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The Lost Gold Trails Loop ventures off the Fort Henry Historic Byway at the “Y” Junction onto County Road A-2. The loop then travels southwest along the desert-lava rolling hill terrain where cattle and wild game peacefully share spring and fall months grazing. Crossing the railroad, which originated the town of “Dry Creek,” now Dubois, and traveling west through town over I-15 overpass on Idaho 22, you connect with Old Highway 91. Turn north on Old Highway 91 and head to Spencer, passing near the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station. This early-day Gold Trail closely follows Beaver Creek towards the Montana gold mines. At Spencer the Gold Trail of yesterday becomes the Opal Trails of today and passes several high grade Opal Shops within the original Wood Livestock town site. Leaving Spencer, the trail heads east to Idmon. This early day Nez Perce Trail has spurs off of its main roadway to private opal mines, Caribou-Targhee Forest fishing and primitive camping areas, and an old cemetery, connecting again to the Fort Henry Historic Byway at the old Idmon town site.

  • Location

    Begins on A-2 at the “Y” Junction, west of Dubois, routing to Old Highway 91 north of Dubois, to Spencer, and then trailing east on Spencer/Idmon road connecting to A-2 and the Fort Henry Historic Byway.
  • Length

    47.8 miles. Allow 1.5 hours.
  • Roadway

    Two-lane roadway, no mountain passes. “Y” on A-2 to Dubois and Old Highway 91 Dubois to Spencer paved. Spencer/Idmon 3 miles paved, 11 miles gravel.
  • When to see it

    Dubois to Spencer open year around. Highway A-2 “Y” to Dubois and Spencer/Idmon road closed through winter. Closed roads in winter become snowmobile trails.
  • Special attractions

    Heritage Hall, Civil Defense Cave, Historic Dubois Hotel, U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, Medicine Lodge travertine mines, Wood Livestock Rock House, Beaver Canyon, Nez Perce Trail, Spencer opal shops and mines.
  • Camping

    Stoddard Forest Service Campground, Stoddard Creek Campground, Steel Creek campground (minimum facilities).
  • Services

    Full services in Dubois. Partial services in Spencer.
  • Whom to call

    City of Dubois
    (208) 374-5241
    Clark County Courthouse
    (208) 374-5304
    Dubois Ranger District
    (208) 374-5422
    Byway Information
    (208) 374-5330