Wildcat Gulch

Turning on Grimes Creek Road from Highway 21, also called the Ponderosa Pines Scenic Route, to the right is a sign for Wildcat Gulch. Wildcat Gulch will also take you to Centerville Road and then onto Idaho City, like Grimes Creek. But instead of taking through the valley on a wide easy road, Wildcat Gulch goes up the mountain and across the ridgelines, giving you a completely different experience...

When to go: Summer and Fall typically offer the best window.

Vehicles: Jeep/Truck, SUV. Standard maintenance and a spare tire cover the basics here.

Southwest Idaho context

Southwest Idaho splits across the Snake River. South of the river is Owyhee high desert — sage flats, slickrock canyons, and a million-plus acres of BLM. North is the Boise National Forest, with mining-era roads, ponderosa, and quick out-of-Boise access. Most weekend trips work off Boise, Mountain Home, Marsing, or McCall.

Best for drivers who understand their vehicle and the cost of a mistake in remote country.