Yankee Fork Road — Clayton to Custer Ghost Town via the Salmon River Mountains
Ghost towns, gold dredges, and Idaho canyon gravel.
The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River carved out serious wealth in the 1870s, and the evidence is still sitting right there in the dirt. From Clayton on Highway 75, Forest Road 013 follows the Yankee Fork upstream past the rusting hull of the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge — a Bureau of Land Management interpretive site where a 112-foot pontoon dredge still sits exactly where it stopped in 1952, having chewed through 35 miles of riverbed. Push another eight miles and you hit Custer, a near-intact ghost town with original stamp mill, mine office, and wooden storefronts frozen at around 1910. Beyond Custer, the road climbs toward Bonanza and the Jordan Creek drainage before looping back toward Sunbeam.
The road is gravel throughout and passable for most high-clearance rigs, though the upper sections past Custer tighten up and deteriorate into rough two-track suitable for 4WD. The canyon pinches hard in a few spots — watch for rockfall after spring runoff. Dispersed camping is plentiful along the Yankee Fork corridor. No permits required. Fuel up in Challis before heading in — Stanley is closer but not always reliable for diesel. The window from late June through September is the move; snow closes the upper road by October.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 26 mi / 41.8 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7400 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD minimum, 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Challis, ID |
| Land manager | Salmon-Challis National Forest / BLM Challis Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Yankee Fork Road without modifications?
Yes. A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner handles this trail fine. High-clearance 2WD is the stated minimum, but the river crossings and loose gravel sections make 4WD a smarter call, especially earlier in the season.
When does Yankee Fork Road typically open and close each year?
June through September is the reliable window. Snow can linger into late spring above 7,000 feet, and early October storms can close things fast. Check with the Salmon-Challis National Forest or BLM Challis Field Office before heading out if you're pushing the shoulder seasons.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp on Yankee Fork Road?
No permit required to drive the road. Dispersed camping is free on National Forest and BLM land along the route. There is a day-use fee to tour the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge itself if you stop there.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what makes it technical?
Nothing on this trail is extreme, but the water crossings and stretches of loose, rutted gravel near the canyon bottom are where unprepared rigs get into trouble. Depth and flow on the crossings vary a lot by season — early June can push water significantly higher than August.
Is there any gas or resupply between Clayton and Custer, and how far is the nearest fuel?
There is nothing on the trail itself — no gas, no services. Challis is your last real fuel stop, roughly 20 miles from the Clayton trailhead. Top off there and don't count on anything until you're back on pavement.
Trail track
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