Bighorn Crags Trail
~4 days · 29.8 mi · hard · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Bighorn Crags Trail is known for
A remote 30-mile point-to-point trail (TR 6021) deep in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in central Idaho, traversing the dramatic Bighorn Crags — a landscape of sheer granite spires, cirque basins, and crystalline alpine lakes including Ship Island Lake and Welcome Lake. Accessed by rough USFS roads, the trail offers true wilderness solitude through some of the most rugged terrain in the lower 48.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 11,237 ft to 30,548 ft over 29.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 6.7 mi · 23%
- Downhill 17.8 mi · 60%
- Flat 5.1 mi · 17%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Bighorn Crags Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Bighorn Crags Trail scores 24/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Bighorn Crags Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Bighorn Crags Trail in about 4 days (3 nights out) over its 29.8 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Bighorn Crags Trail?
The Bighorn Crags Trail climbs roughly 5,509 ft total — about 185 ft per mile, topping out near 9,331 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.