The Station Creek Trail is on the Boise National Forest, in the Garden Valley area. The trailhead is very near the Garden Valley Ranger Station on Hwy 17. Parking is available at the trailhead, but there is no potable water or toilets. No parking/access fees required.

This trail can be hiked in the usual out and back, with two possible destinations. The most popular destination seems to be the “First Peak”, a prominent open ridge, reached at about 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 1500 feet. The trail is wellworn and well maintained, having a good grade with only a couple of very short steep pitches. There are very good views of the surrounding area. Bald Mountain is very prominent from First Peak and is a worthy second destination, at about an additional 1.5 trail miles

To reach Bald Mountain, continue on the well worn trail that follows the ridgeline until at the shoulder of Bald Mountain. The trail at this point becomes less defined but the route is plainly visible, climbing to the top of Bald Mountain. Once at the top, at 3.8 miles from the trailhead, the surrounding views are worth the effort. Visible peaks include Scott Moutain, Deadwood Lookout, Jackson Peak, Mores Moutain, Hawley Mountain, Charters Mountain, and Garden Mountain.

If you return by retracing your steps from Bald Mountain, you will have a total RT mileage of 7.6 miles and 2000 feet of elevation climb. The trail head is at 3162 and the top is at 5100 feet elevation.

Options:

The old Station Creek Trail #029 continues northerly from Bald Mountain and connects to some old but not maintained roads that continue down Danskin Creek and connects to the Hwy. 17 at the old Danskin Station. This makes a great shuttle hike (total distance of 11 miles and 2200 feel elevation gain) and will be explained in a separate trail.

Another option is to return to the Station Creek Trailhead by taking the trail junction you would have noticed on the route up to Bald Mountain. At the Station Creek trail sign, stay on the ridge line by taking the left hand fork and continue in a southerly direction. The trail remains on the ridge line until you arrive at an old weather/radio shack on the ridge above the Garden Valley Ranger Station. The trail then descends to the Trail head, a short but steep decline.

This trail is a great late season and early season hike, but even during the hottest months, if hiked early, or late, in the day, this can be a very pleasant hike. It is wooded, has season water in Station Creek for dogs, and is a well maintained trail. I’ve seen few others on this trail when I’ve hiked it. Snowshoeing is also and option.