ClearWater Mountains, Daytrip, Dogs, Easy, Grove, Hikers, Hiking, Loop, Nation Natural Landmark, None required, St. Joe National Forest

Hobo Botanical Loop

Posted by Markus Klaeui on
This loop is a short walk among giant cedars that survived both the 1910 Great Burn and the extensive logging that occurred at the beginning of the twentieth century. Sited on a 240-acre plot in the Marble Creek drainage, the trail was designated a Nation Natural Landmark in 1980. It consists of 2 intertwined loops, of which the shorter not even half a mile and the larger about twice that.
Location
  • Clearwater Mountains
Rating
2.9 out of 5
Difficulty
Easy (but some uphill hiking)
Distance
1.2 miles
Duration
0:27 hours moving time (Hiking)
Elevation Gain
184 feet
High Point
4,504 feet (Trailhead)
Low Point
4,249 feet (Northernmost tip approaching West Fork Hobo Creek)
Features
  • Grove
    • Outing Type
  • Daytrip
    • Trail Type
  • Loop
    • Trailbed
    Packed dirt
    Trail#
    255
    Water
  • A small brook at the east end of the loop
    • Camping
    • Pit toilets and 6 picnic tables are at the trailhead
    Conditions
    • Excellent
    Administration
  • St. Joe National Forest
    • Status
  • Nation Natural Landmark
    • Maps
    USGS
  • Grandmother Mountain
    • Fees & Permits
  • None required
    • ()
    Open To
  • Hikers
  • Dogs
    • ()
    Directions
  • From St. Maries, head east on the St. Joe River Road for about 33 miles, then turn right onto Marble Creek Road #321. You may want to stop at the Marble Creek Interpretive Site, right at the turnoff (toilets, infos, drinking water). Continue on FR-321 for 20 miles (a decent gravel road; expect some washboarding and a few potholes) to Hobo Pass. Turn left onto FR-335 and continue for ~2 miles to the signed trailhead. There is plenty of parking, a pit toilet and picnic sites at the trailhead. Alternatively, you can get to the trailhead via Clarkia, also on FR-321 (this is probably faster).
    • Season
    May – November
    Date
    August 30, 2021

    The trail moves among the cedars, many of which are hundreds of years old and appear to float on a bed of lady fern. A series of placards are found along the shorter, upper loop, as well as a bench.

    Alternate Routes

      Things to Consider

        Not so great

          Giant red cedar
          A fallen giant
          Red cedars surrounded by ferns
          The trail is in great condition
          A small brook abuts the eastern side of the trail
          A bench awaits the weary
          Some of the tree are hundreds of years old and have a rotten core
          Naughty in front of a gnarly cedar
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