Stayed at a USFS Nat campground called Baumgartner.
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232354
This place is ~12miles in on a decent dirt road from Featherville Idaho. There are dispersed campsites all along the way in, adjacent to
the South Fork of the Boise River. Huge Ponderosa pines everywhere. They also have a Hot Springs pool that is fed from a natural hot springs.
They drain it at sundown and re-fill at sun up. So nice to sit in that after a 50 mile loop! The camp sites have a large table, fire pit and grill.
And there are potable water pumps through out the park, which we were lucky to be right next to, so that was convenient. Plenty of clean vault bathrooms as well. 10 bucks a day! This time of year is First come/first served but in season it is reservable.
The trails: so much variation. Kinda a mix of the rockies with more western high slope topo like Montrose with a little Crested Butte thrown in.
Mostly pines but some Aspens and other large trees. Most of the riding is between 5-9K feet altitude and I really didn't have any issues but you do tire easier obviously.
Long sections of good flowing ribbon in the trees and on the ridges. Plenty of smooth trail in addition to rocks and ruts.
Then boom! Rock garden- ruts and baby head size rocks all in the trail. Not too many roots, but some. Traction was excellent, never a problem hooking up. Even in the mud puddle water crossings. I only videoed 1 day, but it was the best day(IMO). The vid's show the diversity of Southern Idaho. My buddy from Kauai met me there and he rode north of Boise the 2 days before I got there and said the terrain was much more flowing and less rocky. We went up to Atlanta Idaho on this day, which is a little old mining town that 37 people live in. It is 26 miles back in the bush, and the only way in is by one dirt road or ST trails. Well I quess you could fly a helo in!
Idaho has a lot of riding and the trails are true single track 18-24 inches wide and the bushes are less than that a lot of the time. Gotta pay attention.
You need handguards or your fingers will get whacked! They are well marked and cover so much of the state, it is an incredible trail system. Check it out if you can, so far, my favorite because:
you get the high mountain trails and valleys, rock gardens, sweepers and so much altitude variation in a typical 50 mile ride. The trails are
not busted up at all and they flow like ribbons. Lots of water and water crossing. Most are shallow but we did hit one on Day 3 that was up to the seat deep and about 15 feet across. Just have to hit it and not let off the throttle.
I had one issue out on the trail Day 3, I lost my master link and the chain came off, but I always carry a spare and was back on the trail in 10 min with help from some friends! Chain was wadded up in the chain guard, but Matt got it out turning the wheel backwards. I had one get off on Day 2 that busted my head light and broke one shroud, but other than that, the 300 was perfect. I came close to eating poop on that one!
The below videos are all from Day 2, my favorite day. North from Baumgartner to Atlanta for lunch at the Beaver Lodge and the back down the eastern side of the Sawtooth range, back to camp. These video's are a pretty good example of the riding in southern Idaho.
Start of the day. Fast flowing woods as we start the climb up to Atlanta from 5000 feet, up to 9000 feet and then back down to 5400 to Atlanta.
Starting to climb up the valley
Bushes slapping the hands as you work your way up. I did a fair amount of dead engine cruising on the down slopes. Nice to just hear the bike freewheeling and looking out!
Lots of sidehilling. Some really nice with small penalty, but a lot with major penalty if you were to "leave the trail"
Some of the sidehilling is a bit rocky
Awesome views
Now we are up top and will start down to Atlanta for lunch at the Beaver Lodge
As we got to the end of the trail coming into Atlanta, there was this trippy sunken worn out bridge, but it was solid feelin!
The town of Atlanta as we drive through to the lodge
After lunch we had to climb up and out to ride 26 miles back to camp down the other side of the mountains
And then down the ridge
As we were working our way we hit some nice woods with a bit of a hill climb and surprise turn !
After I stopped in the previous video, I had to re-positioned the bike over to the trail that I blew the turn to and made my way up the rock field. A nice strong young man help me get my back tire set up so I could get up. If you loose your momentum, it was a bit of work to get up.
More sweet ridge lines-so nice up on top of the ridges. Great views and open.
Making our way back to camp on the last ridge
And finally the tour of the camp site as we ride in. There was one thing I did not get on video, the Big White Guard dog!
In the last video, right after I stopped it as we were coming down the ridge back to camp, I came around a corner and there was a large White Pyrenees dog guarding some horses a hunter had left tied up. He was in the trail and wasn't moving, then he started walking towards me barking and I took off.
He was running and barking right next to me for a good 15-20 seconds. It seems everyone riding that day had the same experience! too funny
Some pics-still sorting through all of em!
Van Life!
On top of the ridge
Beaver Lodge
Nice rack!
Population Board
40 feet from the camp site, South Fork of the Boise River
Camp! Mark's new 2024 300XC he picked up in Boise. That thing is smooth-
Hot Springs across from our campsite. This is the best thing ever! Relaxing and makes ya sleep like a baby!
Love all of the Ponderosa Pines everywhere
Taking a break on the way back-big lunch and it was good!
And lastly, if you do go to Idaho, be ready! It is fun, fast and a little bit of everything but, the picture sums it up-
