City of Rocks National Reserve
Double Loop to Boxtop

City of Rocks in an amazing place to go for a hike. Frequently as you walk you can see miles away but not see the next 30 feet, as the trail often winds through tight rock formations and short sections of heavy foliage.

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The day I explored City of Rocks, the air was blue sky cool and the trees were hinting at fall colors to come. There were moments of heat in the more dense rock and tree sections, and then the trail would lead to an overlook and I would revel in the cooling breeze.

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This is one of my favorite hikes - it's novel, it's quiet, and it's truly beautiful!

Approach

From Almo Idaho, head south along the Elba-Almo Rd. 1.0 miles to the City of Rocks Rd.

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Turn right on the City of Rocks Rd. and head west 5.4 miles to the parking lot for Bath Rock. Note that the last couple of miles of road are not paved.

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There is a fee to park, which can be paid at a self-serve kiosk at the Bath Rock parking area.

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Coordinates for the hike: 42.0759520,-113.7212200

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Parking / Trailhead amenities

The dirt parking lot is large and level. There are clean pit toilets and a water faucet in the parking lot. Adjacent to the parking lot are a campground and several informational kiosks.

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Trail observations

The trail leaves from the left side of the parking lot as you are facing away from Bath Rock.

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The trail is mostly either ascending or descending. The trail surface is mostly dirt with a few rock crossings - though the trail is only single file, it's easy to walk on and is in good shape.

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The trail markings are a little hard to fathom till you realize that most times the names are referring to a spot to climb and not to a trail. Once you realize that, things start to make sense - sort of...

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Luckily there are not a whole lot of volunteer trails that go very far, so trail finding shouldn't be too big an issue.

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Bring lots of water - it's dry and hot in the sheltered and lower sections of trail, and there is a lot of uphill climbing.

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Trail statistics

The trail is 4.38 miles long. The sum of all the uphill climbs is 335 feet.

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Trail waypoints

0.09 mi	Parking	Parking
0.10 mi	Trailhead	Trailhead
0.19 mi	Go right	Branch - stay right (map)
0.26 mi	Go straight	Go straight to follow the SFCC trail
0.29 mi	Steps	Trail heading down steps
0.60 mi	Bridge - go right	Bridge - cross, then go right along the SFCC trail to Bumblie
0.74 mi	Slabbage sign	Side trail to Slabbage
0.77 mi	Go left	Junction - go left toward Bumblie and Lost Arrow
0.85 mi	Tee - left	Tee - Head left towards Lost arrow
1.13 mi	Gate	Go through the gate
1.29 mi	Lady J sign	Side trail to Lady J
1.49 mi	Cross, then right	Cross the bridge, then stay right alongside the creek bed
1.60 mi	Go straight	Intersection - go straight
1.66 mi	Sharp right	Branch - sharp right towards Boxtop
1.81 mi	Stay right	Branch - stay right (Sign for Striped Rock and Lost Arrow)
2.00 mi	Gate	Go through the gate
2.08 mi	Boxtop signpost	Sidetrail to Boxtop
2.38 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left
2.43 mi	Go right	Branch - head right along the South Fork Circle Creek trail
2.81 mi	Go straight	Stay on SFCC towards Bumblie and Lost Arrow
2.89 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left (map)
2.91 mi	Stay right	Branch - stay right on the SFCC trail towards Slabbage
3.12 mi	Return - Stay on SFCC	On return, don't cross bridge. Stay on SFCC towards parking lot.
3.18 mi	Bridge	Bridge
3.57 mi	Left and up	Cross the bridge and go left and up (Drillng fields sign)
3.61 mi	Redtail sign	Redtail signpost - stay on SFCC trail
3.64 mi	Bridge	Bridge
3.66 mi	Go left	Unsigned junction - go left
3.70 mi	Go right	Branch - stay right
3.73 mi	Tee - left	Tee - go left towards Creekside Towers and Bath Rock (map)
3.75 mi	Creekside towers sign	Creekside Towers sign
3.80 mi	The Office sign	The Office, Creekside towers sign
4.06 mi	Go right	Intersection - go right (Closet, Creekside towers signpost)
4.08 mi	Head right	Branch - head right towards Bath Rock
4.19 mi	Return - go right	On return head right and up
4.38 mi	End of trail	End of trail