Idaho BDR: A Moderate Dual-Sport Crossing with Real Remote Miles

The Magruder Corridor alone is about 120 miles with no services, and that's only one section of the Idaho BDR. RideBDR's fifth route runs from Jarbidge, Nevada, to Porthill, Idaho, near the Canadian border, crossing some of the most remote national forest country in the Lower 48 on dirt and gravel roads, not singletrack.

The route at a glance

Per RideBDR's IDBDR page, the current map is the Fourth Edition, dated April 2024. The route has nine sections of roughly 111, 156, 93, 205, 178, 150, 127, 106 and 102 miles, and RideBDR suggests eight to ten days. Those sections add up to the 1,228 miles in RideBDR's route description, while the FAQ on the same page says over 1,250 miles, so plan on the longer figure once side trips and fuel detours are in. RideBDR puts Idaho in its moderate group with the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast routes. Moderate here means remote rather than technical, and that remoteness is the main thing to plan for.

The famous sections

The Magruder Corridor (Forest Road 468) is the best-known stretch. RideBDR says it runs about 120 miles with no services, takes five to six hours without stops, and is typically open only from July through September. The road surface isn't particularly hard in the dry, but there are very few people around if something goes wrong. Further north comes the Lolo Motorway (Forest Road 500), which follows the route the Nez Perce used to reach the Great Plains and Lewis and Clark used in 1805. RideBDR calls it not particularly challenging but very remote, with limited bailouts. Other highlights it lists include Burgdorf Hot Springs, Trinity Lakes, the old railroad tunnels near Avery and the historic silver mining town of Wallace.

When to go

RideBDR says July through October is the best window, if no early snowstorms have hit, and that in some years snow hasn't cleared from the high country until the last week of July. The Magruder's July-to-September window is a good guide to how short the high-country season is. Hunting season starts in October, so expect more traffic on forest roads and wear bright gear. Idaho also gets fast-moving afternoon thunderstorms in summer, with lightning, hail and heavy rain, per RideBDR.

Elevation is one place RideBDR's own page disagrees with itself. Its Section 3 description has the route crossing Elk Summit at 8,670 feet, while its FAQ says the highest point, also Elk Summit, reaches nearly 8,200 feet. Either way, be ready for cold mornings even in August.

Planning the days

Section lengths range from about 93 miles to about 205 miles, and RideBDR says most riders average about 150 miles a day on a backcountry trip. The two longest sections, at roughly 205 and 178 miles back to back in the middle of the route, are full days on gravel, especially with photo stops and fuel planning. The Magruder alone takes five to six hours, so don't plan anything else big that day. RideBDR suggests adding time to the eight to ten days for the history along the way, and most groups build in at least one rest or weather day too.

Fuel and range

The longest fuel gap is about 131 miles, from Burgdorf Hot Springs to Elk City, according to RideBDR's FAQ, which says Burgdorf normally has gas and Riggins is the backup if it's out. Check before you count on it: the Burgdorf Hot Springs listing on the same page currently says no gas is available. RideBDR also notes that stations along the route only carry low-octane fuel. That's beyond the comfortable range of many stock dual-sport tanks, so plan on an auxiliary tank or fuel bottles and fill up every time you can.

Lodging, camping and communication

Hotels are fewer than on other BDRs, and RideBDR recommends booking ahead because small towns have limited beds. Camping is plentiful, in official campgrounds and primitive backcountry sites. RideBDR says Verizon has more coverage than AT&T along the route, though long stretches have no signal at all. A satellite messenger is worth carrying, especially through the Magruder.

Wildlife

Idaho is home to grizzly and black bears, moose, elk, wolves and mountain lions, per RideBDR, which flags the northern sections around Wallace and Clark Fork as grizzly country. Carry bear spray where you can reach it and store food properly at camp.

Legal routes and current conditions

Fire closures and washouts can change the route in any season. Check RideBDR's route updates and download fresh tracks before you go. On national forest land, the forest's Motor Vehicle Use Map shows what's legal for motor vehicles. Our MVUM guide explains how to read one.

Idaho Parks and Recreation says every motorbike, ATV, UTV or specialty off-highway vehicle operated on public or private land must carry a certificate of number sticker, renewed each January 1, and the fees pay for trail maintenance and safety courses. Its page doesn't spell out how that applies to a plated dual-sport on forest roads, so check with the department before you go. Idaho also has its own state roadless rule, separate from the national rule USDA has proposed to rescind. Our roadless story explains why that matters.

Idaho next to the Eastern BDRs

If you're comfortable riding all day on loose gravel, carrying extra fuel and camping, the IDBDR is one of the great Western trips, and RideBDR's FAQ calls it an easier route than Utah or Arizona while warning of ruts, loose rock, sand and roads that turn impassable when wet. If you'd rather have motels and shorter fuel gaps, the Mid-Atlantic BDR is the Eastern option in the same moderate group.

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