Marble Creek trail sign
Tom Klein has been an SBFC volunteer for many years. He’s an avid hiker and trail runner and professor at Idaho State University in Pocatello. He has seen the trail in Marble Creek come back to life since 2016 when he first visited. We asked him to share some of his experiences and his advice for people who are curious about exploring this very wild part of the Frank.
SBFC: How many trips have you taken on the Marble Creek Trail?
Tom K: I have been back to Marble Creek 5 times now, which is hard to believe, given how remote it is.
SBFC: What year did you first visit Marble Creek?
Tom K: I first visited it in 2016, when I was working hard to complete the Idaho Centennial Trail--or at least do a big chunk of it. That year, I hiked up Marble Creek and met an SBFC crew which was working its way down. I've since joined a number of SBFC projects working up from the bottom and top.
SBFC: What is so special about this trail and this part of the Frank to you?
Tom K: The trail is well known as being challenging, and that appealed to me. It really is deep in the Frank Church, so if you want to have a true backcountry experience, that is the place to go. In addition, it has an interesting history, with the Mitchell Ranch at the bottom and the Belco Mine near the top. There are some interesting cliffs about 10-15 miles up that have the original old fence Billy Mitchell put in to close the top end of his ranch. In addition, near the upper end, there are many old remnants of the old mine.
SBFC: Should people consider a hike on Marble Creek, and if so why?
Tom K: I would encourage experienced hikers to give the trail a try. It's remote and dramatic and also is a good test for advanced hikers. In addition, you get to see the Middle Fork of the Salmon as well as the interesting and rugged area east of Yellow Pine.
SBFC: What advice do you have for people who would like to experience Marble Creek?
Tom K: Because of the many, many river crossings, I would advise people to be prepared for wet feet. I would also suggest waiting until later in the season when the stream flows are lower. One hiker got injured right at the bottom due to high flows in June. I would recommend poles for the crossing, as well as a steady head for one or two high slopes that can be subject to slides. Be prepared for delays and keep a calm head. Also, note that some of the stream crossings can be diagonal upstream. For people on horseback, I would suggest using calm, highly experienced animals that can deal with the terrain.
SBFC: Talk a little bit about the changes you've seen on this trail from your first trip here until today.
2023 Marble Creek Volunteers
Tom K: The trail has gotten a lot of love lately. I would be surprised if people lost the trail now, which happened to me. The heavy growth, especially by stream banks, has been cut back, and many fallen trees have been removed (though more can always fall). The trail tread is much better established.
When I first went through, there were heavy thickets that ended up in deep pools. I was wet and had torn clothes when I finished, but it's much more passable now. It's still pretty lightly used, and the majority of the people that go up there are the crews themselves. Hopefully, that will begin to change, though this area will always be remote. You either have to get in from the Middle Fork, which can take a couple of days unless you fly into the Thomas Creek airstrip, or from Yellow Pine, which is a good two-hour drive past the fairly active Stibnite mine site.
Thank you, Tom, for taking the time to share with our SBFC readers!
"With one terminus at the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, the other at a mountain top, and dozens of creek crossings in between, the Marble Creek trail is an excellent example of the ruggedness, storied history, and wild beauty that the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness holds. The trail will never be a "walk in the park,” nor would I ever want it to be, but thanks to the great efforts of volunteers like Tom, adventurous souls can experience this vein of the Frank Church in an appropriately wild, but manageable manner."
-Josh Page, SBFC Program Director
SBFC worked two hitches on Marble Creek in 2023. This work was funded by private donations and through grants from Idaho Parks and Rec and the Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee.
