the spring this stretch will more than likely have some ruts. There can be some spots that can get muddy until you get to the Lima Dam. There can be some bad spots along Big Sheep Creek if its raining and once the route turns off Big Sheep and on to Medicine Lodge Rd there is a stretch that is impassable if it gets wet so weather can damn sure be a factor along this stretch."

Here are some pix along the Day 5 route.

Updated 07/05/2011