Idaho trails · Soldier Basin
A 13.7-mile out-and-back in Idaho, with 3,377 ft of climbing. Reaches Soldier Lakes and other lake/waterfall destinations. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Most of the climbing sits in the first third — 72% of the ascent, between mile 0.0 and mile 4.6. It gives back about 2,920 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
Soldier Basin access — parking nearby. 44.55011, -115.14237 · directions
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:31 a.m., the sun rises at 7:01 a.m. and sets at 8:19 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 8:49 p.m. (MDT) — 13 h 17 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 27.3-mile round trip works out to roughly 13 h 30 min of walking — more than a single day of daylight here, so plan it as an overnight or hike it in sections.