Trail Details
- Type: Loop
- Trailhead: 43.350008, -116.709512
- Length: 7.5 miles
- Time: 3 hours
- Nearest City: Wilson, ID
- Best time of year: June-November
- Map: http://www.backpacker.com
Finding water in the desert usually takes a miracle. However, this is not the case with Reynolds Creek. A dry and dusty hike will take you from a brush-covered landscape to a tree-lined oasis.
Just 30 miles outside of Boise you will find the trailhead near a factory and a landscape littered with rocks. There is also the very popular mountain biking trail Wilson Creek at a trailhead just up the road. To get to the creek itself you will head the opposite direction as the bikers, so you won’t have to compete for trail space.
There is an abundance of wildlife to see on this hike, including a lot of creepy crawlies. If you plan on hiking this in spring prepare to be bombarded by crickets! Once you leave the trailhead you’ll travel a path that is lined with brush. Each step you takes causes a flurry of crickets jumping out-of-the-way. They won’t actually touch you but those of you who are a little skittish around insects may want to avoid this hike. Eventually, you’ll approach a canyon at around 2 miles in and they won’t be such a nuisance. Other wildlife sightings will include white-tail deer, falcons, lizards, rabbits, and mice. I honestly never expected to see so many animals on this hike, but being the only water source within a good distance, it is only natural that animals would be drawn this direction.
As you approach the canyon you will begin to hear water. Some trail maps will tell you to go left off the trail to where the creek begins but that area is private property and is now fenced off. Instead head uphill until you hit a Trail W600 sign. This is the best view of the whole hike. You will then wind along a cliffside trail then slowly go down to the creek where there is a nice place for a picnic or water break.
The second half of this trail is more difficult than the first. You’ll push through thick grass and climb some pretty steep rock paths. There is a little shade as you exit the canyon which is nice on a hot day. You’ll soon level out again and the trail will begin to feel familiar as you complete the loop section and trace the same route back to your vehicle.
What Did I Learn?:
- Long pants can help with insects but make you sweat a lot more
- A selfie-stick can also double as a makeshift trekking pole during steep climbs
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.