more stats
2.1 miles
Distance
1,071 ft
Climb
-44 ft
Descent
01:16:28
Avg time
1,027 ft
Altitude change
7,198 ft
Altitude min
8,266 ft
Altitude max
7,222 ft
Altitude start
8,251 ft
Altitude end
9.3%
Grade
-10.8%
Grade max
40.2%
Grade min
2 miles
Distance climb
1,132 ft
Distance down
374 ft
Distance flat
01:16:28
Avg time

Mill Lake Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Dirtbike/Moto
  • Riding Area
    Prairie/Miner
    Ketchum, Idaho
  • Ref Number
    #136
  • AKA
    7136
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    20 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 55 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
    • 5 in Dirtbiking
    • 5 in Horseback
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #324066 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #362579 in Trail Running
    • #31188 in Hiking
    • #15121 in Dirtbiking
    • #24780 in Horseback
    • #33741 in Winter Fat Biking
  • State Ranking
    #2,490 in Mountain Biking · Idaho [+]
    • #2,823 in Trail Running
    • #208 in Hiking
    • #2,078 in Dirtbiking
    • #859 in Horseback
    • #345 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    • Both Directions for E-Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Season
    5/1-11/30
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    Sawtooth National Recreation Area

In 2020 the access to the trail was moved to the trailhead at the end of Prairie Creek Road.

Mill Lake Trail is open to motorcycles and e-bikes from May 1 through Nov. 30 of each year.

The #136 Trail is a nice path to Mill Lake. The lake formed , which formed when water backing up behind a large landslide deposit. The lake's water drains directly into and beneath a half-mile of rocky debris, which explains the lack of an outlet stream. The lake slowly drains throughout the summer leaving exposed sand and mud flats for late-summer visitors. In mid-summer wildflowers along sections of the creek are often bountiful.

source: BCRD
Access Info

Head north from Ketchum on Hwy 75.. Prairie Creek Road is about 18 miles north of town. Turn left and follow the dirt Prairie Creek Road for 2.6 miles to its end at to the Prairie Creek Trailhead (2.6 mi).

For addition al information contact the Sawtooth National Recreation Area by visiting their headquarters and visitors center, which is on the east side of Hwy 75 and about 8 miles north of Ketchum. You can phone the SNRA Headquarters and Visitors Center at (208) 727-5000.

Tags
LakeMeadowWildflowers

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 5 miles avg distance
All
  • 2 rides
  • Last: Aug 21, 2026
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Mill Lake Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Oct 30, 2025 @ 2:18pm (America/Boise)
Oct 30, 2025
Snow covered. Will not melt until next spring.
Nov 19, 2024 @ 9:21am
Nov 19, 2024
Snow covered. Will not melt until next spring.
Jul 14, 2024 @ 8:19pm
Jul 14, 2024
Couple down trees. One about .5 mile from the bottom, the second nearing the top.
Jun 21, 2024 @ 12:53pm
Jun 21, 2024
dry, has not been maintained yet this year
Jan 16, 2024 @ 9:20am
Jan 16, 2024
more »
Status:
on Oct 30, 2025
Snow Covered
no votes yet
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to mill-lake trailhead (43.802480, -114.645010)

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      77 |
      May 23, 2020 @ 5:36pm
      May 23, 2020

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      1 Review & Comments

      ddup ddup
      Details
      Status: Partial
      Difficulty: Intermediate
      Uses: Mt Biking & Hiking & Equestrian & Motorcycle & eBikes
      Length: 2.1 miles
      Start: 7,247'
      End: 8,242'
      Min: 7,183'
      Max: 8,281'
      Gain: 1,128'
      Loss: -132'

      We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

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      • By jandashetlerTF Pro & contributors
      • #54949 - 1,988 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Mill Lake located?
      Mill Lake is located in Prairie/Miner, Ketchum, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Prairie/Miner trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 43.80248, -114.64501.
      ▼ How hard is Mill Lake?
      Mill Lake is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 9.3%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Mill Lake?
      Mill Lake has 1,071 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 44 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,198 ft to 8,266 ft.
      ▼ Is Mill Lake a point to point trail?
      Mill Lake is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Mill Lake?
      Mill Lake is 2.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Mill Lake?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Mill Lake. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Mill Lake?
      Mill Lake is best visited during: 5/1-11/30.
      ▼ How do I access Mill Lake? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Mill Lake are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Mill Lake?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 hour 16 minutes to ride Mill Lake. The trail is 2.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Mill Lake?
      Mill Lake is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 39 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 68 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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