Roberson Trail West Hike

Trail Map | Elevation Profile

This trail, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, provides access in to the steep basalt cliff canyon of the lower Bruneau River. The trail requires good navigation and map-reading skills, as the trail is faint in places, and there are some steep cliffs if you go off-route. The marked trail begins by heading northeast from the road in to a gully. The trailhead is about a 2 hour drive from Boise, and the hike from the trailhead to the river takes ½ to 1 hour. 

Directions: Take Hwy 51 south to the town of Bruneau, turning left/east on Hot Springs Road (unmarked) at the One Stop Café. Reset trip odometer immediately. 

00.0 Hot Springs Road at Hwy 51.
7.5 Right/west over bridge.
8.2 Left/south onto unmarked CCC Road.
13.7 Left/southeast onto unmarked Blackstone/Grasmere Road
19.8 Left/east onto unmarked road.
21.1 Park. 

Navigating the Trail: 0.62 miles, 680’ vertical elevation change one way. 

• Head northeast along top of rim to a break in the rimrock. 
• Descend to the northeast, following the trail markers. 
• Turn south as the trail follows a “break” in the cliff wall.
• Continue as the trail switchbacks down to the valley floor. Watch out for poison ivy near the river.