Getting Oriented
Yankee Fork Road begins at Sunbeam, Idaho, on Highway 75 between Stanley and Challis, and runs north up the Yankee Fork tributary of the Salmon River. The road parallels the river through the Salmon-Challis National Forest, climbing from about 6,200 feet at the highway to 6,500 feet at Custer. Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, run by Idaho State Parks, manages the historic structures at Bonanza, Custer, and the dredge.
Trail Overview
Twenty-five miles of graded gravel, out-and-back. The road is a county route at the lower end and transitions to Forest Service maintenance further up. The surface accommodates passenger cars in dry conditions, though the gravel washboards in the dry months and potholes after rain. Most drivers run it in two to three hours including stops at the dredge and Custer townsite.
Points of Interest
- Sunbeam Hot Springs. A roadside hot spring on Highway 75 just west of the Yankee Fork turnoff, where soakers route river water into hand-built rock pools.
- Yankee Fork Gold Dredge. A 988-ton bucket-line dredge built in 1940 that worked the Yankee Fork through 1953 and recovered roughly $11 million in gold and silver. Land of the Yankee Fork State Park runs guided tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Bonanza ghost town. Founded 1877. A few cabins and the Boot Hill cemetery remain.
- Custer ghost town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Seven contributing structures and a small interpretive museum staffed in summer.
- Loon Creek and Crofoot Creek Trailheads. Foot and stock access into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness on the upper reaches of the road.
Where to Camp
Dispersed camping is permitted on Salmon-Challis National Forest land along the road with the standard 14-day stay limit. Developed campgrounds nearby include Mormon Bend and Basin Creek on Highway 75, plus Flat Rock Campground a few miles up the Yankee Fork itself.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- The dredge and Custer townsite are open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Outside that window the road is open but the structures are locked.
- Snow closes the upper road from late November through April.
- Watch for cattle on the lower five miles, which crosses open range.
- Top off fuel in Stanley, 13 miles west, or in Challis, 45 miles east. There are no services on the Yankee Fork.
- The road continues past Custer as the Custer Motorway, a steeper, narrower historic stage route. Treat that as a separate, more demanding drive.
