Idaho BDR +

[VA6489]

I Highjacked @Sunnysideup thread and realized That was taking away from his thread so I moved over here.

I group from the East Coast will converge on a small town in Idaho in the early weeks of July 2027. Yes this is a few minutes away, let me explain.

Our group has always been rock crawling adventurers and we try to do a big trip once ever year or two. Last run was to the Rubicon Trail in Ca and Holy Cross in CO. This next trip is insprired by a wanten desire to be off the grid and enjoy the back country. Enter the Idaho BDR.

Our East Coaster Rigs are built for Rocklanding and a couple are daily drivers like mine, some will say it is stupid to daily a build off road rig, but have you seen the size of the craters in the road around here?

Route will be a combination of must do trails and the BDR. Initial meeting location will be Twin Falls ID. And then run up to The trail head for Boulder Basin and camp for the night. The Snake River Jeep club suggested that we have to run Boulder Basin. So It begins.

From Boulder basin we work north and west back to the IBDR. We have a mix of rigs some Gas some Diesel, and I am finding that Fuel is an issue for the diesel rigs. So packing a couple 5gal fuel containers is on the list.

Most of the IBDR is high clearance vehicle forest roads so not much of an off road challange. I have thrown in a few side trails that are. Like:
- Boulder Basin
- Denver Creek
- Compressor Creek
- Crauthers Lake
- Wicks Tunnel
- McKelvey Lake
- Goose Lake

The route will follow the IBDR for the most part. I have negated the desert section as well as the legs north of Wallace ID in the interst of time. In place of pounding pavment home from Wallace I decided to explore some of the trails along the way. In my research I ran across John @Sunnysideup and some of his videos of the MT area. Extremely helpfull.

The route I have mapped out starts in Rawlin WY and end there as well. I have family coming along from there. The route lenght is a wopping 2000+ miles. to be run is reasonable segments. Road days will cover miles, dirt days will be shorter. We will strive to be off the grid as much as possible and find lodging every few days to keep the wives happy.

The group. We have been wheeling for many years and all work very well together. We are all acomplished wheelers and build our own rigs. Some have gone thru extensive modification some from the ground up starting with nothing more than a J20 shell and frame.

If you are interested or have expirence you would like to share about this area I welcome the info.

Dates. This seems to be a variable due to winter weather condition this coming winter. A heavy snow pack will delay the start and a dry winter might push it forward to try to stay ahead ofthe wild fires. With a group made of Military, Law enforcment and builders we are used to adjusting for the challenges. "Semper Gumby" will guide this run.

Looking forward to your thoughts and input. If you would like to join in any part of this run please stay intouch.

Cheers
Rob

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[JTdiRtyD]

Following. Might be able to swing meeting up somewhere for a bit, but don't know what our 2027 trip looks like yet.

Been to Idaho plenty, but not off roading.

I'm assuming you'll head up to Stanley from Boulder Basin and then west on ID21 towards the BDR. Stanley and the Sawtooths are by far one of my favorite areas (proposed to my fiance in those mountains). Theres a fuel station in Stanley that has diesel. Theres also a restaraunt called Stanley Supper Club. They rotate chefs and menus there, and we've never been dissappointed. Otherwise the Mountain Village Restaraunt and Saloon is good.

I see you'll camp at Boulder Basin, but I'd fingure I'd throw out that theres plenty of camping potential around the Sawtooths. Theres some good free FCFS sites on the road 619 (FR70619) heading up to Iron Creek Trailhead , as well as a FCFS small paid primitive state camp ground right next to the trailhead. Theres a good sized spot with plenty of room for multiple rigs right where 619 and FR70692 meet. Theres also some good spots along FR70633 that overlook the entire valley. All of which should be relatively close to your route (assuming you'll head this way).

Theres hot springs along the Salmon River to the east of Stanley that are awesome, but they will be out of the way, but the Kirkham Hot Springs will on your route and be right off ID21 just before you meet up with the BDR. It can be busy depending on the time, but well worth the stop to soak for a bit. Theres actually hot springs all over out there.

 

[Boomeribe]

Depending on timing you could swing over to the Montana BDR when ready to start going south. The map is on rideBDR.com. The trailer is on YouTube, the full length video isn't out yet.

 

[Sunnysideup]

I do have videos of: Boulder basin, Caruthers lake, Wicks tunnel, McKelvy Lake, Goose lake. This will give you an idea of determining if your 4x4 can do certain trails on the route. Like here is a short clip from McKelvey in one of the rock gardens... it shows the trail conditions leading to the rock garden and after... The "rock garden" section starts at about 4:12.... there is just a general feel of the trail in the other parts of this video. MEDIA=youtube]kZOnoRAnWpI[/MEDIA]

 

[VA6489]

Depending on timing you could swing over to the Montana BDR when ready to start going south. The map is on rideBDR.com. The trailer is on YouTube, the full length video isn't out yet.

The Montana BDR sound interesting. Need to map it out and see how it falls into the current routing. Thank you for the tip.

 

[VA6489]

I do have videos of: Boulder basin, Caruthers lake, Wicks tunnel, McKelvy Lake, Goose lake. This will give you an idea of determining if your 4x4 can do certain trails on the route. Like here is a short clip from McKelvey in one of the rock gardens... it shows the trail conditions leading to the rock garden and after... The "rock garden" section starts at about 4:12.... there is just a general feel of the trail in the other parts of this video. MEDIA=youtube]kZOnoRAnWpI[/MEDIA]

John, spent a few nights watching videos of yours. Great info and give me an idea of what I am getting into.
The two things that concern me on this trip are Snow and Wildfire....

 

[VA6489]

Following. Might be able to swing meeting up somewhere for a bit, but don't know what our 2027 trip looks like yet.

Been to Idaho plenty, but not off roading.

I'm assuming you'll head up to Stanley from Boulder Basin and then west on ID21 towards the BDR. Stanley and the Sawtooths are by far one of my favorite areas (proposed to my fiance in those mountains). Theres a fuel station in Stanley that has diesel. Theres also a restaraunt called Stanley Supper Club. They rotate chefs and menus there, and we've never been dissappointed. Otherwise the Mountain Village Restaraunt and Saloon is good.

I see you'll camp at Boulder Basin, but I'd fingure I'd throw out that theres plenty of camping potential around the Sawtooths. Theres some good free FCFS sites on the road 619 (FR70619) heading up to Iron Creek Trailhead , as well as a FCFS small paid primitive state camp ground right next to the trailhead. Theres a good sized spot with plenty of room for multiple rigs right where 619 and FR70692 meet. Theres also some good spots along FR70633 that overlook the entire valley. All of which should be relatively close to your route (assuming you'll head this way).

Theres hot springs along the Salmon River to the east of Stanley that are awesome, but they will be out of the way, but the Kirkham Hot Springs will on your route and be right off ID21 just before you meet up with the BDR. It can be busy depending on the time, but well worth the stop to soak for a bit. Theres actually hot springs all over out there.

Will be on the superslab from Rawlins to Boulder basin. There is a hot springs right there That I can appease the wife with after 2000 miles of highway in 3 days. There are two of us with back issues and we would appreciate the hot soak as well.

Your right we are routed to Stanley and then west to the IDBR. North to Magruder to MT and north to Lolo and continue on the IBDR route. on the Lolo Trail. Several accounts (videos) showed Snow on the top of the mountain. Stopping in Wallace for a day( base camp) to run Denver and Compressor Creeks. that will also be a spot to do laundry. Before heading south.

Have to look at the Montana BDR and see if that is a viable routing to West Yellowstone within the time frame we have. Coming from the East Coast this is shaping up to be a month long vacation.

 

[Sunnysideup]

John spent a few nights watching videos of yours. Great info and give me an idea of what I am getting into.
The two thinngs that concern me on this trip are Snow and WIldfire....

Yep... Montana needs a wet spring! This winter is disappointing for moisture!

 

[chad468]

I've done the the Idaho bdr some years back on an adventure bike. Currently have a 2025 Gladiator Rubicon. Bone stock performance wise. With the route you're thinking, would that be an option without tearing it up?

 

[VA6489]

I've done the the Idaho bdr some years back on an adventure bike. Currently have a 2025 Gladiator Rubicon. Bone stock performance wise. With the route you're thinking, would that be an option without tearing it up?

I will leave this right here.

 

[VA6489]

The trails I am planning I have no first hand knowledge of.

 

[VA6489]

 

[S JEEPN]

I

I Highjacked @Sunnysideup thread and realized That was taking away from his thread so I moved over here.

I group from the East Coast will converge on a small town in Idaho in the early weeks of July 2027. Yes this is a few minutes away, let me explain.

Our group has always been rock crawling adventurers and we try to do a big trip once ever year or two. Last run was to the Rubicon Trail in Ca and Holy Cross in CO. This next trip is insprired by a wanten desire to be off the grid and enjoy the back country. Enter the Idaho BDR.

Our East Coaster Rigs are built for Rocklanding and a couple are daily drivers like mine, some will say it is stupid to daily a build off road rig, but have you seen the size of the craters in the road around here?

Route will be a combination of must do trails and the BDR. Initial meeting location will be Twin Falls ID. And then run up to The trail head for Boulder Basin and camp for the night. The Snake River Jeep club suggested that we have to run Boulder Basin. So It begins.

From Boulder basin we work north and west back to the IBDR. We have a mix of rigs some Gas some Diesel, and I am finding that Fuel is an issue for the diesel rigs. So packing a couple 5gal fuel containers is on the list.

Most of the IBDR is high clearance vehicle forest roads so not much of an off road challange. I have thrown in a few side trails that are. Like:
- Boulder Basin
- Denver Creek
- Compressor Creek
- Crauthers Lake
- Wicks Tunnel
- McKelvey Lake
- Goose Lake

The route will follow the IBDR for the most part. I have negated the desert section as well as the legs north of Wallace ID in the interst of time. In place of pounding pavment home from Wallace I decided to explore some of the trails along the way. In my research I ran across John @Sunnysideup and some of his videos of the MT area. Extremely helpfull.

The route I have mapped out starts in Rawlin WY and end there as well. I have family coming along from there. The route lenght is a wopping 2000+ miles. to be run is reasonable segments. Road days will cover miles, dirt days will be shorter. We will strive to be off the grid as much as possible and find lodging every few days to keep the wives happy.

The group. We have been wheeling for many years and all work very well together. We are all acomplished wheelers and build our own rigs. Some have gone thru extensive modification some from the ground up starting with nothing more than a J20 shell and frame.

If you are interested or have expirence you would like to share about this area I welcome the info.

Dates. This seems to be a variable due to winter weather condition this coming winter. A heavy snow pack will delay the start and a dry winter might push it forward to try to stay ahead ofthe wild fires. With a group made of Military, Law enforcment and builders we are used to adjusting for the challenges. "Semper Gumby" will guide this run.

Looking forward to your thoughts and input. If you would like to join in any part of this run please stay intouch.

Cheers
Rob

I read through the comments trying to see someone mention what the BDR, Idaho BDR is. Ended up googling it to find it is the back Country Discovery Route (BDR).

 

[Sunnysideup]

I've done the the Idaho bdr some years back on an adventure bike. Currently have a 2025 Gladiator Rubicon. Bone stock performance wise. With the route you're thinking, would that be an option without tearing it up?

I think the two of the listed trails are on the high end of a stock rubicon- just for GC. You can always go, if the trail gets too much, turn back and wait at the bottom for the group to return. on Mckelvey we had two stock Jeeps turn back, and two modified jeeps turn back that were on 37's... just because of the amount of stacking and scraping going on, a mud pit, and the unknown... in the first part of the trail. On one other trail (caruthers) a guy with a Dodge long box and 37's did 10,000 in damage to his trucks body... destroying the front ,rear, doors, and fenders... but it was no lockers and bashing his way up. Most of the other trails on this list (other than compressor which I have not done- and can't comment on) are all in the range of a good driver with a stock Rubicon.

 

[Freems]

Following. Might be able to swing meeting up somewhere for a bit, but don't know what our 2027 trip looks like yet.

Been to Idaho plenty, but not off roading.

I'm assuming you'll head up to Stanley from Boulder Basin and then west on ID21 towards the BDR. Stanley and the Sawtooths are by far one of my favorite areas (proposed to my fiance in those mountains). Theres a fuel station in Stanley that has diesel. Theres also a restaraunt called Stanley Supper Club. They rotate chefs and menus there, and we've never been dissappointed. Otherwise the Mountain Village Restaraunt and Saloon is good.

I see you'll camp at Boulder Basin, but I'd fingure I'd throw out that theres plenty of camping potential around the Sawtooths. Theres some good free FCFS sites on the road 619 (FR70619) heading up to Iron Creek Trailhead , as well as a FCFS small paid primitive state camp ground right next to the trailhead. Theres a good sized spot with plenty of room for multiple rigs right where 619 and FR70692 meet. Theres also some good spots along FR70633 that overlook the entire valley. All of which should be relatively close to your route (assuming you'll head this way).

Theres hot springs along the Salmon River to the east of Stanley that are awesome, but they will be out of the way, but the Kirkham Hot Springs will on your route and be right off ID21 just before you meet up with the BDR. It can be busy depending on the time, but well worth the stop to soak for a bit. Theres actually hot springs all over out there.

Don’t miss Kirkham Hot Springs! This sounds like a Great trip, enjoy! I’ll make a prediction after this trip: At least 5% of your group, will make the tuff choice of relocating to Idaho from the east coast. Also a mention for y’all if your interested, in the largest city in ID in south west corner of the state has a local sand cooker group is putting up a huge new cooking facility, they will be adding 5K new heads to fill the new structure. It’s a total clean room environment, so make sure you wash the mud off the rig before you drive in for your interviews! HAHA…if you haven’t cooked sand before, no worries, they’ll train you. I think they still run 4-10s on shift, so this gig gives you and extra day every week to wheel. Ok before you ask, I have zero connection to the company in any form, but with the need being set that high for net new heads, you’re chances of getting an offer with our current labor force is good. Because your Jeep people’s I’d hire you on the spot. If you’re fly fisher person, don’t forget your waders and rod, your in a Mecca fishing area, don’t miss out…attached pic, this river is just north and west of your northern most stoping point, ok, before you ask, this is a trout (steelhead) this one is a dandy, hooked and released, it was a native fish (11/25) 44”. Good luck, enjoy Idaho!!!

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