What uses are allowed?
The short answer is that a wide variety of trail uses are allowed on the Idaho Centennial Trail in the high desert portion of the trail in southern Idaho, and on the alternative routes of the trail. But much of the Idaho Centennial Trail is designated as non-motorized singletrack open only to hiking and stock use in national forest wilderness areas or pristine roadless areas. So if you wish to travel the entire trail in one summer, using only one mode of transportation, it would be best to either hike the trail, ride horseback, or take llamas or pack goats.* Some people have traveled the Centennial Trail using a variety of recreation modes in different sections. In the southern portion of the trail on Bureau of Land Management lands, for example, one could travel the trail via foot, stock use, mountain bike, motorcycle, ATV or even a 4-wheel-drive. In that area, with vehicle support, or a “sag wagon,” in bicycling parlance, a driver could carry the camping gear while a person hiked, mountain biked or rode a motorcycle or ATV on the trail. As the Centennial Trail moves north of the Snake River and into the Boise National Forest, the trail morphs into singletrack and remains singletrack for 500-plus miles. The alternative sections of the ICT provide opportunities for mountain biking and trail machines in the eastern side of the Sawtooths, and in the western alternative route around the wilderness areas. Check on the trail tread before you make a final choice. In some cases, you may travel on a 4WD road, two track primitive roads or singletrack. You may want to check with a local land management agency about what uses are allowed in the case of singletrack. Click here for information on how to contact the BLM or Forest Service.
Special Limitation:
*There is one, short section of the Centennial Trail in the Selkirk Mountain Range in the Idaho Panhandle that would not be passable for horses, pack goats or llamas because it is a large rock boulder field with no trail tread. The rest of the route should be passable to horseback riders, pack goats or llamas.