🍂 Final Backpack of the Year: Third Fork Rock Creek Loop — Cassia Mountains

A mandatory pre-trip meeting is required to attend. Please sign up here for the pretrip meeting here:

Event description:

Located about two hours from Boise, the Cassia Mountains (also known as the South Hills) offer a unique high-desert microclimate and a beautiful, underexplored corner of Idaho. Expect rolling grasslands, flowing streams, birds such as Lazuli buntings and yellow warblers, and high plateaus dotted with fascinating volcanic formations. This is a special place, and I think you’ll enjoy exploring it!
Typically, backpacking season winds down by November, but the Cassia Mountains can offer opportunities for late-season adventures. We’ll embrace the cooler temperatures, enjoy the quiet landscape, and make the most of our last backpacking trip of the year!

## 🥾 The Plan

We’ll meet at the historic Rock Creek General Store before driving a short distance to the Third Fork campground where the trailhead is located.
From there, we’ll hike into the Rock Creek drainage and look for a suitable campsite (see Caltopo map). After setting up camp, we’ll enjoy the surroundings and prepare for our loop hike. The route offers a mix of open high-desert terrain, forested sections, canyon scenery, and creek-side hiking. The next day, there are some nearby short day hikes we can explore if the group has time and energy.

Trail Stats

• Distance: Approximately 9 miles round trip (loop)
• Elevation gain: Approximately 2,000 feet
• Difficulty: Level II out of 5
• Location: Cassia Mountains / South Hills, Idaho
• Drive time: Approximately 2 hours from Boise

Idaho Hikers & Backpackers rates trips based on the experience and physical ability needed to complete them. This is a Level II trip, suitable for hikers who are comfortable carrying an overnight backpack and covering the planned distance. Please review our difficulty ratings and make sure this trip is a good fit for you

## 📍 Explore the Route

• Third Fork Rock Creek Loop — AllTrails
• Backpacking Idaho: A Guide to the State’s Best Backpacking Adventures — see page 267.
• Hansen–Wahlstrom Hollow Trail 238
• Caltopo

## 🧤 Late-Fall Gear Recommendations

November backpacking can be beautiful, but cold temperatures, ice, and early-season snow are possible. Come prepared for changing conditions.
Required and recommended gear:

• Sleeping bag: A 20°F-rated sleeping bag; consider adding liner for additional warmth.
• Warm layers: Bring adequate insulating layers, a warm hat, and gloves.
• Micro-spikes ( not Yaktrax): Bring these in case we encounter icy or snow-covered sections, particularly in the forested, canyon, and creek-side portions of the loop.
• Hunter orange: Wear an orange hat or attach an orange item to your backpack. It is hunting season in Idaho, and wearing visible orange is strongly recommended.
• Trekking poles
• Standard overnight backpacking gear: Tent or shelter, sleeping pad, food, water treatment, headlamp, and the other essentials on our fall backpacking checklist.

Bear precautions are generally not a concern in this area because it lacks an established bear population. However, always practice good food storage and wildlife awareness.
Please review these resources before the trip:

• Fall backpacking gear list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JWJEWdB8O4bNiUKA54nqPexdVIFsMeQi3f4SzpXdwuQ/edit?usp=sharing
• Tips for fall trips: https://youtu.be/p4YXOd-NrW4?si=Ti0UWOfZX8Nl7Ibs

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## 🌄 Let's Close Out the Season!

Join us for one last overnight adventure before winter settles in. This is a chance to explore a lesser-known part of Idaho, enjoy some late-fall scenery, and share a night outdoors with fellow uphill athletes.
As always, come prepared, be flexible with changing weather, and bring a sense of adventure. Let’s finish the backpacking season strong!

Release of liability
I understand that during my participation in this Outing, I may be exposed to risks and hazards, foreseen or unforeseen, which are inherent and cannot be eliminated without diminishing the Outing.
These inherent risks include, but are not limited to, the dangers of serious personal injury, property damage, and death (“Injuries and Damages”) from exposure to the hazards of travel, location, and weather.
I agree that the Organizer (s) has not tried to contradict or minimize my understanding of these risks. I know that Injuries and Damages can occur by natural causes or activities of other persons, animals, trip members, trip leaders or third parties, either as a result of negligence or because of other reasons. I understand that risks of such Injuries are involved in adventure travel such as this Outing and I accept that I must exercise extra care for my own person and for others around me in the face of such hazards.
I understand that on this Outing there may not be rescue or medical facilities or expertise necessary to deal with the Injuries to which I may be exposed.
To the fullest extent allowed by law, I agree to WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY the Organizer from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by the negligence of the Organizer or other participants in any way connected with this Outing. I further agree to HOLD HARMLESS the Organizer (s) from any claims, losses, Injuries and Damages caused by my own negligence while a participant on the Outing.
I understand and intend that this assumption of risk and release is binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns. I have read the Outing description and this Release of Liability in its entirety and I freely and voluntarily assume all risks of such Injuries and notwithstanding such risks, I agree to participate in the Outing. I have read, I understand, and I agree to this Release of Liability by signing up as