Interactive Trail Map
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2011 Owyhee Canyonlands - Day 4
Images by Merri
2011 Owyhee Canyonlands - Day 4
Images by Merri
2011 Owyhee Canyonlands - Day 3
Images by Merri
Speechless - Merri Melde
Celebrating is Downright Dangerous and Fun - Connie Holloway
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September 27 - October 1 (Tuesday - Saturday) 5 Days of Endurance Rides - 5 Days of Limited Distance Photos by Merri Melde
Photos by Steve Bradley
Come ride the historic trails of Southwest Idaho's rugged Owyhee country! Ride all day and come back for a hot shower, happy hour in the shaded yard, and a hearty Idaho dinner by Blue Canoe Catering. Sleep under the starry skies, and ride again the next day! (or maybe just relax and enjoy the late summer sun...) . Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be available all week! Dinner (after the ride) is free with ride entry, breakfast and lunch may be purchased beginning on Monday. Blue Canoe Catering is providing all meals.
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Trails Description
(subject to modification!)
Day 1, Tuesday, Wild Horse Butte. 50 miles, 25 miles.Map: (current for 2011) dowload pdf file || view as jpg
50's: Mostly good footing. Some sandy stretches, minimal rock, some single track, some washes, lots of dirt road (Oregon Trail) with good footing. Leave Basecamp west up Picket Creek, then head east at the ridge top crossing Hwy 78 for a vetcheck at the end of RyePatch Rd. Head back out and follow single and 2-track trail to the Snake River, and around Wild Horse Butte. Follow Oregon trail down to fields above Rio Del Sierra Ranch, then back to the same vetcheck. Return home.
25's: Fairly easy trail, good footing, single track and dirt roads, one out vet check. Take same trail as 50 milers, except return home after the first vetcheck.
Day 2, Wednesday. Alder Creek. 50 miles and 25 miles.Map: (current for 2011) dowload pdf file || view as jpg
50's: 25 and 50 milers will head west on 'Teeter Ranch Rd' out of camp, crossing Pickett Creek, and climbing out of the canyon to get on top. Head south along 2-track and dirt roads, drop down (steep trail) into Little Hart Creek canyon, then continue south on trail and 2-track through some very 'solitary' country. Cross Hart Creek and then climb back up to the flats for several miles along a dirt road. You'll eventually drop down into Brown's Creek canyon and follow the trail along the creek for a vetcheck when you reach the flat on Triangle Road at the Browns Creek crossing. After the vetcheck 50 milers will head northwest up Triangle Rd . Turn south and follow an old jeep road into the Toy Mountain foothills, through some beautiful granite rock formations and juniper forest. Cross Alder creek, then follow jeep road along the foothills. Drop down and cross Alder Creek again at the Crazy Woman Mine. Ride up out of the canyon and follow fenceline and 2-track along the flats. Take a cow path down to Browns Creek and ride through a small canyon past the old rock corral, then take a cow path back up onto the flat and return to the same vetcheck. 50 milers return to base crossing Hart Creek again, then heading east on Spring Ranch Rd, along the rim trail above Hart Creek, and return to Basecamp along a single track trail. 25's: 25 milers will take the same 12.5 mile trail out to the vetcheck, and back to camp for the finish.
Day 3, Joyce Ranch
Thursday. 50 miles and 30 miles.
Map: (current for 2011) dowload pdf file || view as jpg!
50's: Cross Hwy 78 and ride over to Birds of Prey. Follow sections of Oregon Trail, circle back to the Hwy above Sinker Canyon and historic Joyce Ranch. Vetcheck on road above ranch. Drop down into the ranch and follow the canal bank, ride around Sinker Reservoir then follow the creek through lower Sinker Canyon to old Gilmore Ranch site (remnants of rock walls are visible as you leave the canyon). Up onto flats and home.
30's: Ride across desert to vetcheck above Joyce Ranch. Drop down into the ranch and follow the canal bank, ride around Sinker Reservoir then follow the creek through lower Sinker Canyon to old Gilmore Ranch site (remnants of rock walls visible as you leave the canyon). Up onto flats and home.
Day 4, Friday, Sinker Creek Canyon. 50 miles, 30 miles.Map: (current for 2011) dowload pdf file || view as jpg
50's: Moderate difficulty, very scenic! VERY rocky as you ride through canyon for 5 miles. Cows/calves and low branches in canyon - no trotting through here! But take your binoculars and camera - raptor nests in canyon walls, great rock formations, pretty trail! One out vetcheck. Head back west to return, ride the old irrigation canal to Bates Creek, take a new trail up Bates Creek canyon, then return cia Spring Ranch Rd and circle back to camp.
30's: Ride through Sinker Canyon, one out vet check on Bates Creek Rd.
Day 5, Saturday, Birds of Prey & Hart Creek. 50 miles, 25 miles.Map: (current for 2011) dowload pdf file || view as jpg
Day 5, Saturday, Hart Creek Canyon // Birds of Prey 25/50, and Trail Ride.
Ride two large loops; north of camp to the Birds of Prey area with soft trails and sand washes, and south of camp into the rugget Hart Creek drainage. One half-way hold in Basecamp.
50's: Two 25 mile loops with one vetcheck in camp. Loop 1 takes you north of the Highway, into the Birds of Prey management area - some fun single track trail and washes, easy trail with good footing.
Loop 2, to Hart Creek, is moderate trail, some climbs and rocky sections. Ride past the old homestead on Hart Creek, and along the rim above Hart Creek Canyon. Very scenic. Mixed footing - some sand, a rocky climb out of the canyon, fairly technical trail in places.
30's: One vet check in camp. Loop 2 will be an easy trail down a sandy wash and back to camp in 9 miles. Loop 2 is a fairly technical trail, some climbs and rocky sections. Ride past the old homestead on Hart Creek, and along the rim above Hart Creek Canyon. Very scenic. Mixed footing - some sand, a rocky climb out of the canyon, fairly technical trail in places.
Average Weather Conditions
Weather forecast for Murphy/Oreana, ID - 83650
Normal high temperatures (for Boise) are in the mid 70's. Normal low temperatures are in the upper 40's. It is typically dry and sunny, though showers are possible.
Ten day forecast and monthly averages.
Come ride the Owyhee Canyonlands....
where time stands still!
That is what I find, the quiet is deafening,
the sky is endless, and time stands still, this is where
trail/horse/rider all truly become one.
Skyla