Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Idaho with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 8,042 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Idaho is more mountainous than its neighbors realize — the Sawtooths, Bitterroots, and Lost River Range carry alpine terrain rivaling Colorado in remoteness if not raw elevation. Borah Peak (the state high point) gains 5,500 ft to its summit; Sawtooth and Pioneer routes also stack serious vertical. Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone region (eastern Idaho), forest fires in late summer, and major stream crossings on backcountry routes are the standard concerns.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 8,042 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Idaho — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes
CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Daniel in Sublette County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT -a-XX Continental Divide Trail Misc Alernate Old Routes trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Swiftcurrent Lake/Continental Divide Trail
Swiftcurrent Lake/Continental Divide Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Babb in Glacier County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Swiftcurrent Lake/Continental Divide Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Swiftcurrent Pass/Continental Divide Trail
Swiftcurrent Pass/Continental Divide Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Lake Mc Donald in Flathead County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Swiftcurrent Pass/Continental Divide Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Valley Creek 1300 section of heavey alder
Valley Creek 1300 section of heavey alder ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Frenchtown in Sanders County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. Compared to similar trails in Idaho, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Valley Creek 1300 section of heavey alder trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Highline/Continental Divide Trail
Highline/Continental Divide Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Lake Mc Donald in Flathead County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Highline/Continental Divide Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. East Peak-Aneroid Mountain Trail
East Peak-Aneroid Mountain Trail ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Joseph in Wallowa County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the East Peak-Aneroid Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide
Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Wisdom in Granite County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. South Fork Ross Creek Trail
South Fork Ross Creek Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Heron in Lincoln County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the South Fork Ross Creek Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. CDT fccCM - Chief Mountain Route to Canada
CDT fccCM - Chief Mountain Route to Canada ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Babb in Glacier County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Compared to similar trails in Idaho, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the CDT fccCM - Chief Mountain Route to Canada trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Grandjean Creek Pipe Trail
Grandjean Creek Pipe Trail ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Lowman in Boise County. Expect unpaved surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Grandjean Creek Pipe Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Idaho trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Idaho. July through September is the high-country window; lower-elevation desert hiking (City of Rocks) extends April-October. Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone region (eastern Idaho), forest fires in late summer, and major stream crossings on backcountry routes are the standard concerns.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Idaho hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Idaho coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Idaho — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Idaho — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Idaho — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Idaho — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Idaho — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Idaho — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Idaho — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Idaho last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
