Magruder Discovery Tour
- OTG Crew
- May 27
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Uncover Idaho's rugged heart on a 390-mile overland route through some of its most remote wilderness. Traverse the legendary Magruder Corridor, wind through the majestic Clearwater and Bitterroot Mountains to reveal historic lookouts, serene river camps, and unparalleled solitude.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 392 miles, 3.5-7 days days Season: Typically mid-June to mid-October, but season open/close dates may vary depending on snowpack and late/early seasonal storms.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 1-2
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain: The vast majority of the route consists of wided and graded dirt roads. The only moderate portion of this route is the at the very end where the route parallels Cascade Reservoir (West Mountain Jeep Trail/trail 763).
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: A big bike is suitable for the entire route except the final portion along West Mountain Jeep Trail (trail 763(, which parallels Cascade Reservoir. We recommend skipping this portion if you're on a big bike.
Adventure Vans: Sprinters and Transits with 4x4/AWD are good to go for the vast majority of the route. We recommend skipping West Mountain Jeep Trail along the final portion of the route, which parellels Cascade Reservoir.
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel:
Darby to Grangeville (185 mi)
Grangeville to Riggins (160 mi)
Riggins to McCall (75 mi)
McCall to Cascade (45 mi)
Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: n/a
Alternative Routes
Hell's Half Acre
Distance: 20 miles out-and-back
Technical Rating: 4 This is listed as an alternative route to save Sprinter and Transit vans from attempting this trail, which may prove too rocky to reach the lookout.
Burnt Knob
Distance:Â 3 miles out-and-back
Technical Rating:Â 4-5 This narrow and rocky jeep track leads to incredible viewpoint at the Burnt Knob Lookout.
Heaven's Gate
Distance:Â 20 miles out-and-back
Technical Rating:Â 56 miles out-and-back
Looking for one of the best views along the Magruder Discovery Tour? Then you need to head to Heaven's Gate! The road is rather easy (graded dirt road), but to reach the lookout you'll need to make the 0.5 mile hike to the summit! The lookout features incredible views of the Seven Devils, Hells Canyon and the mountains of the surrounding area.
Camping Recommendations
Outside of the Magruder Corridor, the Magruder Discovery Tour offers numerous opportunities for dispersed camping. However, within the corridor itself, campers must utilize designated campgrounds or explore a limited number of out-and-back roads. Some of our favorite places to camp along the Magruder Discovery Tour include:
Paradise campground
Observation Point
Magruder Crossing campground
North Fork Slate campground
Sun Beach and Upper Spring Bar (Salmon River)
Elkhorn Campsites (Salmon River)
Discovery Points
West fork Bitterroot River
Hell's Half Acre Lookout
Magruder Corridor
Magruder Ranger's House
Selway River
Salmon Mountain
Burnt Knob Lookout
Green Mountain Lookout
Red River
South fork Clearwater River
Adams Historic Ranger Station
Square Mountain Lookout
Salmon River
Slate Point Lookout
Nut Basin viewpoint
Nut Basin Road
Chair Point Lookout
Heaven's Gate Lookout
Seven Devils
Manning Crevice Bridge
Burgdorf Hot Springs Resort
Payette Lake
McCall
West Mountain Jeep Trail
Cascade Reservoir
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
n/a
Route Details
In 1863, an Elk City merchant named Lloyd Magruder was brutally murdered by bandits near the Selway River while returning from a gold trading trip to Montana. The suspected bandits were eventually caught and hanged in Idaho Territory. The Magruder Corridor, over 100 miles long, traverses some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48, flanked by 3.5 million acres of designated wilderness to its north and south. Originally a Nez Perce trade route, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) improved the original footpath into a single-lane dirt road in the 1930s. In recent years, the legend of the Magruder Corridor has attracted overlanders and adventurers seeking to immerse themselves in some of the most pristine and remote wildlands of the Pacific Northwest.
While the trek along the Magruder Corridor makes up less than a third of the total Magruder Discovery Tour, the vast wilderness sets the character for much of this rugged and remote overlanding route. The Magruder Discovery Tour begins at the eastern end of the famed Magruder Corridor, which cuts through the ultra-remote Bitterroot Mountains. The Magruder Corridor itself is a tame, single-lane dirt road. However, if you've got a 4x4, be sure to stop by some of the discovery points like Hells' Half Acre Lookout, Magruder's Ranger House, Burnt Knob Lookout, and Green Mountain Lookout. Some of these side trips require a lifted 4x4 (more info can be found in the "Alternative Routes" section). Camping along the Corridor is largely relegated to dedicated campgrounds. While it's a bit out of the way, our favorite place to camp is Paradise Campground at the confluence of the Selway River and White Cap Creek.
As you wrap up the Magruder Corridor and head south, most folks will want to stop in Grangeville to refuel. This next leg takes travelers to the eastern edge of the Clearwaters, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Here, the Salmon River (a key discovery point) is the major waterway through this mountainous region of Idaho. The vast majority of roads here are similar in nature to the Magruder Corridor: tame, graded, and typically suitable even for a Subaru. The out-and-back drive to Square Mountain Lookout (discovery point) affords impressive views of the surrounding Clearwater Mountains and the Seven Devils Mountains (discovery point) to the southwest. Follow the track down the mountain to the banks of the Salmon River. But don't get too comfortable, as you'll be headed right back into the Clearwaters—this time to Slate Point Lookout (discovery point), another viewpoint with equally impressive vistas.
From Slate Point, you'll follow the spine of a ridgeline better known as Nut Basin Road. A few hundred yards off the main road, you'll find the Nut Basin Viewpoint (discovery point). This viewpoint not only offers fantastic scenery but also the remains of the old fire lookout that once stood atop this peak. Continue along the graded dirt road down the mountain and up and over to Chair Point Lookout (discovery point). From Chair Point, the route follows the banks of the Salmon River (discovery point), crossing the historic Manning Crevice Bridge (discovery point). This historic suspension bridge, built in 1938 by the CCC, is a favorite stopping point and photo opportunity for those passing through. This stretch of the Salmon also features a number of riverfront campsites.
Heading south along French Creek Road, you're officially on the final leg of the route. Glacier-carved peaks rise to the east as you close in on Upper Payette Lake. Once you reach Payette Lake (discovery point), be sure to visit the historic and vibrant downtown of McCall (discovery point), which is filled with shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and more. The route concludes along the West Mountain Jeep Trail (discovery point). For those seeking more moderate terrain, West Mountain is your ticket! This bumpy and loose track climbs into the forest and features impressive views of Payette Lake and the surrounding mountains. Eventually, you'll find yourself back on pavement and at the quaint lakeside town of Cascade, the route's official terminus.
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