Needles Route Trail

Needles Route Trail - The trail follows a ridge for most of its length providing views of the surrounding area. The trail intersects the Dollar Creek Ridge Trail, 6 miles from its southern trailhead. 

Dollar Creek Ridge Trail is open to non-motorized uses only. The southern access point is marked by a sign reading ""2 GOLD FORK ROCK and GOLD FORK L.O. 1.""

The designated trail begins as an old road that looks passable by car, but becomes treacherous at about .25 mile and four-wheel drive is necessary to go any further.

The road is quite nice for hikers, horseback riders, and OHV users as it climbs gradually for two miles. A small stream separates the road from the trail and must be crossed to continue on the route. Blazes are everywhere along the trail as it climbs more steeply over sandy granite soil and bare rocks on its way to Gold Fork Rock, .5 mile beyond the road's end.

Passing the Rock, the trail continues north past smaller rock outcrops that tower above the trees. About 3.5 miles from Gold Fork Rock the trail intersects with the Dollar Creek Ridge Trail. The intersection is marked by signs, but care must be taken to stay on the correct route. As the intersection is approached from the south, the trail branches into three: to the west and east is Dollar Creek Ridge, and the north is Needles Route.

Be sure to take the middle trail that dips down a small gulley and back up again to continue on its way to the north.  Nearing the north end of the trail, blazes on trees plus numerous faint trails make things confusing. Follow the most obvious and/or newest blazes tree by tree. This should lead to a small alpine pond near the base of three 8,000 ft.+ peaks, including Square Top.

Basically, this is the end of Needles Route because hiking in any direction except south at this point brings the users to a ridge which is the boundary with the Payette National Forest. There are no signs marking the end of the trail.

At a Glance