South Hills Cross Country Ski TRails Maintained by the High Desert Nordic Association (HDNA) on the Sawtooth National Forest
The trails are located about 28 miles south of Hansen, Idaho, near Magic Mountain Ski Area. About 20 miles of trails are maintained, and about 6 miles are groomed occasionally for classic style Nordic skiing. Snowshoers are welcome; hovever, please snowshoe to one side of the ski track. Dogs are allowed, but please keep the trail clean for other users. Please preserve the ski track! A good trail for multi-use and for beginners is the Rogerson road, beginning across the Rock Creek road from the Magic Mountain Lodge and heading north, as it is wide and has restricted snowmobile use only for access to the private cabins.
If you are new to the trails, we recommend contacting an HDNA member. Some new trails are being evaluated and have been flagged with temporary orange tape. The trails can be used to access many off-trail slopes or backcountry tours. Avalanche danger is generally low, but off-trail skiers should have avalanche awareness and route finding skills. If you encounter fallen trees blocking trails, or have other concerns, please contact an HDNA member. Recent snowfall and temperature information is posted on the USDA-NRCS website. See link below.
Wahlstrom Hollow: A parking turnout is found about a mile north of the Magic Mountain Ski Area. The trailhead is on the east side of the road. This trail is not groomed and is recommended for more advanced skiers. Marker signs or posts are placed at turns and in open areas. Skiing counterclockwise around the main 4 mile loop, you will climb to the top of the ridge, cross it, then descend through a wooded hollow, before turning to climb over the ridge and return along open slopes to the trailhead. The Wahlstrom North loop extends the trail into a scenic valley to the north. The combined loops total nearly seven miles. An unmarked connector trail joins the Wahlstrom trailhead to the Penstemon trail on the west side of the road.
Penstemon: Park at the ski area or at a turnout liss than 1/4 mile north of the lodge. This trail is groomed and is for beginning to intermediate skiers. Trail leads through the Upper Penstemon campground before following an up-and-down route that leads to the Rogerson road. Skiers may turn left and follow the road back to the ski area or turn right and follow the road for 1/2 mile to the Thompson Creek Trailhead. This loop is 3.2 miles and the road is shared with snowmobiles operating between the Lodge and the private cabin area.
Thompson Creek (formerly Upper Penstemon): Not groomed, but clearly marked, the trail contours the east side of Buckskin Ridge and enters the Thompson Creek drainage where it provides access to the HDNA backcountry hut and off-trail areas to ski. The Thompson Creek loop starts above the beaver ponds. The round trip from the Lodge is about 8 miles. Other less well-marked or unmarked routes offer rewards for adventurous backcountry skiers. The Rim View Loop contours around a scenic ridge east of the hut. A trail leading north from the hut accesses open terrain all the way to Grandview Peak to the north.
Rock Creek: The trailhead is located near the base of the main chairlift. This groomed trail is suitable for beginning and intermediate skiers. The counterclockwise direction follows a roadway on a 400-foot climb through the trees to a junction where the short loop (2mi) drops away to the left. The long loop (3.3mi) continues up to the ridgeline, follows the ridge to the south and descends back along the highway and through Pettit Campground, rejoining the uphill trail 1/4 mile aboue the trailhead.
Pike Spring: This trail is not groomed but is relatively easy. Access this trail from the north end of the snowmobile parking lot, (east sede of the road about a mile abouve the ski area) or by one of the unmarked connector trails from the Rock Creek trail. When crossing the Rock Creek road, please remove your skis and watch for traffic. The 1.7 mile loop winds through the trees, down a draw, and then climbs back to the starting point. Several combination loops can be skied between the Rock Creek and Pike Spring trails.
