Driving Directions


To Yellow Pine
ALLOW 4 HOURS as all routes involve travel on dirt roads.
Directions: Travel Highway 55 to Cascade. Fill your gas tank in Cascade or McCall and prepare for another two hours of travel. Just north of Cascade downtown, across the bridge, note the yellow Harmonica Contest sign!... Turn east here for routes 1 and 2 below (or head east from McCall - north of Cascade - for route 3). (Traveling from the north? - just focus on the Cascade starting point.)

-- Road Closed due to flooding -- (1) South Fork Road - paved, scenic route along the South Fork of the Salmon River. The best route for motor homes, but it is narrow and winding; takes about half an hour longer than route 2, which parallels it farther east. Turn left shortly after passing the tourist information sign before you get to the Warm Lake Lodge. Travel 32 miles, then turn right onto the 17 miles of dirt/gravel road to Yellow Pine (this is the broad highway of dirt roads! - comparatively flat and wide, and just a little curvy). - Road Closed due to flooding -

(2) Johnson Creek/Landmark route - follow above directions, pass the South Fork turnoff, keep going up the steep and winding road past Warm Lake Lodge to Warm Lake summit. (Your vehicle is going to have to be in good climbing/descending shape for this section of road! Includes a 9.5 mile constant grade of 10% to 12%. If towing, this will severely test all but the stoutest of tow rigs! You'll note the 2007 fire damage... It is greening up!) About two miles past the summit, turn left onto the 25 miles of dirt/gravel road that follows Johnson Creek to Yellow Pine (a good unpaved road, but there are a few narrow and steep sections with not many pull-outs - USE LOW GEARS!; and there may be some washboarding).

(3) Lick Creek Road - a 50 mile mostly-dirt road: McCall to Yellow Pine is 2 hours. Ask in McCall for directions to the golf course in the northwest part of town, go past the golf course to the Lick Creek Road sign. Much of this is fairly rough, twisty, and steep and is not advised for trailers, motor homes or low-slung cars, but it is very beautiful (if fire-touched).

-- Be sure to gas up your vehicle either in Cascade or McCall! --

(4) Points East - If you are coming from Twin Falls or areas East of Twin, there is a shorter, quicker route that involves traveling through Stanley. It will also include the last 70 miles immediately preceding Yellow Pine to be generally good condition Forest Service dirt roads. Towing is also easily done over the dirt sections, and they do go through beautiful country. We would advise anyone interested in this route to Google or Mapquest their specific route for details. And gas up in Stanley!