How to get to Clear Creek and the Red Mountain Trailhead:

Go to Lowman, Idaho on State Highway 21. About 1 mile past the South Fork Lodge (east) look for Forest Service Road 582. This is the Clear Creek Road and it's a dirt road. Follow Road 582 for 12 miles. Turn onto Forest Service Road 515, the Red Mountain Road. Go 5 miles to the end of the road. This is the trailhead for the Clear Creek Trail. It's a 3-mile hike to the end of the trail where it intersects the Kirkham Ridge Trail. Or, you can turn off the trail after about a mile and hike to Red Mountain.

For more information, call the Lowman Ranger Station at 373-7500.

To get to Tripod Lookout:

Drive north on State Highway 55 to Smith's Ferry. It's about an hour and a half drive from Boise. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 644 (from here all the roads are dirt!) Go about 2 miles and turn right on to Forest Road 626. Go 7.5 miles and look for Forest Service Road 614 on the right. (Road 614 will go around the east side of Sage Hen Reservoir.) Go a little more than four miles to Forest Service Road 622 - it's a road between Antelope campground and Sagehen campground. Follow Road 622 all the way to the end, about 4 miles. The trailhead is at the end of the road. Hike up the Joe's Creek Trail #137 about 1.75 miles. Look for a trail going off to the left and Tripod Peak. It's trail #140. After you get on the trail, it's less than a half-mile to the lookout.

For more information, call the Emmett Ranger Station at 373-7600.

To get official Boise National Forest Maps:

They are available at the Visitor's Center in Boise at 1387 S. Vinnell Way. You can also get them at Forest Service Ranger Stations in Mountain Home, Idaho City, Lowman, Cascade and Emmett.