Smith Knob - Hettinger Ranch

Hiking in Idaho

Nearby Destinations

Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

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(4 votes, 2 reviews)

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 89 miles / 143 km
Duration: Multiple days

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Overview: This Guide starts where the pavement ends on the Warren Wagon Road from McCall, Idaho. Here, at the "Y", the graveled Warren Wagon Road continues all the way to Warren, Idaho. The graveled road to the north, goes to Burgdorf, Idaho and on to the Salmon River.

There is parking space for several trailer rigs on the south side of the "Y".

It is 16 miles to Warren from here. This trip can be cut to a full day if you start at Warren, Idaho. The road is good all the way to Warren with only a few blind switchback curves.

The Hettinger Road (FR 337) is a 11 mile scenic POI. There are many opportunities for viewing the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness and the South Fork of the Salmon River. In good weather, the road is suitable for automobiles. POI #10 (Hays Station) has video of this spectacular scenery.

The Smith Knob Road (FR 355) is for high clearance vehicles. 4X4s are better.

Tips: Depending on the seasons' snowfall, the trails are usually clear by July and open through September, sometimes a little longer. It gets cold in October.

Clothing depends on the weather, but it usually freezes at night all summer. Thunder storms are possible at any time.

It gets very warm along the South Fork of the Salmon River.

Take drinking water with you as none of the ground water in this area is safe to drink without filtering or boiling.

Wild animals, including moose, elk, deer, bear, wolves, cougars, river otters, pine marten, and others are in the area. Chinook salmon spawn in the creeks, peaking in August.

Be aware that wolves are very territorial and may attack any dogs with you. Moose cows with calves may attack anything. Don't push your luck with moose! This is also "Bear Country".

Read and abide by the information at the trail heads on how to interact with horses and pack stock you may encounter.

There is no cell phone service in the area.

Contact the McCall Ranger Station, Payette National Forest, Idaho, telephone #208 634-0400 for maps, fire info, and camp ground availability.

Points of Interest

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Burgdorf "Y"

There is parking space for several trailer rigs on the south side of the "Y".

You go east on the Warren Wagon Road (FR 21).

It is 16 miles to Warren from here. This trip can be cut to a full day if you start at Warren, Idaho. The road is good all the way to Warren with only a few blind switchback curves.

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Secesh River Bridge

This is a great place to see Chinook Salmon. They have traveled 700 miles from the Pacific to reach this area and spawn.

The middle of August is usually the best time to spot them. Look under the bridge and in the shallows downstream.

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Warren Creek Bridge

Sometimes there is a beaver dam upstream from the bridge.

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Warren, Idaho

Warren is a "ghost" town even though 9 to 16 people winter here and the population swells to about 50 in the summer.

It is snowbound all the way from McCall, Idaho in the winter.

There are no services here. There is a restaurant, the Winter Inn, but it is only open on the weekends. There was a "Bed & Breakfast", but there is a "For Sale" sign on it.

There is parking at the USFS Guard Station on the east side of town. Sometimes there is a "Camp Host" and a small museum open here. There is a restroom, but it is not open unless there is a "Camp Host".

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Warren Summit

Elevation: 7000'

FR 340, from Warren, intersects with FR 355 (Smith Knob) and FR 337 (Hettinger Ranch)here.

There is a 4000' drop in elevation before reaching the South Fork of the Salmon River. The video at POI #10 (Hays Station) shows scenic views of the Hettinger Road all the way to the South Fork of the Salmon River.

The Smith Knob Road (FR 355) is for high clearance vehicles. 4X4s are better.

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Junction FR 355 Rd & FR 356

Elevation: 7794'

There is a great viewpoint at this junction. You can see all the way to Smith Knob and the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness.

Large trees have fallen across the road to Smith Knob and the road was only cleared wide enough for ATVs when we were here.

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Smith Saddle & Trailhead

Elevation: 6048'

The Smith Creek Trail intersects here. It is non-motorized and may not be cleared until late in the season.

There is a lot of bear sign in this saddle. Hunters camp here in the fall.

Gary on wood bench at Smith Knob Saddle Photo

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Smith Knob Lookout

Elevation: 6990'

Great view! You can see the South Fork of the Salmon River as you approach the old lookout site.

The Forest Service removed the lookout structure several years ago.

Concrete slab where Smith Knob Lookout was Photo

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Raines Creek Trailhead

Elevation: 7815

This is marked at the most recent reroute of the trail.

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Hays Station

This is a historic landmark.

The video has views of the signboard and cabin here.

South Fork (Hettinger) Ranch 8-10-11 Video

Frank Church Wilderness in Distance Photo

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Trail to Pictoglyphs and South Fork of Salmon River

This trail is not marked very well, but there are several stock trails to follow down to the river and then to the pictoglyphs and beyond.

When we visited, we contacted the ranch caretaker, Tim Hull, and he allowed us to go on ranch property to the trail along the river.

The plaque is on a boulder next to the river and reads: "DUSTY AGE 13 DIED AUG 24 55". It is next to the river and Dusty probably died from some river accident.

The video in POI #10 (Hays Station) has scenes along the trail and of the river.

The "Rattlesnake" video was not made on this trail, but near it. Rattlesnakes are present all through this area and hikers should be extra careful with children and especially with dogs. Most dogs will attack snakes and will probably get bitten. A leash is a good idea here. It is a very long trip to a vet.

The Johnny Lawrence Cabin ruins are just before the pictoglyphs.

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Pictoglyphs

Elevation: 2080'

There are only a few pictoglyphs, mostly of animals. They are all concentrated on a house sized boulder. The turquoise markings were new to us.

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South Fork (Hettinger) Ranch

This is private property.

The ranch manager is Tim Hull and should be contacted for permission to enter the property.

The video at POI #10 (Hays Station) has views of the ranch and the South Fork of the Salmon River.

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Smith Creek Trailhead

The trailhead is just before the South Fork (Hettinger) Ranch gate. The Smith Creek Trail branches and goes uphill to Smith Saddle. The river trail continues along the South Fork of the Salmon River.

These trails are open to foot/horse.

Smith Creek & South Fork Salmon River Trailhead Photo

Pictures in this guide taken by: Elindio42, bedobe

How does this work?

Some friends and I ATV'd to the Hettinger Ranch and hiked to the pictoglyphs. It was very warm along the river.

I added videos and photographs to this guide and did an ET Trip on the ride.

The "Rattlesnake" video was made in this area, but not on this ride.

Visited on Sep 02, 2012

by Elindio42 on Sep 21, 2012

Friends and I ATV'd to the Hettinger Ranch. The weather was good and the conditions for photos were great. I added several photos to this guide. I also did an ET Trip on the ride.

The foot/horse trail downriver doesn't seem to get much use as grass is thick in the middle of the trail.

The road to the ranch is in good condition.

Visited on Jul 20, 2012

by Elindio42 on Aug 04, 2012