Should You Take Trail Creek Road (Idaho)? Why I Quit the Drive Halfway
Trail Creek Road isn’t often recommended on Google Maps, and for good reason. This 40-mile road is notorious for its potholes and steep dropoffs.
My local hosts in Mackay told me it could be a shortcut to Ketchum/Sun Valley, so I decided to give it a try. I never made it to my hiking trailhead and had to turn back. Here’s what I wish I knew about Trail Creek Road before I made the drive.
Trail Creek Road: Quick Facts
- Trail Creek Road is a mostly-unpaved, gravel road often used to go between Ketchum/Sun Valley and Mackay, Idaho
- The road is 40 miles on Google Maps even though some sources claim it’s 80
- In the winter, the road is covered in snow and is closed
My Experience Driving Trail Creek Road in Fall/Winter
I tried driving Trail Creek Road at the end of October 2023, and it had snowed a few days ago, but the roads around Mackay were clear.
I was in a small rental sedan, which was probably my very first problem. Had I had a larger car with a four-wheel-drive, I think I might’ve been able to make it.
The first 10 miles or so were actually paved, and it was smooth sailing. I thought people had been making a big deal of how gnarly the road was. I was wrong.
Pretty quickly, the paved road turned into gravel and became potholes galore. I was gripping the steering wheel so tightly and gritting my teeth.
I thought I could make it through slowly, but then the climate changed rapidly when I reached the mountains/forest, and the road became icy. I stopped to get some photos because it was so darn pretty.
When I got back in the car to go up a small hill, the car started sliding and I was unable to control it in the ice/snow. I decided to turn back, but there was no space to turn around, so I had to back up precariously down the icy hill.
Somehow, I made it after a TON of sweating and a good 15 or so minutes of backing up down a tiny, narrow hill. I had to let at least a car or two pass all in the middle of this.
I was so grateful I managed to make it out of the situation on my own, especially since there was no signal along most of Trail Creek Road. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten help except waiting for someone to come along who might not have stopped or been able to help.
Tips for Driving Trail Creek Road
I personally would not attempt Trail Creek Road again, but there are some conditions where I think it’s more drivable. They are:
- Going only when there’s no snow on the roads. If there’s not much snow on the surrounding mountain ranges, the road is more likely to be clear.
- Taking a 4WD. My mistake was going in a small sedan. Even if the road was clear, it would be way too uncomfortable and probably unsafe to do the whole drive in a small car. If you’re planning to do hikes in the area, having a 4WD also helps you get to gnarlier trailheads.
- Having a plan in case something goes wrong. Tell someone beforehand who could come help you out if you do get stuck.
Safe travels, and let us know if you have additional tips/experiences driving on this road!