1/8/11: Klopton Creek Trail, Hells Canyon NRA, ID

I slipped away for the afternoon to explore the Klopton Trail down in Hells Canyon. It isn't a long trail (5 miles), but the logistics really lay in how to get back to my truck when I was done. I didn't have time to head back down due to the short winter afternoon and my late start. I instead dropped off my mountain bike at the top where it exits out on Deer Creek Rd as I figured I could blast the 3,000 ft back down into the canyon a lot quicker on the bike than I could on foot.

It was 1:00 by the time I made it to the trailhead. I was a little concerned as sunset was to occur just a little after 4:00. The trail started by skirting an area of grassland as it headed into the canyon of Klopton Creek. I soon arrived next to Klopton Creek, which was flowing well. The trail intermittently paralleled the creek along the margin, or plunged right in through the riparian tangle. There were a few spots where tread became difficult to spot, but it was usually easy to regain the trail.

Close to 1 1/2 miles in the topo showed the trail climbing steeply up the left slope. Indeed, when I arrived at this spot a found a trail deeply etched by the hooves of deer and elk. I climbed steeply up the trail, often on all fours, only to later realize that a good trail bypasses this route staying next to the creek. The brief diversion did give me some great views of the canyon.

The flora shifted to montaine woodland with some beautiful virgin timber at the point where Klopton Creek and its North Fork meet. From that point on to the top I passed alternating between meadow and ponderosa. I then crested the small pass I packed a bear down this last spring and headed down to where my bike was waiting.

I arrived at the bike, ate a couple of cliff bars and blasted down into the canyon. I had debated whether to take some gloves, but for whatever reason in the end I didn't. Unfortunately my mistake meant that I was to have absolutely no sensation in my hands for the trip down. On my way out I passed numerous herds of mostly mule deer does with some occasional bucks mixed in. I would guess that they numbered around 100. I arrived back at the truck around 4:30, having seen no one.