Weiser River National Recreation Trail:
Idaho
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Description:
The Weiser River National Recreation Trail is a feast of desert canyons, evergreen forests and alpine meadows, following the former right-of-way of a Union Pacific Railroad line between Tamarack and the town of Weiser. Other highlights of the trail include 62 historic rail trestles and wildlife such as deer, waterfowl, quail, turkeys, herons and eagles. You may even encounter coyotes, bears or a mountain lion. If you like to fish, bring a pole and drop a line for rainbow trout in the Weiser River, which the trail follows for pretty much all of its route.

The Weiser River NRT is the longest trail in Idaho; the southern end mainly comprises rolling hills and open canyons, while the northern end tends to be more densely forested. Beginning on the southern end of the old Union Pacific Railroad and the Idaho Northern Railroad corridor, the trail has its roots in the city of Weiser, an agricultural town with a population of roughly 4,600.

Continuing north on the trail, you will come across the Weiser River Canyons lining the banks of the Weiser River between the cities of Weiser and Midvale. The Galloway dam site is a part of the lower canyon and a popular fishing spot on the trail. North of the canyons you'll run into the small town of Midvale where you can call Eva's Place—a trailside bed-and-breakfast—home if you're on the trail for more than a day-trip. The next scenic site that you cannot miss is 8 miles from Midvale in the city of Cambridge, home of the deepest gorge in North America, Hells Canyon. Its 10-mile wide expanse showcases the differing terrain, climate and elevation of this rural landscape.

Nearly 21 miles up the trail you'll reach the small community of Council. The surrounding valley is a beautiful open green space with wooded hills, farms and ranches. The city is said to have been named after the Shoshoni Indians who inhabited the area before the arrival of settlers. Visiting pioneers told stories of the Indians gathering in the valley with their horses. To the pioneers, this seemed to represent an Indian council meeting, resulting in its current city name, Council.

North of Council the Weiser River NRT passes through the mill town of Tamarack and then slightly farther north you will find Rubicon at trail's end.

Four communities along the trail provide services, including Weiser (the largest, with many restaurants, motels and shops), Midvale, Cambridge and Council. There is an annual spring bike ride along the trail, and in May, a 4-day wagon train event beginning in Weiser and ending in Council.

The Weiser River National Recreation Trail was a Rails-to-Trail Conservancy Trail of the Month in August 2006.

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Parking & Trail Access:
You can access the Weiser River National Recreation Trail in dozens of places along it 85-mile route, including in every town along the way.

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Cambridge to Midvale-out and back-18mi
By rs7trout in August, 2011
Just wanted to check the trail out--so parked in Cambridge-nice setup right by the blacktop part of the trail for parking--the scenery was great--but the rocks(gravel)--really suck!! Riding with tubeless setup(Slime) I flatted!

Took my flyrod hoping to maybe give it a whirl--but the Weiser is pretty low in august and river access from the trail not that easy in most places.

As a flat trail thought it would be great just to put some miles in--but the gravel really is a negative!

R

Can't wait to go back!
By tyokom in July, 2009
I just finished riding the northern-most portion of the trail (Tamarack to a couple miles past Fruitvale) with some young men from our church. What a blast! I loved the trail and can't wait to return with my own kids. The trail was in very good condition and allowed us to make very good time. The scenery is beautiful in this section and worth taking in.
Rough ride
By Greg Naylor in October, 2007
"I rode 40 miles in late July from Weiser to Council. The trail website doesn't mention that you can get on the trail right in Weiser. There the trail is blacktopped but not for long. It quickly turns to gravel with large rocks that you will wish weren't there. The scenery was beautiful with canyon walls on either side and the river in between. After you get to Cambridge, the trail opened up into a valley. From Cambridge to Council, the trail was almost impossible to ride. There were too many rocks on the trail. I was only able to average 7 mph and my bike often spun out in the excess gravel. "
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