Wilson Flats and Ridgeline Hike – 19 June 2019

(3 July 2019 / Author: Tim Bondy) This hike up a ridgeline above Anderson Ranch Reservoir and Wilson Flats on 19 June 2019 was enjoyable and a route I have been walking for the last few years. It’s close to the tiny town of Mountain Home, Idaho and offers some spectacular views, solitude as well as a challenging elevation gain/loss. 

About the Feature Image: Geotagged at 43.383022, -115.442177 /// 19 June 2019 /// Bloom of yellow flowering Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.)

Peak 6355 is Always my Goal …

The goal for this hike is always Peak 6355 at 43.400250, -115.471173 and as usual, I came up short on this trip. I’ve gotten close but the last one-third of a mile is rather strenuous. That’s not to say a lot of this hike isn’t strenuous especially once I head off-trail and cross country as I climb above Wilson Flats. 

The average slope of getting my boots on Peak 6355 would clock in at around 18% average slope in just 3.3 miles of the outbound portion of the adventure. It also tops 2,600 foot vertical so it’s a goal that will take some time to achieve. It’s that challenge that keeps me coming back for more.

What can be Seen?

With the trailhead along the banks of Wilson Creek and Anderson Ranch Reservoir, a swiftly flowing stream and a crystal clear lake is a good start. At the two-thirds of a mile point, the trail heads up steeply towards Wilson Flats. Gradually, over the next two-fifth of a mile, the views really open up to the southeast.

Once you scramble cross country and get on the lower portions of the ridgeline, the views open up as Packers Butte on Camas Prairie can be seen as well as the entire north side of the Bennett Mountain massive. The Soldier Mountains to the east were still snowcapped and seeing Little Camas Prairie greening up was nice.

The view downward in both the Wilson Creek and Little Wilson Creek drainages is also quite nice. Keep an eye for deer and elk down in those areas. 

Wilson Flats and Ridgeline Hike Stats  for the 19 June 2019 Trip

• Adventure Date: 19 June 2019 
• Consider Doing it Again?: Yes
• Trailhead: 43.380813, -115.436771
• Turn-Around Point or Furthest Out Point: 43.391480, -115.452595
• 7.5 Topo Maps: House Mountain
• Trail/Road #:  FSR #606 and cross country
• Mountain Range(s) Involved: Fall Creek Mountains – Self-named
• Health of Local Environment – [Excellent / Good / Fair / Bad / Horrible]: Good. The bramble and underbrush is thriving after the 2013 wildfires and is making it difficult to cross country hike in places. Very difficult. 
• Land Ownership: 100% Forest Service and BOR managed lands. 
• Wildlife: Raptor type birds only I saw no big game at all and very little sign of deer and elk. 
• Mileage: 3.96 miles
• +Vertical Feet: 1,403  feet
• Time from Trailhead to Trailhead: 3 hours 15 minutes
• Trailhead Temperature: 67°F – 72°F
• Rockhounding Potential: The potential exists but I’ve hiked this area and have found very little in the way of cool rocks
• Avg Slope from Google Earth Vertical Profile of the GPX File: 12.3%
• Google Photo Album Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wXnLmKXd5g1TC1WP6
• Google Earth KMZ: ANDER – Hike – Wilson Flats-Peak 6355 – Refined.kmz (local file only)
• GPX File Name: 20190619-131116.gpx (local file only)
• Driving Time to Trailhead: 45 minutes
• Elevations: 4,223 to 5,274 feet

Wilson Flats Trail 606 Progress

National Forest Service Trail #606 in the Wilson Flats Trail System has been closed to mechanical and motorized traffic since 2013. On 15 June 2019, the trail opened up to bicycles and ATV traffic. Over the past nine months, the trail has slowly been repaired but it certainly isn’t a groomed ATV trail.

There is one section where the trail crosses Wilson Creek and on this day it would have been problematic to me if I was riding an ATV. Doing that stream crossing as a hiker wasn’t any problem, however. I cannot attest to the condition of FSR #606 on top of the flats as I didn’t walk it.

 

This story was originally published on 3 July 2019.