We were on an errand this week to return two of our snowmobiles to Bucky’s Outdoors in Pinedale, WY. But hey, we were taking a four-place snowmobile trailer and only two snowmobiles ... what to do with the extra space. Put two Polaris ACEs in there, of course. That we did and on our way back to Idaho Falls, ID, we stopped at Fall Creek near Swan Valley for a short (33 miles) ride on the ACEs.
We chose a 50-inch wide trail and took off, chasing each other through the mountains of eastern Idaho. There was COPIOUS amounts of water everywhere as the rain has been plentiful during the month of May. Some of the water holes on the trails were deep and creek crossings were an adventure.
It was a great day of riding and chasin’ ACEs and the brief rain shower that pelted us didn’t dampen our spirits at all.
Here was our route for the day. You can find it/follow it on www.trails.idaho.gov/trails/ by first finding Swan Valley in eastern Idaho. We turned off U.S. Highway 26 and headed toward Fall Creek. We turned off Snake River Road/Trail No. 076 and headed up Fall Creek Road/Trail No. 077. We unloaded at the trailhead for Trail No. 142 (50-inch wide trail) and took off. We crossed Fall Creek and the trail generally follows Echo Creek for a little way. Farther up 142 we crossed Papoose Creek and then Squaw Creek, staying on the trail until it intersects Trail 141.
We turned north and followed Trail 141 up the mountain before it drops back down to the valley. Just before you get back to Snake River Road/Trail No. 076, you pick up Trail No. 161 for a short distance. We travelled along 076 for a ways, turning off onto 059, a well-maintained road for passenger vehicles. We took that to the end of the road and jumped onto 059, the ATV trail. Eventually it connects with 141 and we then basically retraced our tracks back to the truck.
We did take a side trail—No. 268—which follows Indian Creek up until it turns into a single track and you have to turn around.
With all the rain eastern Idaho has received the past few weeks, portions of the trail were, yes, muddy, but the foliage was like riding in a jungle during some stretches.
